As the Trump administration prepares to take control, Medicaid has a target on its back, said Julie Ward, senior executive officer of public policy for The Arc, which offers a range of services, supports and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Given how fast the administration and Congress may act to try to trim the federal government, the organization is working hard to educate the new Congress and the public about the importance of Medicaid home- and community-based services for people with disabilities, Ward told McKnight’s Home Care in a Newsmakers podcast.
Julie Ward, senior executive officer of public policy for The Arc, feels a strong sense of urgency to help protect the Medicaid program and its home- and community-based services (HCBS) from impending cuts. For people with disabilities, she noted, HCBS is a lifeline. If HCBS is cut, it will force people into institutions and cause hardships for families. The HCBS program is currently grappling with challenges including a waiting list of over 711,000 and a workforce shortage. Procedural challenges that ensued with the Medicaid unwinding — the process of refining Medicaid enrollment following the COVID-19 pandemic — may serve as a cautionary tale if the Trump administration enacts work requirements, she said. The need to act to defend Medicaid feels stronger than it ever has been, she noted, as there will not be a divided Congress to serve as a backstop.
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Show contributors:
McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger and Julie Ward, senior executive officer of public policy, The Arc