Gov. Healey cuts provider-run group home and other DDS spending as budget shortfall looms
Faced with $1 billion in declining state revenue projections, Governor Healey yesterday ordered $375 million in spending cuts across the board in state government, including in programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
It appears the governor’s actions, known as “9C” cuts, will affect three line items in the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) budget: Community Residential (corporate provider-run group homes), Community Day and Work programs, and the Autism Division in the current fiscal year.
No cuts are being made in the line items funding the Wrentham and Hogan Centers or the state-operated group homes.
However, the Community Residential line item (5920-2000) will be cut by $40.4 million, bringing funding under the line item close to even with last year’s funding level. Not only does that amount to a cut when adjusted for inflation, it is occurring in the middle of the current fiscal year.
But DDS Commissioner Jane Ryder said the funds being cut in the Community Residential account are “projected amounts to be reverted anyway due to delays in placements and getting back to services,” according to the Arc of Massachusetts, a key lobbyist for DDS-funded providers. The Arc reported that Ryder promised that, “no (provider) contracts are being amended.”
It does appear, however, that the Community Residential cut could reduce planned increases in wages of direct-care staff in provider-run group homes. According to the Arc, the cut could affect “recruitment of qualified direct support, supervisory, and clinical staff; fringe benefits; and training allowances in our home and community services.”
The Community Day and Work line item (5920-2025) will be cut in the current fiscal year by $13.8 million, and the Autism Division line item (5920-3030) will be cut by $1 million.
The day program cut is also potentially concerning given the ongoing shortage of adequate staffing and meaningful activities in those programs.
Another source of concern is a $294 million cut that Governor Healey has made in MassHealth fee for service payments. Although that cut won’t affect the DDS budget, it will have an unclear effect on services in MassHealth-funded programs for people with I/DD.
The following breakdown of the governor’s 9C cuts affecting DDS line items came from the State House News Service:
Despite Commissioner Ryder’s reassurances, these cuts will not help the situation in the provider-run group home and day program system, which The Boston Globe has already characterized as “hobbled by poor staffing and struggling with allegations of abuse and neglect.”
Ultimately, we think these problems are due more to a lack of proper oversight of the provider-run system than to a lack of resources. Nevertheless, across-the-board budget cuts are almost never helpful in solving those problems.
COFAR blog 
No cuts are being made in the line items funding the Wrentham and Hogan Centers or the state-operated group homes. WHY because the state has been downsizing state/facilities for years allowing less and less people into state homes/facilities and they have had previous cuts to their budgets.
I am very concerned for any cuts as it impacts our most vulnerable, that need- I say need services! Giving someone a bath, helping someone eat, tube feeding, diaper changing, making sure someone is safe, meeting medical needs these are basic needs of some folks. How do we forge ahead for a better life, real inclusion, expand choices and experiences of life, enjoyable activities, provide true choice of a individual, not we can’t but we can, etc for this vulnerable population without the tools to make things happen. Scary times!
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Terrible, it is already a broken system , with underpaid staffing.
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Very informative article thank you.
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Shame on them.
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These disgusting decisions began with the closings of the Workshops, along with any type of budget cuts in these areas, leave this population of individuals even more vulnerable. Why is it those who make these decisions are in no Way familiar with the true needs of these people…
Barb Govoni
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Thank you for keeping us informed
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Where is the taxpayer money being wasted at DDS and Harbor Regional Center in either state Mass or California? This issue could be in Massachusetts or California. Fraud and abuse are rampant and very little money reaches those who need it with disabilities mild and extreme. Overpaid ABA providers high-level supervisors and owners of group homes and supportive employment agencies make big bucks. The budget does not tell the story in either state. The budget numbers being released actual increase disability discrimination because of a lack of context and per capita expenditure looking higher than it is.
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My son was approved for Shared Living and a referral was sent to two agencies in Aug of 2022. The agency we selected was not able to find a provider. We have now found a provider and DDS is said the referral needs to be re-evaluated, and alerted us today that the referral is now being denied. Same person, same need, same situation and it’s his brother who wants to be the shared living provider. We are in for the fight to make this right
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That sounds about right for DDS. I believe that many in that department believe it’s their job to fight giving services in any way they can.
In fact, I’ve recently filed an OCR complaint against them for discrimination based on type and severity of disability.
I have little hope that the federal government will side with my daughter. But I hope DDS feels inconvenienced.
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