July 3, 2025
Dear New Hope Community Family, Friends, and Advocates,
Today, I’m writing to share an important federal update and to recognize the efforts of so many of you who have stayed informed, involved, and unwavering in your advocacy.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a federal budget bill that includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid. These cuts have the potential to harm our already-fragile service delivery system.
This is not the outcome we hoped for.
Over the last few months, as the “big beautiful bill” moved forward, our New Hope family and our sector as a whole have remained actively engaged in federal advocacy efforts. We’ve been focused on promoting a balanced legislative approach that meets the needs of all people.
Many families, staff, and community members have expressed concern about the potential impacts of Medicaid changes. Our team and our broader network have stayed informed, involved, and grounded in our purpose while this lengthy and complex process has unfolded.
We’ve shared updates, participated in listening sessions, and worked closely with partners to raise awareness and speak out. And while the final bill includes funding reductions, we want to be clear about what your advocacy helped make possible.
- We stopped the worst-case proposals from becoming reality: block grants, per-capita caps, and major reductions to the federal match rate (FMAP) were all removed from the final version.
- We helped secure new resources, including funding to expand Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for individuals who do not meet the institutional level of care, and a $50 billion investment over five years to support health care access and outcomes in rural communities.
- We made our voices heard. More than 90,000 advocates (many from communities like ours) sent over 120,000 messages to Congress this year. That’s not just participation. That’s power! And it has helped lawmakers better understand the value of what we do, the strength of our community, and the critical role Medicaid plays in the lives of people with disabilities.
So yes, this moment comes with disappointment. But it also comes with pride. It comes with progress. And it comes with resolve.
As many more discussions unfold over the next weeks and months, we will continue to communicate with you, openly and often, so that you understand our status as an organization, as a sector, and as a people who will always do our best to support and empower all people.
Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your shared commitment to empowering the lives of people with disabilities.
Best regards – stay tuned!
Debbie
Chief Executive Officer
New Hope Community, Inc.
UPDATE: Senate Passed Medicaid Cuts – Tell the House to Oppose the Medicaid Cuts
A federal budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate includes nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, potentially impacting the services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The bill is now headed back to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers will vote on whether to approve the Senate’s version. There’s still time to act and your voice is critical.
- What’s at stake: Medicaid funds the supports for people with disabilities; it also pays wages for our Direct Support Professionals.
- Where it stands: The bill is not yet final; it must go back to the House for approval before reaching the President.
- What you can do: Take 1 minute to send a message to your Representative urging them to oppose Medicaid cuts.
👉 Act Now: URGENT: Tell Congress: Stop Cuts to Medicaid & SNAP!
Budget Update: The Fight for a 7.8% TII Continues
As of this week, the 10th emergency budget extender has been passed by both houses and signed by Governor Hochul, keeping New York State operations running through May 7. While a conceptual three-way agreement on the FY 2026 State Budget has been reached, not all provisions are finalized—and that includes the Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII).
The 7.8% TII remains at risk.
This increase is a vital investment in the future of New Hope Community and the larger disability service system. Without it, the gap between rising costs and stagnant reimbursement rates will continue to widen, forcing providers to do more with less. That means fewer resources, more strain on our workforce, and jeopardized quality of care.
Increased operational funding through the TII allows us to:
- Stabilize services for the people we support
- Invest in our workforce, including wages, training, and retention
- Preserve our mission in the face of inflation and federal uncertainty
The Governor is proposing the authority to unilaterally cut up to $2 billion in spending under certain conditions, adding even more urgency to securing stable, protected funding now.
Take action now and tell your legislators to make the 7.8% TII non-negotiable in the final budget.
Click TAKE ACTION: New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation – NY Alliance Government Action Center
Your voice is powerful—and needed now more than ever.
Help Us Secure Critical Funding in the NYS Budget!
Before April 1! New York State is finalizing its 2025-26 budget, and what’s decided now will directly impact the people we support and the staff who care for them. We’re urging state leaders to include a flexible 7.8% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) and the Direct Support Wage Enhancement (DSWE) in the final budget. These investments are essential to strengthen services and provide long-overdue wage increases for Direct Support Professionals.
Your voice matters. It takes less than 2 minutes to send a message to your legislators.
- Click the link: Advocate – New York Disability Advocates
- Fill out the form
- Click Submit
- Share on with your friends and family!If you’d like to learn more, visit the NYDA Toolkit
Attention Community Provider Organizations!
Congress is considering legislation that could deeply cut Medicaid funding, threatening services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities nationwide.
ANCOR launched a new sign-on letter urging Congress to reject these harmful cuts. This is open to all community provider organizations, and it’s critical we show strength in numbers. Let’s send a unified message that our communities cannot afford these setbacks.
NYS Senate and Assembly Budget Proposals
The NYS Senate and Assembly have released their one-house budget proposals for FY 2026, moving the state budget process forward. Next, Conference Committees will negotiate with the Executive Branch to finalize the budget by April 1st.
Key Wins from Our Advocacy
7.8% Targeted Inflationary Increase – Both houses increased the Executive’s proposed 2.1% adjustment to 7.8%. The Assembly allocates $575.7 million to finance the increase; of this, $314.6 million is earmarked for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Direct Care Wage Enhancement (DCWE) – The Senate added $145 million to provide a $4,000 salary boost for direct care workers earning under $125,000 (the Assembly did not include this).
Next Steps: Final Budget Negotiations – Lawmakers will now work to reconcile differences and finalize funding levels. We will continue to share updates.
Federal Budget Proposal Puts Medicaid at Risk—Take Action Now!
Congress released a budget draft proposing at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, with Medicaid likely facing some of the deepest cuts. If Congress is successful in passing its budget resolution, this could reduce provider rates, decrease access to home and community-based services (HCBS), and leave people with disabilities without the support they need to live independently.
These cuts would impact the people we support at New Hope Community, their families, and the dedicated DSPs who provide essential care every day. Your voice matters—tell Congress to reject Medicaid cuts and protect services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Click here to send a message now.
As we approach Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March, we are reminded of the importance of awareness, acceptance, appreciation, and so much more for all people who just happen to have a developmental disability as part of who they are as incredibly beautiful and important humans.
Our legislators rely on our feedback when making decisions on public policy. Join us in raising awareness, taking action, and ensuring that every person we support can continue to thrive.
Click here to make your voice heard!
Protect Medicaid for People with Disabilities!
Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those supported by New Hope Community. This vital program funds the essential services that empower people with disabilities to live independently, receive critical health care, and thrive in their communities. Medicaid is underfunded and unable to meet the growing needs of individuals and families, leaving nearly 711,000 people with disabilities nationwide waiting for services they are eligible to receive.
With Congress making critical budget decisions in 2025, now is the time to take action. By advocating to protect and strengthen
Medicaid, we can ensure that people with disabilities have access to the care, support, and opportunities they need to live full and meaningful lives. The Arc created a one-click form to send an email to your officials urging them to support and protect funding for Medicaid.
Ask Congress to Support Medicaid: Tell Congress: Medicaid Is a Lifeline for People With Disabilities!
Stand with New Hope Community to Support DSPs
At New Hope Community, we know how important Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are to the lives of the people we support – and everything we do. Right now, DSPs don’t have a unique job code at the federal level, which means their critical role often goes unrecognized in government data. This makes it harder to address issues like high turnover and workforce shortages.
We have an opportunity to advance the recognition and support of DSPs through the bipartisan “Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act” (H.R. 2941/S. 1332). Thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates nationwide, this critical legislation has already passed unanimously in the Senate and recently cleared the House Education and Workforce Committee. We are now just one step away from full passage, and we need your voice to make it happen.
DSPs are the heart of our mission at New Hope. They empower the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live full, independent lives within their communities. Despite their essential role, the lack of federal data collection has made it harder to address the workforce shortages impacting home and community-based services (HCBS).
This legislation will change that. By creating a unique occupational classification for DSPs, H.R. 2941/S. 1332 equips federal and state leaders with the tools they need to develop effective policies to support DSPs and strengthen the services people with I/DD rely on.
We are at a critical moment. The overwhelming bipartisan support this bill has received reflects a shared understanding of the essential contributions DSPs make in communities across the country. Now, it’s time to ensure every Representative knows how vital this legislation is for the future of HCBS.
Take Action Today Your Representative needs to hear from you! By sending a message to Congress, you can help move this bill forward to a vote on the House floor. Every voice matters, and together, we can ensure that DSPs receive the recognition and support they deserve.
Call on Your Representative to Recognize Direct Support Professionals | ANCOR
Visit the link > Fill out the form with your New Hope information > Submit
For New Hope staff, this recognition could lead to better resources, stronger advocacy for fair pay, and more awareness of the vital work they do every day to empower the lives of people with disabilities.