Pennsylvania's adult emergency waiting list for intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) services has fallen 31% since the 2024-25 budget. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced the drop on March 23, 2026.
Funding and enrollment
That budget included $354.8 million in state and federal funding under a multi-year growth strategy. About 42,000 Pennsylvanians now receive ID/A services at home and in the community, the department said. It credited rate increases that let providers raise wages with bringing the DSP job vacancy rate to its lowest level since 2015. Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 budget would add $30 million in state funding and $36.2 million in federal funding to enroll up to 1,625 more people in home and community-based waiver services. Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said the goal remains eliminating the adult emergency waiting list.
Why this matters for providers and DSPs
New enrollees need staff, so waiting list progress depends on providers being able to hire. The figures come from the administration, and providers still report high turnover, so agencies should watch whether rates keep pace as enrollment grows.