Pennsylvania House Bill HR165

Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/27/23
• Refer: 6/27/23
• Passed: 10/3/23

Caption

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 area agency on aging programs and Act 150 services in this Commonwealth.

Impact

The outcomes of the proposed study are expected to have significant implications for state laws governing Medicaid and aging services. By examining wage rates, training requirements, and employment conditions for direct care workers, the findings may lead to recommendations for legislative amendments aimed at improving working conditions, compensation packages, and training opportunities. This could enhance the sustainability of the HCBS workforce, directly impacting the quality and availability of care provided to the community, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

Summary

House Resolution 165 (HR165) directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study on workforce shortages affecting State-supported Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs and other aging services funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. The need for such a study arises from the increasing difficulties in recruiting and retaining skilled personnel within these critical service areas, which has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution aims to identify underlying issues contributing to workforce shortages in the HCBS sector and inform potential legislative or regulatory actions needed to address these challenges.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HR165 appears generally supportive, reflecting a consensus that addressing workforce shortages in HCBS is a critical issue. Many stakeholders, including lawmakers across party lines and advocacy groups for aging services and healthcare, underline the urgency of the situation and express hope that the study's findings will generate actionable insights. However, the discussions also hint at underlying concerns, particularly about the adequacy of funding and systemic support for HCBS programs in light of the findings potentially highlighting historic disparities in compensation and staffing levels.

Contention

While HR165 is widely supported, concerns persist about the timing and effectiveness of any resultant actions from the study. Critics who express skepticism worry that the resolution may not lead to substantive reforms, arguing that previous measures to address workforce challenges within the health and community services sectors have yielded limited results. As such, stakeholders are keenly interested in ensuring that the study results in practical recommendations and policy changes that resonate with the ongoing challenges faced by HCBS providers and the clients they serve.