With the start of another new year comes the opening of a new legislative session in Annapolis. This is a busy time for lawmakers as they work to pass laws and approve the state’s budget. The main focus will be finding ways to fill the nearly $2 billion shortfall in the budget.

AFSCME Home Care providers have had a good history of going to Annapolis to fight for improvements to our programs. We’ve testified before legislative committees, visited with our legislators, and held rallies to make our voices heard. This year will be no different.

We MUST be very active this coming year to make sure that we hold on to the ground we’ve made (rate increases, funding waiting list slots) and make sure that lawmakers don’t ask us to give these up. The work we do is important – we make it possible for thousands of Maryland residents to remain in their own homes. We cannot go backwards, we must continue to make progress!

We will not be alone in our struggle – We will be joining forces with hundreds of Medicaid advocates to protect funding for our programs.