As one of just a few center-based, overnight respite providers in the state, Jill's House strongly encourages DMAS to do what it can to preserve respite as a vital support to parents who are raising individual's with IDD.

Parents who are receiving personal attendant payments for caring for their child are still caring for their child.  The physical and emotional challenge of providing that care is not lessened by those state payments. The state has a long history of paying for personal attendant care (provided by non-LRIs) and providing the benefit of 480 hours of respite to the parent/guardian. These have been and continue to be distinct and separate waiver benefits Therefore, the fiscal impact to the state of continuing to pay for both attendant care and respite hours is unchanged by who receives the check for the attendant care. 

The CMS and state definitions of respite generally refer to it as a of means providing for a short-term, time-limited period of care of an individual for the purpose of providing relief to the individual's unpaid family, guardian, or regular caregiver because prior to the COVID pandemic there was no mechanism through which parents could be paid as attendants. It would be a mistake for the state to rely on the wording in the definition of respite to claim that the benefit of respite is no longer needed if the parent is paid.

The definition of respite by DMAS recognizes that "relief" is a necessary support for families caring for individuals with IDD. It is a holistic support that completely aligns with the HCBS aim toward family preservation and non-institutional based placements.  

For these reasons Jill's House encourages DMAS to preserve the respite benefit as provided under the waiver regardless of the LRI/attendant status of parent.

Respectfully,

Dana Hecht, VP of Family Support, Jill's House