I am the parent of a disabled 17 year old.  He will age out of school supports soon.  Many of his peers have aged out already or will be soon as well.  The view I see for them without a waiver is terrifying.  All of them are considered level 2 which means they won’t get a waiver any time soon.  None of them can be left alone all day while their parents work.  The situation is at crisis level (zero exaggeration here).  Leaving aside all question of what an advanced society owes its most vulnerable citizens on a humanitarian level, these individuals are already on Medicaid.  The medical costs from the various ways they injure themselves as well at the lost wages for their family caregivers (and accompanying taxes) or the potential property damage and other societal issues arising from them being left unsupported will cost the state a lot more than the funding for waiver services in the long run.  

Just adjusting the waiver eligibility and funding for the waivers is not enough however.  Many people who receive a waiver live in a provider desert.  My son was awarded a CCC+ waiver due to his combination of physical and intellectual disabilities.  Over the last 9 years we have managed to keep an in-home support provider for less than half the time.  They always leave because the work is difficult and underpaid.  Regular day care options will not take my son.  I personally know many families in my area that have funding either through the CCC+ or ID/DD waiver but cannot find anyone to hire!!  Provider development and retention has to increase proportionally along with any increase in waivers if the money allocated is to do any good.  I understand it is impossible to solve this issue immediately but the state needs a comprehensive plan for how it will increase both waivers and the necessary providers moving forward.  Thank you for your time and consideration.