Episode 7: ICFs, HCBS, Say What? A conversation with VOR’s Hugo Dwyer

Apple Podcasts here

Spotify here

Description: We speak with Hugo Dwyer, executive director of VOR, or Voice of Reason, a national advocacy organization representing the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. VOR works to create quality long-term care options and protect choice and quality of life choices for those with I/DD.
Highlights from this episode:
• How Hugo got involved with VOR
• His brother's journey from home, to group homes, to an ICF in Connecticut
• Medicaid's weird two-stream funding system, with ICFs on one side and HCBS on the other
• The need for a career path for those who have the calling to be direct support professionals
• The woeful under-payment of DSPs, and their high rates of turnover

• Does ideology or fiscal concerns drive anti-ICF sentiment?

• How state Medicaid agencies force families to sign away their rights to ICFs

• The difficulty in obtaining information about ICFs in many states

Links:
Voice of Reason: VOR.net