Disability/Senior Coalition Renews Call for Rate Increase as 2014 Priority
A coalition of disability and senior community organizations renewed their call today for a five percent rate increase to support older adults and people with disabilities who receive services in community based programs
Published by The 5% Campaign
A coalition of 103 disability and senior community organizations renewed their call today for a five percent rate increase to support older adults and people with disabilities who receive services in community based programs.
The coalition is encouraged by the financial forecast released today, noting that this funding is the major remaining priority left over from the 2013 legislative session, according to Steve Larson, co-chair of The 5% Campaign coalition and public policy director for The Arc Minnesota.
“Community-based services that provide support to older adults and Minnesotans with disabilities are a critical component to helping them maintain good health and independence, allowing them to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible,” said Steve Piekarski, co-chair of The 5% Campaign and associate vice president of older adult services at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. “A five percent increase for these Minnesotans and those who provide them with care should be a top budget priority next session.”
The estimated $86 million would provide a rate increase for home and community-based services that support 93,700 older adults and people with disabilities, with the bulk of the money going to compensation increases for roughly 90,800 caregivers.
Rep. Tom Huntley, who chairs the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee, noted that most of those caregivers, with an average wage of $11.55 an hour, haven’t seen an increase in five years.
“Last year’s health and human services bill was a good bill with one exception. We didn’t treat these programs and caregivers fairly. My priority this year is to make this investment in quality care for our elders and Minnesotans with disabilities,” Huntley said.
Larson said the coalition is aiming for a majority of legislators in the House and Senate to co-author a five percent rate increase bill. “To date 69 legislators are committed to be co-authors,” he said.