Hartford, Conn. (WTIC Radio)-The Department of Social Services needs to implement an already approved increase to the State's Medicaid reimbursement rate for Home and Community-based services, said Republican State Senate Leaders.
The Senators, Kevin Kelly (Stratford) and Paul Formica (East Lyme) said the rate increase was scheduled to take effect July first but has not been implemented by the state agency.
The increase supports caregivers assisting seniors and disabled individuals, including visiting nurses. The Senators said the increase will help homemakers and companions, who remain among the lowest-paid workers.
According to State Senator Paul Formica, "Home care workers enable some of the most vulnerable residents to remain in their home, age in place and stay in the communities. They provide care, medical services, meals and everyday assistance to help people live life to the fullest that they can."
"What do people want. They want to remain at home. They want to age in place with dignity. And the thing about it. That's about one-third of the cost of institutional care. But our system is wired to force people towards institutional choices, and that needs to change," said Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly.
Kelly said if the Department of Social Services can't implement the change, the system needs to be fixed.
