Coalition of Disability Advocates Urges Legislature to Reject Proposed Medicaid Changes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 4, 2026
CONTACT: Stacy Dym, media@arcwa.org, Executive Director of The Arc of Washington State
Disability advocates urge rejection of proposed changes to eligibility for Medicaid-funded community services
OLYMPIA, WA – A statewide alliance of sixty-seven private and non-profit organizations are standing together to oppose Governor Ferguson’s proposal to change functional eligibility criteria for support from Development Disabilities Community Services (DDCS). The group, including the statewide membership of the Community Advocacy Coalition for Developmental Disabilities, is urging the legislature to reject the proposed changes as a false cost-saving tactic that would instead shift costs to crisis systems, reduce federal matching revenue, and remove preventative support that allows people with disabilities to successfully participate in their community. The group sent a letter outlining their opposition and concerns to Senate and House Budget Committee Chairs on January 27, 2026. The full text of the letter can be viewed below or at this link.
To be eligible for state Medicaid Waiver or Personal Care Services through DDCS, individuals must demonstrate functional eligibility – that means that every potential client must undergo an assessment to evaluate whether the meet the established criteria that determines the level and type of care they require. Governor Ferguson’s proposed changes to the criteria would narrow eligibility and cut services for 4,000-5,000 people, including 2,000 to 2,500 people with developmental disabilities on the current caseload.
In their letter to budget writers, advocates identified multiple harmful impacts of changing functional eligibility criteria, including:
- Lost federal revenue from Medicaid matching dollars
- Cost-shifting to crisis systems by removing preventative support systems
- Increasing burnout and burden on family caregivers
- Delayed access for early intervention in children
Stacy Dym, Executive Director of The Arc of Washington State and one of the lead members of the coalition, said about the proposal, “Our state has rightly made the investment to shift care for people with developmental disabilities into a predominantly community-based model. Home and community-based care is the more affordable, the most aligned with research on best outcomes, and the more preferred option for people with disabilities and their families when compared with segregated institutional options. The legislature must stay the course and avoid the false promise of cutting costs by cutting services. For people with developmental disabilities, the need for support does not go away when funding does – it just shifts the stress and chaos into the hospital or emergency services that are not prepared to provide person-centered, personalized care.”
About The Arc of Washington State
In 1936, The Arc of Washington State was formed by parents of institutionalized children with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) who believed their children deserved more – to be included in their communities and to pursue fulfillment and happiness just like everyone else. The Arc has played a pivotal role in changing the public perception of disability and demanding better opportunities for every child’s future. The Arc’s mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. Learn more about The Arc of Washington State at arcwa.org.
About the Community Advocacy Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (CAC)
The Community Advocacy Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (CAC) is a grassroots coalition for developmental disabilities that advocates with a common voice for meaningful community living for people with developmental disabilities at the state and local levels. CAC membership consists of any community-based organization that is a nonprofit 501c3, a private business, a chapter of a statewide nonprofit organization, or a governmental association, council, coalition, board or commission that have a primary focus to support, serve and advocate for people with developmental disabilities. The CAC is comprised of over 50 different member organizations that agree to support the core values of the CAC and agree to abide by the group’s responsibilities/rules.
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The full text of the letter can be viewed below or at this link.
CAC Letter to Legislature - 2026.1.27
