Medicaid serves as the foundational program of our country’s care infrastructure providing the wide range of home and community-based services (HCBS) that older adults and people with disabilities need to remain living at home and connected to their communities. Unfortunately, however, Medicaid HCBS has been underfunded and neglected, leaving many older adults, people with disabilities, and their families with few options, while undervaluing the direct care workforce that earns poverty wages. That’s why, in April, President Biden announced $400 billion in funding for Medicaid HCBS as a key component of the American Jobs Plan. This funding represents a 33% annual increase in Medicaid HCBS–an investment that would dramatically strengthen our care infrastructure by expanding access to services and supporting the workforce. But this commitment is not yet law. Congress and the White House need to hear from us all about how critical this $400 billion investment is to meeting the demands on our care infrastructure. Aging, disability, and labor organizations are united behind this sign on letter in strong support of the $400 billion investment in the Medicaid HCBS. The letter outlines our shared recommendations to advance a more equitable, high quality HCBS system by ensuring that the funding both expands access to services nationwide and supports the workforce. Justice in Aging invites national and state organizations to join us by signing on to the letter by May 17, 2021. Read the letter and sign on using this form. |
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