The House Concurrent Resolution, introduced by Representative Butler, aims to memorialize the United States Congress and urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to increase pay rates for direct care support workers (DCSWs). These essential workers, including nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care aides, provide critical services to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Despite their vital role in ensuring health and well-being, DCSWs are significantly underpaid, with an average hourly wage of approximately nine dollars in Louisiana as of 2020. This low compensation has resulted in high turnover rates, staffing shortages, and compromised care quality, exacerbated by the growing demand for DCSWs due to an aging population.

The resolution highlights the need for federal action to revise reimbursement structures for Medicaid and Medicare, which directly affect DCSW wages. It emphasizes that increasing wages would not only improve workforce retention and care quality but also provide economic stability for these essential workers. The Louisiana Legislature, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health, has already taken steps to address wage increases for DCSWs, but further federal support is necessary to ensure adequate funding and meet the needs of the state's vulnerable populations. The resolution calls for the transmission of its contents to key federal officials and members of Congress to advocate for this important issue.