Pennsylvanians with Intellectual Disability/Autism largely have been the pandemic’s forgotten faces. These individuals, adults, and children are among our most vulnerable citizens, leading disability organisation leaders have said.
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to hammer our state and nation, we write to draw special attention to the profound impact this crisis is having on the well-being of people with Intellectual Disability or Autism (ID/A) and the Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who provide lifesaving support to them every day.
“We have a shared interest in making sure that they have the resources needed to live in their communities, rather being relegated to large, state-run institutions,” Richard S. Edley, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and Mark Davis, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability, have stated in a recent article.
DSPs are essential workers who have continued to provide lifesaving services 24/7 under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. DSPs need access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), childcare support and family-sustaining wages.
All funding for these services is through the Medicaid program. Providers, including the organizations that we represent, are facing extreme financial difficulties. Some have been compelled to close services and furlough staff. Others are on the verge of being forced to shut down entirely.
Without federal funding, Pennsylvania’s entire community-based system will be at risk of falling apart over the next several months.
The U.S. Congress has already acted, and badly needed funding is available. The U.S. CARES Act included $175 billion for Public Health & Social Services Emergency Fund.
In June, additional funding for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) was announced, which is welcome news. However, the vast majority of the $87 billion initially committed has gone to Medicare programs and red tape and other hurdles had prevented some providers from accessing these funds.
“We need all members of our state congressional delegation, especially U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey to hold the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) accountable for disbursing these funds. Continued delay is unacceptable.
Congress also must work to ensure that funding specifically designated for lifeline provisions for providers of Home and Community Based services are included in the fourth-round coronavirus response package,” they stressed.
