NYSACRA

HHS REPORT TO CONGRESS ON DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

In 2004, Congress requested that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conduct a study on the shortage of direct support professionals (DSPs) supporting persons with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities (ID/DD), including an examination of the root causes associated with high vacancy and turnover rates, and an examination of the impact this shortage may be having on services for people with ID/DD. Contents of the recently published report include the changing patterns of long term supports and services (LTSS) for persons with ID/DD, current and projected supply and demand for DSPs,  factors associated with recruitment and retention of DSPs to meet the current and future demands, implications of failing to meet these demands, and initiatives and innovations that are currently underway around the country.

The report clearly identifies the challenges to ensure that individuals of all ages receive, throughout the course of their lives, the health and social support services they’ll need to live with dignity as fully included members of our society.  Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that by 2020, the number of DSPs needed to meet LTSS demand will grow to approximately 1.2 million FTEs providing an estimated 1.4 million individuals with ID/DD with needed residential, vocational and other supports. Between 2003 and 2020 HHS anticipates that the number of DSPs needed to provide for the growth of LTSS for individuals with ID/DD will increase by about 323,000 jobs, or roughly 37%. This increase will be largely due to population increases, increases in life expectancy among persons with ID/DD, aging of family caregivers, and expansion of home and community-based services. This increase in demand will be occurring at a time when the labor supply of adults age 18-39 years, who traditionally have filled these jobs is expected to increase only by 7%.  For more information, please visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/2006/DSPsupply.htm or contact the ASPE Project Officer, John Drabek via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text32201 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Both West Virginia and Kentucky have begun the implementation of their new state Medicaid plan approved under President Bush’s effort to limit Medicaid.  West Virginia families served by Medicaid could face a reduction in benefits if they refuse to sign contracts promising to show up for doctors' appointments and to use the emergency room only for emergencies.  Kentucky, meanwhile, is putting new limits on prescriptions and visits to therapists.  "We made the decision early on that our goal would be to provide reasonable health benefits for the current population of eligibles rather than unlimited benefits for a smaller population," said Shannon Turner, the Medicaid commissioner in Kentucky.  Kentucky will move its Medicaid population into four types of insurance coverage: one for the general Medicaid population, one for children, one for the elderly and one for the developmentally disabled.  The state also imposed limits on prescriptions and on physical and speech therapy: 15 visits per person per year.  The changes will save more than $100 million in each of the first two years, Ms. Turner said.  See the May 24, 2006, New York Times AP article for more on the story, at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/24/health/policy/24medicaid.html.

ANCOR COMMENTS BEFORE THE MEDICAID COMMISSION

On May 18, 2006, Suellen Galbraith, Director for Government Relations, ANCOR American Network of Community Options and Resources, our national association of private providers, offered testimony to the Medicaid Commission on a number of points in reference to long-term supports and services.  The Commission report is due by the end of the year on the future of Medicaid.  Check ANCOR’s website for the testimony at www.ancor.org.