VOR Comments to Senate HELP Committee on Workforce Crisis
On February 16, 2023, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee held its first hearing on the health care workforce crisis. The meeting focused on the shortage of doctors and nurses, especially the imprnding retirement of most of the nursing force in the years ahead and the current/recent lack of enrollees in nursing schools. Only one brief mention was made of the crisis in the workforce of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) that has been shutting down care services systems for people with I/DD and autism.
On March 20, 2023, VOR submitted comments to the Senate HELP Committee, asking them to expand the scope of their investigations to include this essential workforce and take action to this critical shortage of caregivers.
Please download (and share) VOR's comments here
VOR submits comments to CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
On February 22, 2023, VOR's former President Sam Friedman submiitted comments and recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
VOR's comments are available here
VOR Comments to ACL Proposal Supporting Family Caregivers
VOR has submitted comments to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) on its proposal supporting family caregivers.
VOR Comments to the Republican Caucus in the House Energy & Commerce Committee
The Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee submitted a policy statement recently and asked for the public to submit comments. VOR found several points of agreement, and several policies that we believe should be expanded to ensure that they cover the needs of the entire community of people with I/DD, not only those who receive waiver services or participate in competitive integrated employment.
To view the E&C Republicans' policy statement, click here.
To view VOR's comments, please click here.
To view our supplementary materials, click on the links below.
VOR Letter Supporting Parent Caregivers
Due to the shortage of Direct Support Professionals during the Covid Pandemic, the State of Oregon responded to the public health emergency by paying parent caregivers to stay home and provide care for their family membrs with I/DD and autism. As these provisions are set to expire soon, families have reached out, requesting that this program be made permanent.
VOR wrote a letter in support of this initiative, as this extends the choices that families may make in caring for their loved ones. Read VOR's letter supporting family caregivers here.
