Help us Hold DSHS Accountable to Fair Rates
Help us Hold DSHS Accountable to Fair Rates
July 29, 2024
To the Adult Family Homes of Washington,
I am writing to provide you with an update on the current contract negotiations between the state and the Council. These negotiations directly impact more than 90% of adult family homes contracted to serve Medicaid funded residents. Unfortunately, I must report the negotiations are not going well.
When we entered these negotiations, the Council put forward a position that asks the state to consider the reality of rising costs, increased wages, benefit expectations, and the high acuity of our residents. We serve some of the most physically and behaviorally challenged residents in the state. If these residents are not in our care, they end up in hospitals or institutions with a lower quality of life and at a higher cost to the state.
During our negotiations, we looked at the current wages paid to similarly trained workers through other Medicaid programs, actual wages reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the current rate of inflation. Despite this examination of real costs, DSHS and the Health Care Authority have put forward rates asking you to accept status quo reimbursement through June of 2027. They only offered minimal increases in a limited number of categories based on logic they know is flawed and inaccurate.
What I find most upsetting is that during that same week, DSHS leadership publicly declared that long-term care was undergoing a staffing crisis and recognized the need to make significant investments in these workers. In a private meeting just two days later, the state said they are not prioritizing investments in fair and equitable wages for adult family home workers. Washington State officials like to tout Washington as a worker-friendly state, supportive of women and minority owned small businesses — but their offer contradicts those claims.
The Adult Family Home Council is committed to recognizing the value of your work and spearheading the fight for meaningful increases. While we continue to seek agreement over the next week, we are preparing for an arbitration hearing. Now is the time for all adult family homes to come together in support of fair wages and reasonable working conditions. If you are not already supporting this important advocacy effort being undertaken on your behalf, please join us in holding the state accountable and affirming the value of your work.
Sincerely,
John Ficker
Executive Director
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Membership fees enable the Council to cover legal expenses and fund staff to advocate with the state and regulatory agencies. The participation of every adult family home is vital to ensuring fair regulations and rates that accurately reflect the costs of caring for our vulnerable adults. Consider becoming a member of the Council to help us continue improving conditions for all adult family homes in Washington State.