Over 6,000 Pennsylvanians with intellectual or developmental disabilities are on a “emergency” state waiting list. They require immediate services and supports but are not receiving them. Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed adding $483 million in federal and state funds to remove the waiting list in this year’s budget.
The funds will benefit direct support professionals (DSPs). DSPs are people who assist disabled people with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Unfortunately they are typically underpaid. According to state officials, the money will allow DSPs’ wages to increase from about $15 to $17 per hour.
It’s uncertain whether the Governor’s proposal will survive a potentially controversial state budget process Advocates say they’re working hard to ensure it’s included in any final Harrisburg spending bill.
“These are things that are game changers that need to happen,” said state Rep. Dan Miller, a Mt. Lebanon Democrat who has long championed disability issues.
“These are things that so many of us have been waiting to happen. We’re not talking about creating new programs, really. We’re talking about making sure our promises are kept,” Miller said, speaking at a recent local event put on by state human service officials to promote the governor’s proposal.
State Human Services. Secretary Val Arkoosh said the governor’s proposals will eliminate the emergency waiting list in “several years,” but did not specify when. Still, the fact that a governor is proposing to eliminate the waiting list is important, according to disability advocates. “I think it’s a really big deal,” said Mark Davis, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability.
For decades, advocates have pushed for additional funding to end the waiting list. Tom Ridge was the last governor to propose removing the waiting list. However, Ridge left office in 2001 before it became a reality.
Steve Suroviec, president and CEO of Achieva, which provides a variety of disability services, said he is happy that the governor’s proposal would increase pay for service providers, which is critical to the idea’s success. “That’s critically important because absent the ability to hire [direct support professionals], you can have all the waiting list initiative you want, but if you can’t find DSPs to actually provide the service then it’s not really going to help the people,” he said.
A state budget, approved by the House and Senate and signed by the governor, is due on June 30th. Budgets are often not completed by that date. Last year’s budget was not finished on time, due in large part to a disagreement over school vouchers between Democratic Gov. Shapiro and the Republican-controlled state Senate.
Legislators and Harrisburg observers say this year’s budget could be challenging again. However it will most likely be about matters unrelated to the waiting list. Proponents of the governor’s proposal have gone to considerable efforts to emphasize that they view the topic as a rare nonpartisan point of agreement.
“Intellectual disabilities and autism affect residents in every county and every state senate district, and every state legislative district,” said DHS Secretary Arkoosh. “This is in no way, shape, or form a partisan issue. This is an issue of just simple human dignity and decency, and making sure that every resident of Pennsylvania has the services and supports that they need when they need them.”
Medicaid’s home and community based services are a lifeline for so many people. Waitlists for these services should be eliminated. Without help, people are often forced into unsafe environments, and this can have devastating consequences.
Sources:
Giammarise, Kate. “Pa. Human Service Officials Say Budget Proposal Will Eliminate Wait List for Disability Services.” 90.5 WESA, NPR, 13 June 2024, http://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2024-06-13/pennsylvania-budget-disability-services-wait-list.