News » DDD Announces Budget Increase for DSPs to Take Effect October 1st

DDD Announces Budget Increase for DSPs to Take Effect October 1st

September 28, 2018

The turnover rate for Direct Support Professionals is 44 percent.

Autism New Jersey is pleased to see progress being made in increased recognition and support for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). DSPs are a crucial part of the autism community and it is imperative that they be fairly compensated. The following announcement from Jonathan Seifried, Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for New Jersey, released today details how the increased funding for DSPs, included in the most recent state budget, will be implemented.  Read the full announcement below.

Hello Division Constituents and Community Partners,

You may be aware of the exciting news that Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature identified $32 million in additional state and federal funding to support higher wages for direct support professionals serving individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities who are enrolled in the Supports Program or Community Care Program under Fee-for-Service. The Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities is implementing this budget increase beginning October 1, 2018.

To accommodate the higher rates for direct support professionals, there will be a corresponding increase to all budgets for individuals enrolled in the Supports Program (SP) or Community Care Program (CCP) under Fee-for-Service. This additional funding will increase payments to Medicaid/DDD approved providers for the impacted services listed below, and provider agencies are required to utilize the higher payments for wage increases for direct support professionals.

Impacted Services

  • Career Planning
  • Community Inclusion
  • Community-Based Supports
  • Day Habilitation
  • Individual Supports
  • Prevocational Training
  • Respite
  • Supported Employment (Group)
  • Supported Employment (Individual)

The rate and budget increases will be applied internally by DDD-IT and will be reflected in iRecord fee-for-service plans as of October 1, 2018.

For more information please see the DSP Wage Increase FAQs and for a breakdown of old rates vs. new rates please see the FY2019 Rate Increase Grid.

Additional questions can be directed to the Division’s Fee-for-Service Helpdesk: DDD.FeeForService@dhs.state.nj.us.

Thank you.

Jonathan Seifried
Assistant Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Human Services
Division of Developmental Disabilities