ANCOR’s 2023 Hill Day Meetings Yields Support for Direct Support Professionals

In a remarkable display of advocacy, the 2023 ANCOR Policy Summit featured an ANCOR record-breaking Hill Day with 185 meetings with congressional members and staff. ANCOR members left no stone unturned as they engaged with key figures in Congress, like Senator Majority Leader Schumer, Majority Whip Durbin, and Minority Leader McConnell as well as the House majority and minority leader and whips offices.

The impact of these Hill Day activities was felt almost immediately. As a direct outcome of ANCOR’s advocacy efforts, cosponsors were added to the SOC bill, including Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

One of the highlights of the event was the Direct Care Workforce Congressional Briefing, sponsored by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Rep. Pingree emphasized her commitment to community-based services and addressed the pressing issue of the direct support workforce crisis.

Panelists for the briefing included:

Kezia Scales, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at PHI, who presented crucial data trends concerning the direct care workforce, highlighting the potential for substantial job growth and the need to improve earnings and living conditions for these professionals.

Dan Berland, Director of Federal Policy with NASDDDS, who shed light on how the workforce crisis influences state policy decisions, emphasizing the importance of meeting the vision of the HCBS Settings Rule, expanding services, and building capacity to support individuals with complex needs.

Laura Cordes, Executive Director of the Maine Association for Community Service Providers, who discussed Maine’s recently codified rate system reforms, including measures to ensure regular rate reviews and cost of living adjustments.