By Sarah Crawford, TLC CEO
Governor Josh Stein recently released his proposed state budget, and for thousands of North Carolina families caring for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), it represents a step forward. His proposal balances fiscal responsibility and meaningful investment in vulnerable communities, all without raising taxes.
The budget includes more than $37 million to expand access to the Innovations Waiver, a Medicaid program that helps people with an IDD live at home or in community settings with the services they need to thrive. That funding translates to roughly 200 new waiver slots—a step in the right direction, especially in a tight budget year.
Governor Stein is in a tough position, working within the limitations created by North Carolina’s ongoing corporate tax cuts and the rapid expansion of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers, which divert critical resources away from public systems and services that benefit many in favor of those that serve only a few.
But the reality is this: nearly 19,000 North Carolinians remain on the waiting list, many for years. To make a meaningful impact, we need to fund at least 1,000 new waiver slots this year.
This proposal builds on recent progress. Over the past four years, the General Assembly has made historic investments in IDD services—funding 1,350 new waiver slots and committing $60 million in recurring funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates and boost wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). I’ve been proud to champion those investments alongside my colleagues.