Increase access to HCBS services and supports

• Create or expand limited English proficiency programs and assistance both for the HCBS program and for access to vaccination and outreach. Such as providing information in multiple languages and making sure that translation services are accessible for recipients.

• Create or expand nursing facility transition programs to allow residents to transfer back to the community and to help keep individuals in the community in their homes.

• Consider expedited access to HCBS services and hiring additional workers to process cases. Currently members can have to wait over 60 days to receive access to care services from assessment to care workers arrival. 

Invest in technology and HCBS infrastructure

• Provide assistive technology that allows the member to have better quality of life and funding to allow members to physically adapt or modify their homes to accommodate limitations.

• Provide funding to make the policy manual an accessible document that is easily able to be used by clients who are trying to understand the rules. In its current form, the document is very difficult to use and combines both the policy and the workers action guide into one document. The form of this manual should be revised as members are required to comply with the provisions of it, but have a hard time accessing it or understanding it.

Improve or support high-quality care and the member experience with HCBS services

• More resources must be put into person centered planning which is required under the ACA and needs to be meaningful for all members. 

• Expand funding for advocates for members who receive services so they have supports when they need them such as the Long Term Care Ombudsman program.

Develop and build the HCBS workforce, including recruitment and retention strategies:

• Increase direct care workers pay and benefits. These funds should be directed as a pass-through. Providing home care can be a challenging occupation and this work should be adequately compensated. Worker sick pay should be evaluated and should be increased because individuals receiving home services are often more vulnerable to illness and providing sick pay protects both the worker and the member.

• Expand access to respite for family caregivers and provide additional supports to family caregivers.