The New Mexico Caregivers Coalition has many goals to improve the lives of Caregivers in New Mexico during the 2025 Legislative Session.
To effectively address the shortage of Personal Care Services (PCS) caregivers, we are advocating for a 15% wage increase for PCS caregivers who provide in-home care to elderly and disabled individuals. Current rates are too low, and caregivers struggle to make ends meet. We are asking the Health Care Authority (HCA) to collect data on the PCS workforce, including wages, turnover, and the number of workers. This data would be used to make the case for more funding for PCS in the future.
In April 2023, Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 395, a bill that aims to improve the working conditions and compensation of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work with individuals with developmental disabilities in New Mexico. This Bill seeks to improve the quality of care for individuals with developmental disabilities by ensuring that DSPs are fairly compensated and supported. Read HB 395 in its entirety here.
Key points of the bill include:
- Data Collection: The Department of Health will collect data on DSPs, including demographics, wages, benefits, and employment trends.
- Rate Determination: The Department of Health will conduct a biennial cost study to determine fair reimbursement rates for service providers, considering factors like minimum wage increases and DSP vacancy rates.
- Funding: The bill requires the Department of Health to include sufficient funding in its budget to implement the recommended reimbursement rates and serve more individuals with developmental disabilities.
For more information, contact New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, info@nmdcc.org or 505-710-1024.