Meeting Public Comments

Dr. M.J. Conaway []

Please consider passing this legislation that will begin to address the shortage of qualified Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and provide a central registry that will enable employers and individuals utilizing Consumer Choice Option and Consumer Directed Attendant Care a place to locate qualified DSPs. It will also provide a opportunity for continued dialogue to address many issues concerning the DSP shortage.

Leah Price []

Please pass this bill. I work with clients from all over Iowa and this would be a great step towards getting Care Provider for many Medicaid Members when they needs the help. Currently there is a lack of caregivers due to low wages as well as the length of time it takes to get a caregiver set up to be allowed to provide the services. Many of the current issues are caregivers wages are too low as well as the length of time it takes to get a caregiver approved to work with a member. I currently have three members looking at losing their caregivers on March 1st, due to low wages. There is not enough time to get new caregivers approved. These members count on these services for life sustaining services. The members alternative is moving into facilities, which would cost taxpayers even more money. These members need cares in the morning and evening to get in and out of bed. They spend the rest of their day at active members of their communities, volunteering, attending church activities, shopping in their communities, most even have jobs, one of the members I'm speaking of is a teacher in our public school system. Iowa needs helping members get the support they need. Getting members the cares they need will also save the taxpayers money by keeping them out of hospitals.

Tucker Cassidy []

I am a Waterloo resident that has been living with a significant spinal cord injury for the last 26 years. In that time, I have always depended upon RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and other DSPs to maintain a independent life. With this experience, I feel compelled to urge you to allow this current language of the bill to pass out of committee.I believe that you should support this bill because common sense drives it. This registry would make it far simpler for individuals like myself to More quickly locate the help I need on a daytoday basis. Having continuity of care keeps me healthy, happy, and in my home far from hospitals and facilities. Furthermore, it allows young professionals in the healthcare field to more easily fill the resumes by working with the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and children with disabilities whom need the help. These workers remain employed, perhaps earning college credit building experience, and helping fuel the middle class economy.Again, I urge that you allow this particular piece of legislation to continue on to further develop into something that will save the state money and keep more disabled and elderly individuals healthy and in their homes.

Janet Queckboerner []

Please pass this bill. My son 34 quadriplegic depends on these individuals for care. They are underpaid and overworked. The disabled lives depend on these caregivers.

Julie Russell-Steuart []

My name is Julie RussellSteuart from Reinbeck and I'm the Chair of the Disability Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party.HF 402 would streamline the LTSS workforce with benefits like portable credentials so they dont lose time retraining. They can get right into a new position without delay. This will immediately help those that need direct care, especially home care. I have listened to members of the Disability Caucus talk about how tough it is to organize their care, even with an agency looking for them. That agency needs the resource of an uptodate registry with credentials to find the right help for their clients. Not only that, but what about when a care worker calls in sick? Or has to take a week off? If the database were expanded with home care workers, the agency could cover that a lot more quickly. No one should be without the care they need, but it happens too often in this current system. Please support HF402.

Shari Nichols [Independent Support Broker]

As an independent support broker I have found it difficult four the members I work for to find the help that they need, especially if they are in more rural areas. We desperately need a list that is updated regularly with accurate information on individual service providers that do care and these more rural areas. Not everyone needs service providers that are RNs or CNAs, some just need to know where to find candidates that would do housekeeping, personal care, transportation, supported community living, and respite care. I have spoken to many Iowans that are told they cant find service providers in their area by their case managers and have no idea where to look in order to find the help that they need.I am also a specialneeds mom. My son is five and has been on the waiver for a few years now. I was told at the very beginning that Clinton has no service providers to do respite for parents of specialneeds kids and my only option would be the consumer Choices option to hire my own staff. I had no family or friends that were able to provide his care and no where to place a job posting in order to find qualified candidates, not to mention that I had no idea how to begin or how to conduct interviews. I am lucky that I know a bit about HR and also have taken college courses in Human Resources when I got my bachelors degree. I was able to hire my first employee quickly through wordofmouth and because of my lack of knowledge at the beginning of this, she was by far my worst employee. By having her coming in, I was at least able to have time to do the research I needed and have created an interview process, Created questions to ask references, and found qualified candidates. After doing all of this research for myself, I took the ISB course in order to help others that are in my position. Unfortunately, the only place I have to post a job opening is Facebook, unless I want to pay to post it elsewhere and money is hard for most people with disabilities and children with special needs as there are many expenses that arent covered, that we still need for their wellbeing. Thank you for your time and I hope and pray you all help us find ways to relieve some of the stressors that we have finding help for our special people in our lives. Thank you.

GARRET FREY [Public Citizen]

I am a Cedar Rapids constitute that has been living with a significant spinal cord injury for nearly 34 years. In that time, I have always depended upon RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and other DSPs to maintain a independent life. With this experience, I feel compelled to urge you to allow this current language of the bill to pass out of committee and pass HF 402. I believe that you should support this bill because common sense drives it. This registry would make it far simpler for individuals like myself to More quickly locate the help I need on a daily basis. Having continuity of care keeps me healthy, happy, and in my home far from hospitals and facilities. Again, I urge that you allow this particular piece of legislation to continue on to further develop into something that will save the state money and keep more disabled and elderly individuals healthy and in their homes.

Vicky Watts []

Please consider passing this legislation that will begin to address the shortage of qualified Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and provide a central registry that will enable employers and individuals utilizing Consumer Choice Option and Consumer Directed Attendant Care a place to locate qualified DSPs. It will also provide a opportunity for continued dialogue to address many issues concerning the DSP shortage.

Kyla Claussen [Upgrade medicaid]

Please consider passing this legislation that will begin to address the shortage of qualified Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and provide a central registry that will enable employers and individuals utilizing Consumer Choice Option and Consumer Directed Attendant Care a place to locate qualified DSPs. It will also provide a opportunity for continued dialogue to address many issues concerning the DSP shortage.

Lina Tucker Reinders [Iowa Public Health Association]

IPHA Supports HF402. The direct care workforce is a critical component of Iowa's public health and health care infrastructure. The individuals who choose this career are dedicated professionals and deserve recognition of their training and skillset. There will undoubtedly be longterm effects from the current pandemic, including mental health needs, substance abuse, food insecurity, income loss, and more. The direct care workforce will be among those who will respond to the needs of Iowans. The direct care workforce registry will serve Iowans by elevating the status of the profession, ensuring training is recognized and registered, encouraging more people to enter the profession, and retaining those currently serving.