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Take Action: Urgent Vote on Thursday!
Restore COLAs and Reject Changes to the MaineCare Rate Setting System (Part UU) in the Biennial Budget - Support the Direct Care Workforce and Protect Vital Services! WHAT’S HAPPENING? The Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee is scheduled to vote this Thursday (3/6/25) on whether to restore COLA funding in the FY26-FY27 biennial budget. The Governor’s proposed budgets suspend cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for MaineCare direct care services—not just for six months, but for the next two fiscal years. It also pauses funding for much of the required five-year rate determination cycle and labor adjustments meant to support wages at 125% of the minimum wage by making these provisions “subject to available appropriations.” WHY THIS MATTERS • COLAs have been a lifeline for helping community-based agencies retain dedicated and skilled staff by allowing modest but meaningful wage increases. • Direct care workers are already in short supply, and with Maine’s minimum wage rising 3.5% this year alone (from $14.15 to $14.65), annual COLAs are a necessity, not a luxury for keeping up with wage increases and increased costs of delivering services. • MaineCare law (22 M.R.S.A §3173-J and §7402) currently require annual COLAs and adjustments to labor components of MaineCare direct care service rates as well as adjustments to rates that have been assessed through a rate determination process, ensuring stable wages for essential care workers and adequate reimbursement rates for the delivery of services to thousands of Maine’s most vulnerable adults and children. Suspending COLAs and making rate adjustments “subject to available” funding violates this commitment and threatens the stability of direct care services. WHAT YOU CAN DO? The Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee is voting this Thursday on whether to restore COLA funding in the FY26-FY27 biennial budget. Make your voice heard! 📢 Contact HHS Committee members today and tell them: • COLAs are key to retaining the direct care workforce and keeping individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and brain injuries supported in the community. • Share your perspective—whether you are a direct support worker, provider, parent, guardian, individual receiving services, or ally. A personal message makes a difference! Click on the link for a sample email message template and list of email addresses: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pHm_-BdFCnMldaaRV-cDX66jbWWAb6HEjGxqSZ6LoeA/edit?usp=sharing on the link for a template: |
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