OKDHS Announces Rate Increases for Developmental Disabilities and Aging Services Providers; Expand Services

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Legislature appropriated $44 million to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) for the next fiscal year, of which $8 million was earmarked for an increase in reimbursement rates for home and community-based services administered by Developmental Disabilities Services and Aging Services.  The rate increase, which will be effective July 1, 2013, applies to services that are provided by direct care professionals such as habilitation training specialists (HTS) and personal care attendants (PCA). When combined with federal funds, the $8 million will mean a total of $20 million in new funding for these services.  

The Fiscal Year 2014 rate increase for HTS and personal care services will be $0.92 per hour, increasing the hourly rate from $14.76 to $15.68.  This increase represents the second increase in as many years, for a total per hour increase of $1.16 

In addition to the rate increase, the Legislature appropriated $400,000 to expand adult day services administered by Aging Services, and an additional $1 million to address the waiting list for families needing developmental disabilities services.

The increase in appropriations signifies the continued legislative support of community services for some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens who have developmental disabilities and those who are aging. The Legislature, in Senate Bill 1120, also instructed OKDHS to fully fund the remaining services within Aging and Developmental Disabilities Services at the same levels as the previous fiscal year. 

“Increasing payments to caretakers will help to support and attract dedicated, talented professionals to home and community care settings,” Governor Mary Fallin said. “That, in turn, will help to improve the quality of services that Oklahomans receive. My thanks go out to the Legislature for their work to support the Developmental Disabilities Services and Aging Services of DHS.”  

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Governor Mary Fallin, and the Legislature, specifically Senator Clark Jolley (R-Edmond), Senator Kim David (R-Wagoner), Representative Scott Martin (R-Norman), and Representative Jason Nelson (R-Oklahoma City), for their unwavering support of these programs and the Oklahomans they serve,” said Ed Lake, Director of OKDHS. “We also appreciate the efforts of our partners and provider agencies in Aging Services and Developmental Disabilities Services who advocated with the Legislature on behalf of their direct care professionals and the people they serve.  As a result, the majority of the rate increases will be passed along to those workers in the form of wages and benefits.” 

# # #