Legislative session begins this month
February 12, 2018
By Sara Grafstrom, Director of Member Advocacy and Government Relations, ARRM
This month marks the beginning of the 2018 Legislative Session. Legislative sessions during even years tend to focus on policy issues and financing of state and local capital projects, not the state budget, which is passed in odd years. As such, ARRM will be advocating for key policy issues around training requirements and supporting the expanded use of technology to support people, creating more options for providers to manage workforce shortages and providing staff with better tools to do their jobs.
ARRM will also be strongly pushing legislators to support more regular adjustments to rate setting frameworks so service rates move with the economy to better reflect the value of services and staff talent. The association is also proposing legislation that would limit or eliminate unfunded mandates on providers, or required cost increases improving the quality of services that are not able to be billed for.
Join ARRM and other advocates on March 13 for this year’s Day at the Capitol rally and advocacy visits to help make legislators hear our voices. It’s one of the most exciting, and important days of the year.
Explain Workforce Shortage in Three Minutes
If you’re talking to someone not experienced in the home and community-based services world about why a shortage of workers in direct care positions is a big deal, you know it can be difficult for them to understand why this is a major issue or how it differs from the impacts to other industries.
We try to break it down in a concise explanation on how we got here, why it matters, and what we can do, all in three minutes.
Sara is Director of Member Advocacy and Government Relations at ARRM, a nonprofit association of more than 200 providers, businesses and advocates dedicated to leading the advancement of home and community-based services supporting people living with disabilities in their pursuit of meaningful lives.