My family member would need to be institutionalized without the DD waiver they have. It would be unconscionable for the Commonwealth to adopt arbitrary cutoffs on Medicaid services.

We spent decades fighting to close institutions for people with disabilities. The HCBS waivers exist precisely to ensure people with disabilities can remain in their own homes and communities rather than be warehoused in harmful, eugenicist, segregated places. People who need 24/7 care need 24/7 care. Adopting arbitrary hourly caps on services contravenes the entire purpose of Medicaid waivers and has no basis in law or responsible policymaking.

It is unconscionable and unlawful to adopt arbitrary cutoffs policy like this knowing it will result in forcible institutionalization.

I am also shocked that I am only learning of this proposal today, the day comments are due, and only because a friend posted something on Facebook about it. We received zero notification from the state about this threat to institutionalize our family member. That, too, is unconscionable.