There are a number of states where home-based care providers are seeing the cost of employing caregivers and clinicians increase.

California, Minnesota and New York are just a few examples of states where legislative changes have brought on higher wages.

While most home-based care providers and stakeholders agree that workers need and deserve pay increases, they also point out the importance of actions that will help offset some of these costs and allow them to continue operating.

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Historically, caregivers have dealt with low wages. About 40% of the direct caregiver workforce live near the poverty line, and 43% are reliant on public assistance programs, according to data from PHI.

California

In February, Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) introduced legislation that would bump up the minimum wage for health care workers statewide.

If passed, S.B. 525 would raise wages to $25 per hour for nurses and caregivers in 2024, as well as other health care workers.

“Women and workers of color who are the backbone of our health care system have been underpaid and devalued for decades,” Durazo said in a press statement. “They’ve risked their lives and health and are working multiple shifts only to take home poverty wages in understaffed facilities. We need to ensure that health care workers are paid livable wages so that everyone can have access to timely quality care.”

Providers working in the state see eye-to-eye with lawmakers on the importance of ensuring that...

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