The 2017 Special Session officially adjourned early this morning, with the legislature approving and sending a full budget package to Governor Dayton for his signature. Many progressive groups are urging the Governor to veto some or all of the bills, but it is also reported the Governor stepped in during the final moments of the session to help ensure passage of key provisions. Therefore, it is expected he will sign off on the budget.
Health and Human Services
A comprehensive direct care staff wage increase did not make it into the final HHS budget bill. However, ARRM members will be pleased to see the final bill reflects many of the policy positions for which ARRM was advocating. This includes several issues ARRM was working to keep out of the final budget.
A highlight of the key provisions supported by ARRM in the HHS budget bill include:
- Full DWRS inflationary adjustment (ARRM successfully argued against a seven percent funding offset)
- No 350 day billable cap
- No licensing fee increase
- Policy changes to the Disability Waiver Rate System
- ICF therapeutic leave day policy reform
- HCBS provider incentive pool
- HCBS waiver consolidation study
- CDCS reform
Over the next few days ARRM will review the final bill and will send a complete, detailed summary to members, following the Governor’s final approval.
Please watch for our detailed analysis, with more information provided on each of the items listed above, as well as other important components of the final HHS bill. If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact me at sgrafstrom@arrm.org.
To receive the full recap of the 2017 Legislative Session in detail, as well as receive training on the impacts of these policy and funding provisions, please register for a 2017 Legislative Road Show training near you. These six training events are an ARRM members-only benefit and begin on June 19. Register for a local event here.
--Sara Grafstrom, Director of Government Relations and Member Advocacy