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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Measure in Congress Would Increase Home, Community Care Funding

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Thursday, October 28, 2021   

SEATTLE -- Care providers for people in home and community settings are watching Congress closely as members consider part of the budget reconciliation package which would boost funds for their services.

Known as the Better Care Better Jobs Act, the measure would allocate $400 billion to expand access to Medicaid home and community-based services that help older people and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live independently.

Scott Livengood, CEO of Alpha Supported Living Services, which serves people in King, Snohomish and Spokane counties, said because of low funding, entry-level staffers make close to minimum wage.

"Attracting new people to the field is very challenging, especially when you're not only competing with others, but you're really competing with fast-food and other cashier-type positions that are offering $18 to $20 per hour to start," Livengood explained. "So, it's really challenging."

He said turnover in supportive living services has been around 50%, and the pandemic has presented additional safety challenges. The Better Care Better Jobs Act is cosponsored by both of Washington state's senators and five of its U.S. House members.

Livengood pointed out excluding receiving more federal stimulus money, Washington state has one of the lowest federal matches for Medicaid home- and community-based services, at about 50%. He argued if the measure in Congress provides a 10% increase, it could raise wages and make a difference for workers.

"Starting to what's closer to, if not at, a livable wage for our employees," Livengood asserted. "We've been monitoring it very closely because we see that it could really address the workforce issue, the turnover issue that we're seeing, and just stabilize the services for the people that we support."

Livengood emphasized his agency mostly serves people who need 24 hours of care. And for clients on the autism spectrum, he added, continuity of care is especially important.

He thinks additional funding could transform these jobs into careers for employees, and cut down on turnover.

"The clients would have consistent care with employees who know them really well, having worked with them for years, rather than a continual turnover of people working with them," Livengood stressed.

References:  
Senate Bill 2210 2021

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