United Spinal backs BBB
By HME News Staff
Updated 10:17 AM CST, Tue November 9, 2021
WASHINGTON – The United Spinal Association has come out in support of the Build Back Better Act, which cleared a key procedural vote in the House of Representatives over the weekend. The BBB would fulfill key goals for the disability community by providing a permanent improvement in Medicaid home and community-based services, with an investment of $150 billion over the first 10 years after enactment. The funding to states would be used to clear waitlists for home-based care, which can be years long, and to increase wages for caregivers. “Our members know from experience the pain and hardship that comes from an underfunded, unstable system of caregiving,” said Vincenzo Piscopo, president and CEO of United Spinal. “This longstanding problem was only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. By making a transformative investment in caregiving, the Build Back Better Act framework will provide millions of people with disabilities a stronger foundation to live independent and fulfilling lives.” The BBB would also permanently reauthorize the Medicaid Money Follows the Person program, which has helped more than 100,000 people transition out of institutional settings and into community settings.
Comments