Joint Finance Committee makes historic investment in personal care

The Wisconsin Personal Services Association applauds the Joint Finance Committee for voting to increase personal care funding by more than $90 million.

“The historic increase to personal care funding approved by lawmakers Tuesday acknowledges the value of in-home caregiving and responds to growing concerns about the stability of the personal care provider network,” said WPSA President Amy Weiss. “This funding will help personal care agencies recruit and retain personal care workers who provide in-home caregiving services to older adults and people with disabilities.”

Eighty personal care agencies have closed or stopped providing personal care services in the past six years, and more than half of agencies surveyed in April 2019 said they were considering no longer providing Medicaid personal care. The severe shortage of personal care workers in Wisconsin is jeopardizing the health, safety and welfare of older adults and people with disabilities who need these services to live independently.

“We would like to thank Representatives Nygren and Rohrkaste and Senator Darling for their leadership on this important issue,” said Weiss.

“WPSA looks forward to working with the Legislature, Governor Evers and the Department of Health Services to ensure continued access to cost-effective, in-home caregiving services,” said WPSA Legislative Chair Todd Costello.

The Wisconsin Personal Services Association (WPSA) is a statewide association of personal care and other home care providers. WPSA has educated, advocated, and united agencies and individuals in all Wisconsin counties for over 25 years to provide quality personal/supportive home care services to over 10,000 consumers and as many, if not more, direct care workers.