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Hi All:
The Senate hearing for the State Budget (HB1 and HB2) has been set for this coming Tuesday, May 2nd, starting at 1:00pm.
A strong turnout in favor of full funding and a Medicaid rate increase will be critical at the public hearing. As such, we need individuals to testify in person and I hope you can make it. Even if you don't want to speak, you are encouraged to attend in person and wear something bright pink to signal support for our space.
I plan on attending and will help you if you need it.
Talking Points
This is a critical opportunity to let legislators know the importance of fully funding person-centered community-based supports and services for people with developmental and other disabilities. We are requesting the following:
- Full funding for community-based supports and services for people with developmental and other disabilities served on the DD, ABD, IHS, and CFI waivers. This is necessary for individuals to live full, inclusive, and productive lives.
- A Medicaid rate increase for DD, IHS, ABD, and CFI services. This will improve the wages for caregivers, case managers, and other key staff. If we do not increase rates, the ability of the system to deliver services will continue to get worse, putting more people at risk.
Template for Testimony
You are welcome to write your own testimony from scratch, or you may use the following template to create your testimony. If you use the template, replace the words in italics with your information. You can also click on the following links for downloadable versions of this template:
Date
Dear Chairman Gray and Members of the Senate Finance Committee,
My name is Your Name and I live in Town, NH. I am asking you to SUPPORT the developmental services budget and the proposed Medicaid rate increase. These are both necessary for individuals to live full, inclusive, and productive lives.
There is currently a workforce crisis in New Hampshire for developmental services to attract and retain qualified workers. The proposed Medicaid rate increase will support the developmental disability service delivery system and workforce.
I want to tell you a bit about (myself/my family member). (I am/My family member is) supported by Gateways Community Services through XXX (Replace XXX with Early Supports and Services, In Home Supports Waiver, Family Support, Developmental Disabilities Waiver, or Acquired Brain Disorder Waiver).
(Share a brief paragraph about yourself or family member and why full funding is important to you/them and your family. If you are creating the testimony using Microsoft Word or other word processing software, replace the picture to the left with a photograph of yourself or family member.)
Thank you, Chairman Gray, and members of the Senate Finance Committee, for considering my testimony. I urge you to SUPPORT the developmental services budget and the proposed Medicaid rate increase. Both will help solve our severe workforce challenges and will better enable the Department of Health and Human Services and service providers to help individuals live full, inclusive, and productive lives.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number
Attending In Person
The hearing is this coming Tuesday, May 2nd, starting at 1pm. Plan to arrive EARLY and be prepared to pay for parking. If you can, please make 6 copies of your testimony to give to the committee.
If you plan on speaking, please also review our testimony tips to help you give the most effective testimony possible. Practice ahead of time to keep your testimony short and concise. Ideally you should not read from your written testimony and it is perfectly acceptable if your spoken testimony is not identical to your written testimony.
NH State House
Representatives Hall (2nd floor)
107 N Main St, Concord, NH 03301
CLICK HERE for downtown Concord parking information.
Submitting Testimony Online
We are asking as many people as possible to both register their opinion online and submit testimony in support of both HB1 and HB2.
To register your opinion online, fill out this form - it takes less than a minute:
- Select the date = May 2nd
- Select the committee = Senate Finance
- Choose the bill = 1pm - HB1
- I am: A Member of the Public
- I'm Representing: Myself
- I Support this Bill
Repeat the above to register your opinion for HB2.
Since this hearing is for the entire state budget, written testimony that specifically calls out our space is extremely important. So, please submit written testimony by emailing it to the entire Senate Finance Committee. You can use the template in the previous section or write your own testimony from scratch.
Viewing the Hearing
You can watch the hearing live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/8hrh3neq6Sc
Please let me know if you will be making it and thank you for your advocacy,
Will
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