Ten Ways the “Better Care Better Jobs Act” Helps Older Adults & People with Disabilities

Executive Summary

Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) play a critical role in helping people with disabilities and older adults to receive the care and support they need, at home, in their communities. Years of underfunding and neglect have left HCBS systems struggling to cope with demand, resulting in long-waitlists and workforce shortages, that were exacerbated by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress now has the opportunity to take another huge step forward towards improving the lives of people with disabilities and older adults. The Better Care Better Jobs Act would make critically needed long-term investments in Medicaid-funded HCBS systems. (The resource has been updated and was originally published July 26, 2021)

Additional Resources


[Archive]: Ten Ways the Better Care Better Jobs Act Helps Older Adults & People with Disabilities

Jen Lav, July 26, 2021 | Link

Keep Essential Care: Home and Community-Based Care

Elizabeth Edwards, April 8, 2020 | Link

Keep Essential Care: Direct Service Professionals

Jennifer Lav, April 13, 2020 | Link

Disability, Race, and Structural Inequity: COVID-19 and the Long-Term Care Workforce

Dave Machledt, April 29, 2020 | Link

COVID-19 Crisis: Unspoken Impacts on Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities

Miriam Delaney Heard, May 12, 2020 | Link

Health Disparities Facing Older Adults of Color amid COVID-19: Guest Blog by Justice in Aging

Gelila Selassie, August 24, 2020 | Link

Health Equity Blog Series Summary

Zamir M. Brown, October 5, 2020 | Link

The American Rescue Plan Act: What’s it do for Health?

Mara Youdelman, March 12, 2021 | Link

The American Rescue Plan: Major Relief for People with Disabilities

Dave Machledt, March 12, 2021 | Link

The Time is Now to Vaccinate High-Risk People with Disabilities

Hannah Eichner, March 15, 2021 | Link

A Change Worth Investing In – Medicaid Home and Community Based Services

Jennifer Lav, March 16, 2021 | Link

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