News
Update from Richmond: Governor uses FMAP funds to restore budget cuts, but further advocacy needed to protect Quality Home Care!
August 23, 2010 - Late last week, after hundreds of calls from VAPCA members and our allies, Governor McDonnell announced that he will use the enhanced FMAP funds to restore many of the cuts to our home care program, including:
- Restoring the 480 hours of respite care for our consumers and loved ones.
- Restoring the 5% pay cut for Personal Care Assistants and other Medicaid providers, starting October 1, 2010. However, the pay cuts will not be restored for the past months, from July 1 - Sept 30.
We may not have gotten everything we wanted, but this is a major victory for Quality Home Care. Members of VAPCA like you have been fighting these cuts since December, making calls, sending e-mails, and traveling to
However, the fight for Quality Home Care isn't over yet. The FMAP funds will only restore our pay cut and respite hours through June 30, 2011 unless we advocate for more funding for home care.
Please call the Governor's office at 804-786-2211 and tell him: "Thank You for restoring the cuts to Home Care, and please strengthen home care in next year's budget."
Your fellow PCAs and consumers are counting on you.
House Joins Senate in Passing FMAP Funds!
On Tuesday, August 10th, the U.S. House approved federal Medicaid funding, known as FMAP. The bill has now been signed into law by the President, and
The Commonwealth could use these funds to:
- Restore the 500 respite hour cut
- Restore the 5% pay cut
- Add 250 new waiver slots
VAPCA members like you helped make this possible by making hundreds of calls, sending hundreds of emails and sharing your stories with our elected leaders. Thanks to you, we're one step closer to getting back our pay and lost hours.
For more information on how to get involved in the efforts to protect Quality Home Care in Virginia - and ensure that the Commonwealth restores the cuts to Home Care - contact our Richmond office at 804-447-0734
Breaking News: U.S. Senate Passes FMAP! Home Care Workers' Voices Finally Heard
August 6, 2010 - After weeks and weeks of phone calls, e-mails and personal visits from home care workers and consumers, the U.S. Senate finally passed the FMAP funding extension on Thursday.
This is an exciting victory, which shows that when we work together in the Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants, we can achieve anything!
But, we're not done yet. In order to get the funds needed to restore cuts home care workers' pay and hours, the U.S. House of Representatives has to pass FMAP funding. The House is scheduled to debate the FMAP bill as early as next Tuesday.
That's why your fellow Virginians are counting on you to contact your Representatives today. Tell them: "Finish the Job. Pass the FMAP extension ASAP."
With the FMAP extension, we will regain the pay and hours we lost, and our consumers and loved ones will get the care they need to live independently.
Take Action Today! Tell Congress to Save Home Care from Devastating Cuts
Home care in Virginia is on the chopping block. Again.
First, the Governor proposed cuts to pay and hours. Then, the Governor proposed eliminating the home care program entirely. Thanks in part to our phone calls and emails, we saved home care in Virginia. But now another risk is looming.
Home care programs in Virginia will face cuts if the U.S. Congress fails to pass an extension of key funds - called FMAP funds - this month. Increased FMAP funds were part of the stimulus and help pay the federal government's share of Medicaid home care programs.
Call your members of Congress toll-free at 1-866-308-6259, and tell them to pass the FMAP extension now.
If Congress doesn't hear from us, home care workers could face a 5% pay cut and will lose up to 500 respite hours. Meanwhile, older adults and people with disabilities will lose critical health services.
Without the FMAP extension, we will lose pay and hours, and our consumers and loved ones will not get the care they need to live independently. Take a moment and call your members of Congress now, at 1-866-308-6259.
BREAKING NEWS: You did it! VAPCA and Allies Save Home Care from Budget Cuts
Home Care in
But thanks to your efforts, our elected leaders restored the 5% pay cut, they restored all of the 480 respite hours, and they un-froze the Waivers. That's right - they restored all the cuts we asked for! While we still need Congress to pass a bill to make funds available, and we need to make sure that the Governor doesn't veto these funds, we're on the verge of a major victory.
After thousands of calls, e-mails and face-to-face meetings with our elected officials, 10,000 Virginians will continue to get the consumer-directed care they need, and 14,000 PCAs will keep their jobs and hours.
Now, let's keep the victories rolling! Become a VAPCA Leader today,
In order to win the real changes we need, like a living wage and health insurance, we have to keep up the pressure for Quality Home Care. Your leadership can make a difference. Members have created eight committees to address our common concerns. The chairs of these eight committees make up the Leadership Council, which vote on important decisions for the entire membership. It's time to renew our committees.
Sign up today by contacting Jennifer at jschockemoehl@virginiapca.org.
BREAKING NEWS: Personal Care Assistants and Consumers Answer the Call and Save Home Care from Elimination!
Last week, Governor McDonnell proposed the unthinkable. The Governor said he planned to eliminate consumer-directed home care. Forever.
That's why the Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants put out the call to PCAs and allies to tell our elected officials NOT to eliminate cost-effective consumer-directed home care. And you answered that call!
Within hours, VAPCA members had made hundreds of phone calls and sent hundreds of e-mails to legislators telling them why consumer-directed home care is good for
And our elected officials listened! On Sunday, February 21, both the state House and Senate announced their budgets, rejecting the Governor's proposal to eliminate consumer-directed home care.
You spoke out and your voice was heard! While there is much we still need to fight for, now is the time to say "Thank You" to our elected officials.
Please call your Delegate and Senator and tell them "Thank you for supporting cost-effective consumer-directed home care."
To learn who your legislators are, and how to contact them, please visit: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
ACTION ALERT from Richmond: Governor Proposes Eliminating Home Care - Take Action Today!
For over two months, home care consumers and providers have been under attack in
But, this week, our new Governor Bob McDonnell proposed the unthinkable.
Governor McDonnell said he wants to eliminate consumer-directed home care. Forever.
10,000 older adults and people with disabilities would lose their current PCA services. And 14,000 home care providers would lose their jobs.
This Sunday, Feb. 21, the House of Delegates and state Senate will announce their budgets. Will they stand with Gov. McDonnell and eliminate home care? Or will they stand with the overwhelming majority of Virginians who want cost-effective home care services?
Act Now! Call your Delegate and Senator and tell them "NO! Don't eliminate Consumer-Directed Home Care."
To learn who your legislators are, and how to contact them, please visit: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
VAPCA Rallies in Richmond to Save Home Care!
"Whole Community Day" a major success, but we have more work to do.
January 26 - Over 100 Personal Care Assistants, older adults, people with disabilities and community allies travelled from across
VAPCA members and allies also celebrated and strategized at the annual "Quality Home Care" Dinner on January 25th. Personal Care Assistants and consumers heard from VAPCA leaders, community supporters and legislators about the importance of sharing our stories with our elected officials. 
We took to the Capitol and our voices were heard! But our work isn't over yet. Our elected officials are still debating the proposed budget. They are even debating whether or not to make MORE cuts to our pay, hours and the care our loved ones receive.
Take action today! Contact your legislators and tell them:
Restore the 5% pay cut to Personal Care Assistants!
Restore the Respite Hours!
Restore the Waiver Slots!
To learn who your legislators are, and how to contact them, please visit: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
PCAs Speak Out to Save Home Care at State Budget Hearings
At state budget hearings across
Marie Jah, a PCA from
To read more about the Budget Hearings, click on our "Newsroom" page to see how the media covered our efforts!
And check out these great photos of VAPCA members from Budget Hearings across the Commonwealth of Virginia:
PCAs rally at the Richmond Budget Hearing on January 11th to let elected officials know that home care workers save the state $44,000 for every person they care for at home, and $143,000 for every young person they care for at home. 
PCAs and consumers testify in support of cost-effective Home and Community-Based services at the Blacksburg Budget Hearing on January 7th. Some PCAs drive several hours just to tell their stories!
Let's Protect Home Care
Last year, VAPCA members were able to stop major cuts to the Consumer- Directed Medicaid Waiver and win a historic 3 percent pay increase. State budget cuts, created by the poor economy, threaten to put our consumers and loved ones on a waiting list and deny them care.
With your help, we can protect home care and save our jobs.
PCAs from across the state will attend budget hearings and explain why our jobs are important--by providing quality care at home for seniors and people with disabilities, we improve the community and save taxpayers money.
You Did It! Caregivers and Consumers Unite to Win 3% Increase to Improve Quality Home Care
As the General Assembly session came to a close on February 28, 2009, legislators voted to include a long-overdue 3% cost-of-living increase for home care workers in the state budget. Congratulations to all the members of VAPCA, their consumers, community allies and family members who stood up and spoke out for Quality Home Care in Richmond and in communities across Virginia. This historic victory was possible because of your efforts.