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Washington Action Alert - Please take action now by asking Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rick Scott, & Representative Daniel Webster to support and fully fund the inclusion of $400 billion for HCBS in the budget reconciliation package. Use the ANCHOR action tool: https://www.ancor.org/amplifier

The Ask: Please support inclusion of the full $400 billion for home and community-based services (HCBS) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as outlined in the Better Care Better Jobs Act. The HCBS program is essential to the health and well-being of people with I/DD, but faces a long-standing workforce crisis that has been significantly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why It Matters: Congress is currently negotiating the Build Back Better Act, the budget resolution legislation that will include an investment of billions of dollars in the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program. The House version will include just $190 billion for the HCBS program, missing the mark on the President's promise in his American Jobs Plan to fund the HCBS program at $400 billion and falling far short of what community-based disability service providers need to bounce back from the pandemic and address the ongoing direct support workforce crisis. That makes now the critical time to insist that your members of Congress fully invest in the Medicaid HCBS program. Frankly, if not now, when?

The Details: The House has drafted its budget reconciliation bill, the Build Back Better Act. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the committee of jurisdiction, will begin marking up the Build Back Better Act on Monday, September 13.

The language in the Energy and Commerce bill includes an investment of $190 billion in the HCBS program. While we celebrate this historic investment in the HCBS program, the level of financing is insufficient to sustain access and stabilize the direct care workforce. A $400 billion investment in dedicated support for HCBS is essential for building a sustainable HCBS infrastructure that can begin addressing the magnitude of unmet need in our communities.

After the committee markup, the bill will be sent to the floor of the House for a full vote in that chamber before moving onto the Senate for final negotiations.

Thank you for taking action now to ask your Representative and Senators to support the full $400 billion in funding for HCBS.