Fully Fund JLARC Mandated Standardized Non Staff/ Indirect Client Support Rate Structure

Community Residential Services Providers who serve people with developmental disabilities are unable to pay sufficient wage rates to their valuable direct services staff because of inadequate reimbursement rates from the State. Skyrocketing staff turnover and challenges in attracting and maintaining qualified staff place at risk the health and safety of our residents, and could force people back into more costly state institutions.

Rate standardization has many benefits

• Complies with CMS requirements and ensures predictability for budgeting/ forecasting
• Provides equitable rates across the state
• Ability of 72 under-funded agencies to cover expenses when new rates are implemented
• Adequately funds transportation needs. The current transportation rates are too low. CMS requires states pay for needed services such as transportation

Protect 37 agencies who will lose critical funding

• 37 agencies currently paid more than the standardized rate will lose critical funding for services, infrastructure and wages. Services to 744 people will be threatened.
• The current benchmark (which allows for an average of $10/hr in employee wages) cannot even compete with entry-level service industry jobs;
• Direct care staff will suffer a loss of compensation;
• Significant loss of community service capacity is anticipated with cuts; State RHC placements are rising.

Solution

• Provide $2.8 million to bring currently under-funded agencies up to the standardized rate without cutting critical funding to support people in agencies above the standard.
• Total cost for biennium: Only $2.8 Million General Fund State

Exempt Supported Living Providers from SHB 2284

The Long-Term Care Employee Training Work Group has studied training needs of the direct support workforce. The training requirements for employees of Supported Living Programs already exceed standards developed by this Work Group. Current training, including, habilitation services, health histories, behavioral programs and support protocols, is individualized to the people served. Agencies would continue such training regardless of new requirements. Standardized generic training for supported living program staff would be redundant and a waste of taxpayer money.

For more information, see also:

• 2008 Worker Training Position
• 2008 Full Indirect admin client support position
• Washington State Legislature: www.leg.wa.gov/legislature
• The Arc Action Alerts: capwiz.com/arcwa/state/main/?state=WA

For more information, contact:

CRSA Legislative Committee Co-Chairs
CaraLee Cook
206.714.3104

Lobbyist:
Melissa Johnson
360.956.3322 or 360.280.6429