PRINTER'S NO. 1753
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
165
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY KIM, CERRATO, HANBIDGE, MADDEN, KENYATTA, KINSEY,
HILL-EVANS, M. JONES, MADSEN, BRENNAN, SCHLOSSBERG,
HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ, FREEMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, KHAN, BENHAM,
D. WILLIAMS, PARKER, BOROWSKI AND GIRAL, JUNE 27, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
JUNE 27, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study on the effect of workforce shortages on State
supported Medicaid home and community-based services waiver
programs and the Pennsylvania Lottery funded OPTIONS programs
in this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Widespread workforce shortages are the biggest
challenges facing State Medicaid home and community-based
service (HCBS) programs and the Pennsylvania Lottery funded
OPTIONS programs and those shortages were greatly amplified by
the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, State officials have reported shortages of all types
of HCBS providers, including home health aides, personal care
attendants, direct support professionals, older adult daily
living center providers and community-based mental health
providers; and
WHEREAS, The impact of this reduced direct-care staffing is
reverberating through the health care system; and
WHEREAS, Hospitals have reported that they are delaying
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patient discharges to post-acute settings because long-term care
facilities and HCBS providers have insufficient staff to accept
patients for their next stage of care; and
WHEREAS, Low wages, inconsistent training requirements,
limited training opportunities and inadequate career advancement
pathways have historically dissuaded individuals from pursuing
and retaining jobs as direct care workers; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid paid for about two-thirds of all HCBS in
2020; and
WHEREAS, Statewide, more than 140,000 people are served by
this Commonwealth's Medicaid HCBS and OPTIONS programs;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on
the effect of workforce shortages on State supported Medicaid
home and community-based services waiver programs and the
Pennsylvania Lottery funded OPTIONS programs in this
Commonwealth, including all of the following:
(1) Wage rates for home health aides, personal care
attendants, direct support professionals, older adult daily
living center providers and community-based mental health
providers in the HCBS system.
(2) Rates charged by contract staffing agencies to
provide HCBS workers.
(3) The increase in wages paid to HCBS providers and
direct care staff working from 2018 through today using the
latest available figures.
(4) The increase in wages paid to contract HCBS
providers and direct care staff from 2018 through today using
the latest available figures.
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(5) The increase in wages paid to HCBS providers and
direct care staff as compared to the nation's inflation rate
over the same time period.
(6) The increase in wages paid to contract HCBS
providers and direct care staff as compared to the nation's
inflation rate over the same time period.
(7) Whether HCBS providers needed to increase staffing
levels during the same time period.
(8) The ratio of home health aides, personal care
attendants, direct support professionals, adult daily living
center providers, community-based mental health providers and
direct care staff working in the programs from 2018 through
today using the latest available figures.
(9) Whether HCBS providers experienced an increase in
need for staff members with specific expertise or
certification;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
issue a report of its findings, along with any statutory or
regulatory recommendations, to the General Assembly within seven
months of the adoption of this resolution.
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