Today's deep dives: a federal judge in Pittsburgh set aside the Labor Department's live-in overtime rule for two home care agencies, while the rule's companionship section stands and Pennsylvania law still requires agencies to pay overtime. And Delaware proposes adding Integrated Supports Day Habilitation and Benefits Counseling to its DDDS Lifespan Waiver, with comments due Dec. 15.
Also today
Pennsylvania emergency waitlist down 40% since 2024. Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services says the emergency waiting list for intellectual disability and autism waiver services has dropped by 2,742 people, or 40%, from 4,592 in February 2024. Five counties (Clarion, Forest, Lawrence, Potter and Warren) have cleared their lists, and more than 42,000 people now get services at home or in the community. The department points to $354.8 million in state and federal funding in the 2024-25 budget, which raised provider rates and DSP wages. Our March report put the drop at 31%. Source: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Oct. 30).
Virginia: two charged in abuse of man with intellectual disability. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office says it arrested a 36-year-old Elliston woman it identified as the caretaker of a 41-year-old man with an intellectual disability, along with her 37-year-old boyfriend, after a grand jury returned indictments Oct. 27. The charges include felony abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in serious injury and malicious wounding. The investigation began Sept. 11, and the charges are allegations. Sources: WSLS 10 News and Blacksburg Local (Nov. 2–3).
KFF: Medicaid transportation under fraud scrutiny. A KFF brief finds Medicaid's non-emergency medical transportation benefit is less than 1% of Medicaid spending but has grown nearly every year since 2020. People who use it are more likely to qualify through aged or disability pathways. KFF notes that a House Republican bill, the STOP Medicaid Fraud Act, would extend electronic visit verification requirements to transportation trips. Source: KFF (Nov. 2).
Virginia Question 3 on today's ballot. Virginia voters decide today on a three-part constitutional amendment. One part would mean only a court finding that a person cannot understand the act of voting could take away the right to vote because of a disability. Results are expected after polls close. Our explainer covers what the measure would change.
"Being Heumann" opens in theaters. A film about disability rights leader Judy Heumann and the 1977 Section 504 sit-in in San Francisco opens in select theaters Friday, Nov. 6. Regal is offering open-caption showings Nov. 9–11 at more than 100 locations for $5.04, and the film streams on Apple TV from Nov. 13. Source: Disability Scoop (Nov. 3).