CEO Notes About the Federal Cuts and Medicaid

I wanted to take a minute with you to address breaking news in Washington and the uncertainty they have cast upon foundational, decades-old funding for disability services across Massachusetts and the US.

In short, the future of Medicaid as we know it—and the well-being of people with disabilities—is at serious risk. Despite previous assurances, cuts in the House’s recently passed budget threaten to strip away essential services for many individuals we serve, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Three of our programs—our employment-focused Day Services Programs, our Prism Program for autistic young adults, and our Residential Services Programs—support more than 300 people with IDD each year. For countless individuals and their loved ones who support them, Medicaid is not just a safety net—it is a lifeline.

Though Medicaid is a federal program, its funding passes through the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) who then fund disability services to Triangle and other providers. Medicaid—and the state waivers that tailor the programs to each person’s needs—cover essential services such as healthcare, home-based services, and other supports needed to live independently.

We do not yet know how cuts will affect our programs, but the size of the cuts—$880 billion to be spread across the country—means that they will likely endanger many programs that have supported vulnerable populations for decades, while also endangering healthcare coverage for millions.  These substantial cuts to Medicaid at the federal level could mean the loss of critical care and fewer opportunities for people with disabilities.

In addition, Triangle provides services to more than 400 adult jobseekers and students with disabilities via service contracts with MassAbility (formerly the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission). Close to half of the funding received by MassAbility comes from federal funding via the Department of Education, the US Social Security Administration, and federal Workforce and Labor funding initiatives/grants. This funding is crucial to not only helping people with disabilities get jobs and live robust lives but also funds assessments and benefits for individuals with disabilities. Cuts to these pools of federal funding could cut off employment support and skill building programs for people with disabilities after decades of progress and advancement for disability inclusion in the workforce.

Our leadership team is proactively creating contingency plans to forge a path forward if there are substantial funding cuts to our programs. Our dedicated staff continue to put our mission into motion every day by supporting each Triangle program participant. Getting people with disabilities jobs and helping them live active and fulfilling lives is what we do, and that will never change.

As we navigate the coming weeks and months, here are two additional resources to provide deeper insight for what is at stake:

• From The Arc of Massachusetts: Fact Sheet: Understanding Medicaid and Proposed Changes
• From Medicaid.gov: Understanding Massachusetts Medicaid Waivers and the programs they support

Massachusetts’ Congressional Delegation and leaders at the State House are committed to funding programs that support people with disabilities. But we encourage you, especially if you would be directly affected by these potential cuts, to reach out to your elected officials so they know how important it is for them to fight for their constituents with disabilities.

Finally, consider donating to Triangle. We rely upon federal and state funding for our work, and we are proud stewards of service contracts that have transformed thousands of lives since our founding. However, our work has always relied upon additional donations that help us meet our mission, develop new programs, and enrich the lives of those we support. If you would like to support our dedicated staff members and nearly 3,000 people with disabilities reached by our programs, please consider joining our Triangle Advocates Monthly Giving Program or supporting us through a one-time donation.  A gift of any size at any time makes an enormous difference, but is especially meaningful right now.

Thank you for your time and support. We will continue to provide updates to you—members of our Triangle family—as we learn more.

With gratitude,
Rachel

Rachel Kaprielian
CEO, Triangle, Inc.