December 14, 2016
Today Governor Inslee released his proposed biennial budget for 2017-2019. The budget includes significant increases for adult family home daily rates paid through Medicaid. The budget would increase spending to adult family home providers by more than $50 million. The increased spending would come through dramatic increases in the lowest base daily rates. Rates that are currently set at around $50 a day would increase to $70. Some rates increase as much as 39%, with an average increase of 16%. (More info on the contents of the contract agreement can be found here and here)
These proposed increases are the work of the Adult Family Home Council’s collective bargaining team (made up of elected board members and the Council’s executive Director, John Ficker). That work was made possible by the members and business partners that support and fund our ongoing fight for fair pay. Thank you Members!
The Council is grateful for being included in the Governor’s budget proposal. However, this is not the end. The state legislature must also develop a budget and pass it through both houses. With many competing budget demands, the work is not over. All AFH providers interested in helping to secure this funding should consider attending the Adult Family Home Council Lobby day on January 24, 2017 in Olympia. More information and registration for Lobby day is available is available here.
For more information you can read ALTSA’s response to the budget or review the budget information available at Office of Financial Management’s Website
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office
