From the Southern Tier Independence Center in Binghamton, New York ...
Overview
We, the undersigned advocates and concerned citizens from across our state, are united in urging the State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Health, and Governor Hochul's administration to take decisive action in support of equitable funding and recognition for Community Habilitation services. The challenges faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers necessitate immediate reforms.
To: Commissioner Neifeld, Office of People with Developmental Disabilities; Department of Health; Governor Hochul
Introduction
The Community Habilitation Equity Coalition (CHEC) is a group of Community Habilitation providers, Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs), Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), individuals receiving services, and parents and family members from across NYS. CHEC’s mission is to advocate for equity in Community Habilitation billing and rates, in order to achieve a living wage for DSPs. CHEC aims to secure fair and adequate funding for Community Habilitation services, ensuring individuals receiving services have the opportunity to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Community Habilitation plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with disabilities to develop essential life skills and participate actively in their communities. These services encompass a wide range of supports, including life skills training, fostering community engagement, teaching socialization and communication skills, as well as others to enable individuals to be as self-reliant as possible. However, a significant disparity exists in the funding for Community Habilitation services compared to Supported Employment (SEMP) and Community Based Pre-Vocational (Pre-Voc) services.
We, the signatories of this petition, implore you to:
Address Funding Disparities
To rectify the funding disparities between Community Habilitation services, SEMP, Pre-Voc services, and other costly and segregated services, we propose the following recommendations:
1. Establish Reimbursement Rate Parity
Establish reimbursement rates for Community Habilitation services comparable to SEMP rates to ensure high-quality personalized support and coverage of non-reimbursable costs.
2. Implement Flexible Billing Mechanisms
Allow Community Habilitation providers to bill for necessary indirect service time, including behavioral supports, staff training, travel time, and documentation, similar to SEMP and Pre-Voc services, to improve service quality and alleviate financial strain.
3. Support Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Achieving rate reimbursement parity and flexible billing mechanisms will enable higher wages and better benefits for DSPs, addressing recruitment and retention challenges.
4. Promote Transition to Community Based Employment
Recognize and value Community Habilitation as a critical step toward Community Based Pre-Voc or SEMP and eventual community-based employment by acknowledging the foundational skills gained through these services.
5. Ensure Equitable Funding Allocation
Reallocate funding from segregated site-based programs, like Day Habilitation, to Community Habilitation, which is less expensive and preferred by many individuals due to its one-on-one focus.
Conclusion
Equitable funding for Community Habilitation services is crucial for DSPs to earn a living wage, promoting the independence, well-being, and integration of individuals with IDD. We urge prompt action and meaningful reforms to support individuals with disabilities who rely on these services for their well-being and inclusion into their communities.
If you are interested in disability advocacy issues like this one, contact Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at: colleen@ncci-online.com — 518-563-9058 Ext. 110
The Mission of the North Country Center for Independence is to help people with disabilities to live more independent and productive lives, and promote better policies and community understanding of disability issues. NCCI serves people with disabilities, families, and the community on issues related to physical and mental disabilities. NCCI is led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. It is one of the 41 Independent Living Centers in New York State. There are also hundreds of similar centers throughout the United States. NCCI serves Clinton and Essex Counties, New York.