Direct Support Workforce

CHCS and Speire Healthcare Strategies released a report about COVID-19 response efforts from states and health plans that offer integrated care programs for duals. People who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid are among the nation’s most vulnerable to the coronavirus. The report outlines opportunities to support integration and identifies opportunities to strengthen programs and policies to best support the dual eligible population during the pandemic and in the future.

This report describes the current state of the direct support professionals (DSP) workforce as a crisis. DSPs promote participation in the U.S. economy, and yet the average DSP wage is $10.72, most work two or three jobs, and the average annual DSP turnover rate is 45%. This report explores how these issues affect individuals, families, and human services systems; the factors that contribute to these issues; and promising practices to strengthen the direct support workforce.