The Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act was recently reintroduced in the U.S. Congress. This legislation would establish a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for direct support professionals (DSPs), which would officially recognize DSPs as an occupation and help address the recruitment and retention crisis that has left far too few professionals to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in home and community-based settings.
We are thrilled that this important legislation has been reintroduced. DSP turnover has been skyrocketing, leaving people with I/DD unable to access the vital services they need. But with a SOC for DSPs, we can capture more accurate employment and wage data, which will help in the development of more precise payment rates.
This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate, as well as Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Joe Morelle (D-NY) in the House. It's crucial that we support this legislation to help address the workforce crisis in Medicaid-funded disability services.
We need your help to ensure that this legislation passes.
Please take a moment to contact your legislators and ask them to support the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of people with I/DD and the DSPs who support them.
Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of our direct support professional workforce.