Leaders of Michigan’s disability community are sounding the alarm over a proposed 20% cut to Medicaid funding for direct care services in the House-passed FY26 budget.

Section 1033 of HB 4706 reduces agency reimbursement rates by $4.56 per hour while maintaining the $3.40 per hour wage increase for Direct Care Workers (DCWs). Agencies would be prohibited from lowering worker wages to cover the difference, forcing the entire cut onto already strained operating budgets.

The workers who care for people with disabilities are underpaid, overwhelmed, and increasingly leaving the field. Advocates say action is desperately needed to stem the tide.

For the Reinke family, which includes three adult children on the autism spectrum, direct care workers are essential to a functioning household. The in-home professionals help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities navigate daily life.

The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. The time for action is now. Let us stand together in support of Michigan's Direct Care Workers, ensuring that they have the resources, respect, and recognition they deserve. Our collective future depends on it.

“I’ve given up trying to find the help I need to live my life efficiently or effectively. It's time for Michigan lawmakers to recognize the vital role of DCWs in our communities and take concrete steps to address this continuing crisis.”

Ohio’s budget for fiscal years 2024-2025 makes the largest investment in the history of Ohio’s developmental disability community. These new funds will support rate increases of around 31% from current rates for most services as of January 1, 2024, and 38% from current rates as of July 1, 2024.

The approximately 5 million direct care workers—predominantly women (especially women of color) and, increasingly, immigrants—will fall short of the demand represented by the nearly 9 million projected job openings in direct care through 2031, including the addition of over 1 million new jobs, more than any other occupation in the U.S.

My son, Al, is 33 years old. He was born with autism and needs extra support in his daily life. He needs round-the-clock care, so we rely on help from Direct Care Workers (DCWs). Unfortunately, finding DCWs is far from easy as they are underpaid and overworked.

With thousands of Michigan families lacking care for their loved ones, a diverse coalition of leaders has written to state lawmakers with an urgent requestion for increased Direct Care Worker (DCW) budget support.

A longstanding workforce shortage means people with disabilities who depend on those workers are left without the support they need. Judy Woodruff reports for PBS NewsHour series, Disability Reframed.

“There are not enough DSPs to help all the people who need care. The low pay scale often means that people are not able to gain proper training or stay long enough in a DSP role to learn all the skills needed for the position.”

Ultimately, this crisis is a moral issue. It is about ensuring that all members of our community have access to the care and support they need to live their lives.