Category: Covid-19
Good News for Social Security SSI Benefits
A recent settlement involving the Social Security Administration is giving individuals living with developmental or intellectual disabilities (I/DD) who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) a reason to celebrate. The lawsuit, led by the New York Legal Assistant Group, Justice in Aging, and the Arnold & Porter Law Firm, challenged the validity of eligibility decisions made […]
Post-Pandemic Stumbling Blocks for Medicaid Recipients
If you have clients with Medicaid healthcare coverage, then you have probably heard that the renewal and eligibility efforts taking place across the country have been more than frustrating. For many insurance recipients, including children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), it has been a most frustrating process. At Direct Care Innovations, […]
Medicaid Eligibility: What to Know about the Current Changes
When a national public health emergency was declared at the onset of COVID-19, Medicaid made several changes to its enrollment and eligibility guidelines to provide much-needed health insurance for the public. The emergency ended this year which means many individuals who qualified for Medicaid during the pandemic may no longer meet the eligibility parameters. Up […]
How Record Inflation Hit Individuals with Disabilities the Hardest
Almost everyone has noticed the ever-increasing prices of items we need for the basic standards of living. From rent and groceries to gas and utilities, the post-pandemic, record-breaking inflation has left many of us trying to figure out what we can cut so we can pay our bills. For individuals living with disabilities, this current […]
How We Are Addressing Disability Data Justice
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a major gap in the collection of data on behalf of individuals living with disabilities. To properly serve members of the disability community, it’s essential to have complete access to accurate data. This information is used to influence decisions made in regard to their health and well-being as well as […]
California Caregivers Get $500 Pandemic Bonus
As care recipients suffer from home healthcare worker shortages across the country, local governments scramble to meet community needs. Lawmakers attempt to fund pay increases and self-directed care at the national level. For example, the Department of Homeland Security deployed the National Guard to four facilities in Wisconsin. In California, caregivers receive $500 state-funded bonuses. […]
National Guard Provides IDD Services Due to Staffing Shortages
Direct Care Innovations‘ readers understand our passion for those living with disabilities and those who serve them. We’ve addressed the need for more and better-paid home healthcare workers, and we provide tools for organizations to manage the business and comply with regulations. Concerning direct care staff, Wisconsin’s ongoing shortage is so critical that the National […]
Vaccine Mandates Could Leave Those with IDD Awaiting Care
President Biden recently announced the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which requires healthcare workers to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs. You’ve probably heard about the healthcare worker shortage hospitals are experiencing all across the country. As a result, many employees in the healthcare industry have resigned or faced termination. At Direct Care Innovations, we understand […]
Employers Increasingly Post “Urgent” Home Health Care Job Openings
Job postings on Indeed qualified as “urgent hires” have increased 50% since January, 2021. Many of the open positions with urgent needs are in the healthcare field. At Direct Care Innovations, we support the managed healthcare and home healthcare providers serving people with intellectual disabilities. This segment, too, feels the weight of the current situation. […]