Richard Edwards
@edwardsr0203.bsky.social
Disability policy and systems advocate. Dad. Husband. Musician. NC resident.
Pinned
Richard Edwards
@edwardsr0203.bsky.social
· Nov 18
First post on bsky! Not here to amass a big following, just trying to keep up with issues affecting people with disabilities, seniors, and veterans who receive publicly funded supports.
States do not have a lot of levers when it comes to balancing Medicaid budgets -- it is vital that we protect #Medicaid funding.
During the last major reduction in federal Medicaid spending, all states reduced spending on home care by serving fewer people, cutting benefits, or reducing payment rates.
States may use similar methods in the future: https://on.kff.org/48so73J
States may use similar methods in the future: https://on.kff.org/48so73J
November 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
States do not have a lot of levers when it comes to balancing Medicaid budgets -- it is vital that we protect #Medicaid funding.
Judge in Wake Superior Court has ruled against DHHS' Medicaid rate cuts for autism services. Original rates to be restored.
#fundncmedicaid
#fundncmedicaid
November 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Judge in Wake Superior Court has ruled against DHHS' Medicaid rate cuts for autism services. Original rates to be restored.
#fundncmedicaid
#fundncmedicaid
Reposted by Richard Edwards
As the Trump administration takes sweeping steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the agency is still deciding what the future holds for #SpecialEducation. #EducationDepartment #disabilities
Ed Department Sheds Several Offices, But Spares Special Ed
As the Trump administration takes sweeping steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the agency is still deciding what the future holds for special education.
www.disabilityscoop.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 AM
As the Trump administration takes sweeping steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the agency is still deciding what the future holds for #SpecialEducation. #EducationDepartment #disabilities
Reposted by Richard Edwards
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
Reposted by Richard Edwards
I don’t want to formulate words yet, but my friend Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social of the Disability Visibility Project, has passed.
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Alice Wong on Instagram: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it ...
423 likes, 73 comments - alicatsamurai on November 14, 2025: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the t...
www.instagram.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I don’t want to formulate words yet, but my friend Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social of the Disability Visibility Project, has passed.
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
North Carolina lawmakers refuse governor’s call for special session on Medicaid ncnewsline.com/briefs/north...
North Carolina lawmakers refuse governor's call for special session on Medicaid • NC Newsline
Republican state House and Senate leaders announced late Thursday they will not heed Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's call to return to Raleigh to approve funding to patch a shortfall in the state's Medic...
ncnewsline.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
North Carolina lawmakers refuse governor’s call for special session on Medicaid ncnewsline.com/briefs/north...
Reposted by Richard Edwards
Our latest report highlights key policy priorities and issues state Medicaid programs focused on in FY 2025 and are prioritizing in FY 2026.
Explore the main takeaways: https://on.kff.org/47TD1yr
Explore the main takeaways: https://on.kff.org/47TD1yr
A View of Medicaid Today and a Look Ahead: Balancing Access, Budgets and Upcoming Changes | KFF
This report highlights key policy priorities and issues state Medicaid programs focused on in FY 2025 and are prioritizing in FY 2026.
on.kff.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Our latest report highlights key policy priorities and issues state Medicaid programs focused on in FY 2025 and are prioritizing in FY 2026.
Explore the main takeaways: https://on.kff.org/47TD1yr
Explore the main takeaways: https://on.kff.org/47TD1yr
North Carolinians are facing a health care crisis because the legislature has not adequately funded Medicaid. That’s why I’m calling an extra session for the General Assembly to get back to work and fund North Carolina’s Medicaid program.
November 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Richard Edwards
A Wake Superior Court judge on Tuesday agreed to pause North Carolina’s Medicaid rate cut for autism therapy in response to a lawsuit brought by the parents of affected children. ncnewsline.com/briefs/wake-... By @lbonner.bsky.social #ncpol
Wake judge temporarily reverses NC Medicaid rate cut for autism therapy • NC Newsline
A Wake County judge put a temporary stop to a 10% NC Medicaid rate cut for autism therapy. Parents of affected patients brought the lawsuit.
ncnewsline.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
A Wake Superior Court judge on Tuesday agreed to pause North Carolina’s Medicaid rate cut for autism therapy in response to a lawsuit brought by the parents of affected children. ncnewsline.com/briefs/wake-... By @lbonner.bsky.social #ncpol
Reposted by Richard Edwards
portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/app/Register...
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
Register of Actions
portal-nc.tylertech.cloud
November 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/app/Register...
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/app/Register...
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
Register of Actions
portal-nc.tylertech.cloud
November 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/app/Register...
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
NC DHHS is being sued over the 10/1/2025 rate cuts on behalf of autistic persons, alleging the cuts are discriminatory. #medicaid #fundncmedicaid
Reposted by Richard Edwards
"Add to [the ongoing workforce crisis] the nearly $1 trillion in funding cuts passed earlier this year in the budget bill, and it’s not hard to understand why people with disabilities are gravely concerned about the future of their services.” www.mcknightshomecare.com/news/survey-...
Survey: Staffing challenges afflict nearly 9 in 10 HCBS providers serving people with disabilities
While the direct care worker staffing situation is improving slowly, the vast majority of providers still report being unable to fill vacancies.
www.mcknightshomecare.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"Add to [the ongoing workforce crisis] the nearly $1 trillion in funding cuts passed earlier this year in the budget bill, and it’s not hard to understand why people with disabilities are gravely concerned about the future of their services.” www.mcknightshomecare.com/news/survey-...
Reposted by Richard Edwards
NEW: The states with the highest proportion of people relying on disability benefits are West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama — all states that lack their own aid programs for workers to turn to amid federal cuts.
Red State Workers Could Lose Out on Disability Benefits as Trump Administration Rewrites Eligibility Rules
Planned changes to Social Security’s disability program could leave hundreds of thousands of older blue-collar workers ineligible for aid. These changes would fall disproportionately on some of Presid...
www.propublica.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:12 AM
NEW: The states with the highest proportion of people relying on disability benefits are West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama — all states that lack their own aid programs for workers to turn to amid federal cuts.
Reposted by Richard Edwards
Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults provide care to loved ones with #disabilities or complex medical conditions, but a new report finds that the challenges they face vary significantly. #caregivers
Family Caregivers Struggling In Some States More Than Others
Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults provide care to loved ones with disabilities or complex medical conditions, but a new report finds that the challenges they face vary significantly.
www.disabilityscoop.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults provide care to loved ones with #disabilities or complex medical conditions, but a new report finds that the challenges they face vary significantly. #caregivers
Reposted by Richard Edwards
This fall, ANCOR fielded our sixth annual survey of community providers of I/DD services, continuing our effort to better understand how providers navigate long-term shortages of direct support professionals (DSPs). Here’s what we learned: www.ancor.org/resources/th...
October 29, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This fall, ANCOR fielded our sixth annual survey of community providers of I/DD services, continuing our effort to better understand how providers navigate long-term shortages of direct support professionals (DSPs). Here’s what we learned: www.ancor.org/resources/th...
Reposted by Richard Edwards
State Medicaid programs aren't required to cover home- and community-based services and have cut funding in the past to respond to budget constraints. It might get worse under more Medicaid cuts.
www.axios.com/2025/10/29/d...
www.axios.com/2025/10/29/d...
Disability services staffing squeezed as Medicaid cuts loom
Staffing already is a long-standing problem for disability services providers.
www.axios.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:53 AM
State Medicaid programs aren't required to cover home- and community-based services and have cut funding in the past to respond to budget constraints. It might get worse under more Medicaid cuts.
www.axios.com/2025/10/29/d...
www.axios.com/2025/10/29/d...
Reposted by Richard Edwards
There's been a lot of focus on our estimate that ACA enrollees will see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114% if enhanced tax credits expire. That may be a hard number to grasp. Another way of looking at it: What enrollees pay will go up by $1,016 on average.
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
October 23, 2025 at 8:41 PM
There's been a lot of focus on our estimate that ACA enrollees will see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114% if enhanced tax credits expire. That may be a hard number to grasp. Another way of looking at it: What enrollees pay will go up by $1,016 on average.
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
#Amivie team members showed up for the NC #Medicaid Day of Action at the #NCGA! Thank you to the Members and Staff who met with us to hear our concerns. #FundNCMedicaid!
October 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
#Amivie team members showed up for the NC #Medicaid Day of Action at the #NCGA! Thank you to the Members and Staff who met with us to hear our concerns. #FundNCMedicaid!
Reposted by Richard Edwards
Medicare has stopped paying physicians due to the shut down. Standing right on the third rail www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...
Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is pausing Medicare payments to doctors, as negotiations tied to the government shutdown drag on.
www.statnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Medicare has stopped paying physicians due to the shut down. Standing right on the third rail www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...
NC Peeps: There's a day of action planned for 10/21 to encourage the #ncga to pass a funding bill and restore #Medicaid rates across healthcare sectors. Learn more here: heartsforhomecare.quorum.us/campaign/144...
October 15, 2025 at 3:50 PM
NC Peeps: There's a day of action planned for 10/21 to encourage the #ncga to pass a funding bill and restore #Medicaid rates across healthcare sectors. Learn more here: heartsforhomecare.quorum.us/campaign/144...
Reposted by Richard Edwards
NC Medicaid cuts under scrutiny amid funding stalemate
A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.
A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.
NC Medicaid cuts under scrutiny amid funding stalemate
A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.
www.wral.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:28 PM
NC Medicaid cuts under scrutiny amid funding stalemate
A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.
A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.