How Three States Made COVID-Relief Investments in Improving Home- and Community-Based Services

20.500.12592/q38bnd

How Three States Made COVID-Relief Investments in Improving Home- and Community-Based Services

15 Sep 2022

Ensuring that people with disabilities can live independently in their communities, with home care provided to maximize equal opportunities, full participation, and economic security, is a fundamental goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Likewise, older Americans today strive to age with dignity, and with care that enables them to thrive in their communities. To reach these goals, disabled 1 individuals and older adults need services and care provided in their homes and communities. Unfortunately, the cost of home- and community-based services (HCBS) is often out of reach for many individuals and families. Options exist for the wealthiest families through private paid programs, and for those with the lowest incomes, HCBS are available through Medicaid. However, the actual services available vary drastically from state to state, and many states have waiting lists to even access services through Medicaid. HCBS are rarely covered by private insurance and out-of-pocket prices are often out of reach. 2 Meanwhile, those in the care workforce are some of the lowest paid workers in the economy, largely due to the racist and sexist history of undervaluing care and care work in the United States. 3

Authors

Julie Kashen, Kimberly Knackstedt

Published in
United States of America