Letter: Shapiro budget overlooks people who provide home care
As senior director of workforce development for the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, I am deeply concerned by Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget, which critically overlooks our 270,000+ direct care workers.
While the budget proposes a minimum wage increase and additional funding for participant-directed services, it completely fails to address 94% of the broader homecare workforce crisis including caregivers and nurses. The governor spoke about 'opening doors to opportunities,' yet his budget actively closes doors for hundreds of thousands of direct care workers who provide essential services across Pennsylvania.
The budget leaves Medicaid reimbursement rates at $20.63 for personal assistance services. By the time employers pay taxes, insurance, workers compensation, rent and other expenses, what is left for our direct care workers does not adequately recognize the critical work they perform. Imagine not being able to get a shower tomorrow because there are not enough workers to visit you. Imagine not being able to get out of bed without support and relying on a paid worker to literally start your day.
By not comprehensively supporting our workforce, we risk leaving vulnerable populations without necessary care and potentially forcing more individuals into nursing home settings.
Dedicated health care professionals deserve dignified compensation and recognition. They are the backbone of Pennsylvania's home health care system, providing compassionate, life-changing support to thousands of residents.We urge policymakers to reconsider this budget and prioritize our essential direct care workforce.
Becky Jacobs
Senior Director of Workforce Development, Pennsylvania Homecare Association
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Immigrant Medicaid enrollees' personal data given to immigration officials
The Trump administration has reportedly given the personal data of millions of Medicaid enrollees to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of President Trump's sweeping deportation agenda. Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) handed over a dataset on Medicaid enrollees in California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, D.C., according to The Associated Press. All these states allow non-U.S. citizens to receive Medicaid benefits. The AP obtained an internal memo and emails showing that two top advisers to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the data sharing and gave the CMS 45 minutes to comply. The data includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers and immigration status. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), in a statement to the AP, said the 'potential data transfer' was 'extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is aiming to deport 3,000 immigrants lacking permanent legal status per day, according to White House aide Stephen Miller. The administration has frequently threatened states that don't cooperate with Trump's immigration policies. Trump this week suggested he'd like to see Newsom arrested over his response to protests in Los Angeles against federal workplace immigration sweeps. The CMS announced May 27 that it was 'increasing federal oversight to stop states from misusing federal Medicaid dollars to cover health care for individuals who are in the country illegally,' in line with Trump's executive order 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,' signed Feb. 19. 'Medicaid funds must serve American citizens in need and those legally entitled to benefits,' CMS Deputy Administrator Drew Snyder said at the time. 'If states cannot or will not comply, CMS will step in.' According to the AP, Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo wrote in a memo that this move could violate federal laws such as the Social Security Act and Privacy Act of 1974. The growing tension between state and federal authorities over Trump's deportation push was on full display Thursday when Democratic governors appeared for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing. Last month, a judge allowed ICE to have access to IRS data to facilitate mass deportations, which overturned decades of precedent in handling of personal data between agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
Gov. Josh Shapiro recounts the night of arson attack
Politics Gov. Josh Shapiro recounts the night of arson attack June 13, 2025 | 7:29 PM GMT Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) recounts the night of the arson attack at the governor's mansion in an exclusive interview with The Washington Post.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Marines moved into Los Angeles amid protests
Good afternoon, Chicago. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan arrived today at the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago for his historic sentencing in a long-running corruption case that shook the state's political world to the core. Madigan, 83, who for years was widely hailed as the most powerful politician in the state, gave a slight smile as he strode past a horde of television news cameras with his lawyers and family members without comment. Carrying a briefcase and umbrella, he then headed to the 12th-floor courtroom of U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey. The hearing is expected to last two hours or more. Check back at for updates. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History A lot of attention has been given to the Sox since the fandom of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, for the South Side baseball team was revealed. But religious women from local orders have frequented Sox games for decades. Read more here. More top news stories: An immigrant in Wisconsin has been released on bond after false accusation he threatened Trump Crestwood fire officials suspect natural gas was cause of deadly house explosion President Donald Trump's administration this week provided deportation officials with personal data — including the immigration status — on millions of Medicaid enrollees, a move that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown. Read more here. More top business stories: Air India survivor Vishwaskumar Ramesh recalls harrowing moment the plane went down Massive Google Cloud outage disrupts popular internet services Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, had been a prominent component of the Sox lineup since arriving in the majors in 2021. But he got off to a slow start this season and the Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte on May 23. Read more here. More top sports stories: As Chicago Bears separate for summer, Ben Johnson will stay dialed in — and connected with QB Caleb Williams NASCAR's first Cup Series race outside the US hits travel snags to Mexico City Juneteenth is more than just a holiday. It's a celebration of freedom, community and the rich tapestry of Black culture that continues to shape Chicago and the rest of the country. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: John C. Reilly will bring his show 'Mister Romantic' to Steppenwolf this fall Amy Morton is back on stage in 'You Will Get Sick' at Steppenwolf Theatre. What took her so long? After a week of tense protests over the federal immigration raids, about 200 Marines have moved into Los Angeles and will protect federal property and personnel, a military commander said. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: Air raid sirens sound across Israel following an Iranian missile attack on the country Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, shows up for Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial but can't get in
