Terry Lynch
In a July 17 letter, (PDF) a broad-based Wisconsin disability rights coalition asked U. S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) to address issues important to people with disabilities in health care reform – including the lack of sufficient health care coverage for direct care workers.
In its letter, The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations noted that about a quarter of the state’s direct care workers do not have health insurance. “Of the ones who do have coverage,” the group adds, “the employer premium cost-share, co-pays and deductibles are often prohibitive (in light of the average wages of direct service workers of $10.85 per hour.)”
The letter also notes that many disability provider organizations have received minimal or no reimbursement rate increases for the last six years, resulting in “a) an inability to provide wage increases, b) dramatic increases in employee cost-shares, c) many agencies eliminating the health care benefit, and d) some agencies on the verge of bankruptcy.”
The group asked the senator to pursue seven objectives in developing a final health care reform package, including “Ensure that the concept of ‘affordability’ is applied realistically to people with disabilities, families and direct service workers who have very low incomes.”
I will report on any actions taken by Senator Feingold or other members of the Wisconsin delegation.
Related Documents
The DCA’s Direct Care Worker Principles for Health Care Reform (PDF)
Terry Lynch
Board Member
Direct Care Alliance
