Category Archives: Government Affairs
Leo’s Letter: Time To Act
This is the time. Years of minimal rate increases have resulted in chronic vacancies in direct care positions in our disability sector. Nationally, before COVID-19, turnover rates were higher than 40%. But add the Commonwealth’s red hot real estate market to the mix, and you can imagine the crisis many families, individuals, and agencies face.
The Arc of Massachusetts’ Statement Regarding the Direct Support Workforce Crisis
Massachusetts is facing a workforce shortage crisis for direct support workers, which has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis affects staff support for families and individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities (I/DD) and autism in home, day, employment and residential settings.
FY’22 State Budget: Senate Releases Completed Budget Blueprint
Last week, the Massachusetts State Senate completed its blueprint of the budget. Funding in both the House and Senate include The Arc’s priorities. Increases in Day, Employment, and Family Support are in both branches. Other line items such as Residential and Autism Omnibus appear to have adequate funding.
Leo’s Letter: Possible Further Delay in Community Funding Relief
We heard this morning that states could request a 30-day extension to submit plans on the use of the additional Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) monies. This afternoon, The Arc had a meeting with state leaders and a CMS representative (Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to further review the billions states will receive (approximately $400 million for our state).
Contact Your Senator: Budget Amendments on Nicky’s Law, Pandemic Impact on Students of Color with Autism, and Turning 22
COVID-19: Homebound Vaccination Program Expanded, Preregistration System Closed
On May 21, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an expanded COVID-19 Homebound Vaccination Program. The current vaccine preregistration system will close at the end of May, but the vaccine finder website VaccineFinder will remain active.