Outreach Health CEO John David Ball made a powerful case for higher reimbursement rates for the state’s Community Care program in a column in the Dallas Morning News. Here’s part of what John David wrote:
For nearly 50 years, my family has worked hard to care for vulnerable Texans in the comfort of their homes. During those decades, my father’s small home care business in Garland has grown to employ 5,000 people, supporting older adults and people with disabilities in each of the state’s 254 counties while remaining family-owned and operated.
Unfortunately, the vital services we provide to Texans in need are being threatened, leaving thousands at risk. State lawmakers in Austin have a narrow window before they adjourn in a few weeks to help these Texans and our dedicated attendants who care for them.
The Texas Legislature has not increased reimbursement rates for Community Care in 16 years.
Because of that, attendants earn a median wage of just $9.17 an hour — and thousands are leaving to take higher-paying jobs in restaurants, stores, and warehouses.
Without these attendants, many vulnerable Texans will be forced to leave the comfort and security of their homes for expensive, Medicaid-funded nursing facilities. As John David writes:
We have a moral and economic obligation to provide a livable wage to our hardworking and compassionate community attendants. If we don’t, our older adults will be left with only one option — a lower quality of life at a much higher price to the state and its taxpayers.