Mosaic Advocacy Priorities for 2024
Welcome to Advocacy in 2024!
Mosaic works to positively influence legislation through collaborative relationships with federal and state elected officials. We monitor federal and state legislation, analyze proposed legislation and regulatory policy, develop legislative positions, implement advocacy strategies and campaigns, and partner with federal and state trade associations on a variety of public policy issues.
We had great success in 2023 providing comments and solutions for state and federal regulatory changes, offering testimony for increased rates, expanding Mosaic at Home as part of our expanding access for home and community based services and cultivating relationships with key legislators, regulatory agencies and congressional staffers.
As we look toward our goals for 2024, we continue to prioritize the following,
- Workforce Development
- S. 1332 – Recognizing the Role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP).
- Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to consider the creation of a standard occupational classification (SOC) for direct support professionals, when the code is next revised (the next revision is anticipated to be 2028).
- The creation of a standard occupational classification (SOC) for DSPs is fundamental to ensuring people with I/DD have access to critical support and services. A unique SOC for DSPs would help states and the federal government collect data on demographics and turnover rates. This, in turn, will help inform policies to address the workforce shortage. A DSP SOC will also help states more accurately set rates, which could positively impact DSP wages.
- S. 1332 – Recognizing the Role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP).
- Expansion of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
- S.3118, HCBS Relief Act of 2023
- Would increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) to increase funds available to states and make the Money Follows the Person program permanent.
- S.3118, HCBS Relief Act of 2023
- Regulatory changes
- H.R.5408 / S.2767 – SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
- Updates SSI’s asset limits for the first time since 1984.
- Prevents individuals with disabilities from being penalized for wanting to work and affords them the economic security they deserve.
- Increasing the Medicaid income and asset threshold from $2,000 to $10,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $20,000 for married couples
- H.R.5408 / S.2767 – SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
- Partnerships
- Cultivate new and existing partnerships with key congressional staffers, legislators, regulatory agencies and policy makers.
Mosaic has a strong group of advocates that includes members of our workforce, volunteers and other external partners. We work to advance Mosaic’s mission through the many emails, phone calls and visits we have with elected officials. We are blessed to have nearly 3,000 volunteers through our Mosaic Allied Voices (MAV) program.
Please Join MAV to give a voice to the needs of those we support, our workforce and our local communities.