RCPA is asking members to contact Senator John Fetterman and his legislative staff to urge their continued support for the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act (S. 3211). Please support S. 3211 prior to the August 5, 2026 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee markup and help ensure this legislation passes in the 119th Congress.
The legislation would direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a distinct Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for Direct Support Professionals (DSP). While this change does not directly increase funding, it is a critical step towards strengthening the nation's direct support workforce by ensuring that DSP employment and wage data are accurately collected and reflected in future workforce and Medicaid policy decisions.
This legislation comes at a time when providers across Pennsylvania and the nation continue to experience unprecedented workforce challenges. According to national provider data shared by ANCOR:
- 88% of community providers report moderate or severe staffing shortages.
- 62% have turned away new referrals because they lack sufficient staff.
- 29% have reduced or discontinued services due to workforce shortages.
Without a dedicated occupational classification, there is currently no reliable way for the federal government to collect employment and wage data specific to DSPs. States are forced to rely on unrelated occupational categories when developing Medicaid reimbursement assumptions, making it more difficult to accurately assess workforce needs and establish appropriate payment rates. A dedicated SOC would provide policymakers with better data to inform workforce investments and long-term Medicaid policy.
Please urge Senator Fetterman to support S. 3211, the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act. Creating a distinct Standard Occupational Classification for Direct Support Professionals is an important step toward recognizing the profession, improving workforce data, strengthening Medicaid rate-setting, and helping providers recruit and retain the workforce that Pennsylvanians with intellectual and developmental disabilities depend upon every day.
A template that can be customized to your organization
can be found here and forwarded to any of Senator Fetterman’s staff noted below.
Senator Fetterman's Legislative Staff
Devin Gould
Senior Policy Adviser / Deputy Legislative Director
(202) 224-4254
Imani Featherson
Legislative Aide
(202) 224-4254
Travis Blanchard
Legislative Aide
(202) 224-4254
Thank you for taking a few minutes to advocate for Pennsylvania's intellectual and developmental disabilities community and the Direct Support Professionals who make community services possible.
