News Council submits testimony at four Chapter 257 rate hearings

The Providers’ Council submitted testimony at four Chapter 257 hearings today, regarding updated rates for Certain Developmental and Support Services, Certain Elder Care Services, Certain Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Programs and Family Stabilization Services.

Rates for all four services were updated with a 1.85 percent CAF and salaries were benchmarked to the Massachusetts Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median wages as dated May 2021. The tax and fringe rates for all four services were also benchmarked at 24.22 percent. The proposed amended regulations for all four services contain rates for effective dates of service on or after January 1, 2023.

The Council urged the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to incorporate the 75th percentile of the Bureau of Labor Statistics data to ensure community-based human services organizations are able to recruit and retain workers in an increasingly competitive environment.

The Council also asked EOHHS to discard its inadequate CAF of 1.85 percent and to instead consider using the latest Consumer Price Index of 8.2 percent or Social Security Administration cost-of-living adjustment of 8.7 percent, as well as raise the total tax and fringe rate to 27.97 percent.

To read the Council’s full testimony, click here.

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