Community Living Arrangements Secures $4.2 Million in Funding from Rate Appeal

Represented a group of Community Living Arrangements (CLAs) in Connecticut in administrative appeals challenging FY2026 room and board rates set by the Department of Social Services (DSS). CLAs are residential settings providing support and services to individuals with severe disabilities, and their room and board rates had been effectively frozen at 2015 cost-year levels despite statutory requirements for annual rate-setting under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-244.

Following collaborative engagement with DSS rate-setting and legal staff, and a rehearing focused on FY2025 rates, DSS determined in November 2025 that the long-standing statutory freeze should no longer apply. In January 2026, DSS announced that FY2026 room and board rates for all CLAs statewide would be rebased to the most recent cost year, with the increased rates applying retroactively to July 1, 2025. The resolution is expected to deliver an additional $4.2 million in funding for FY2026 for the provider community, advancing the sustainability of services for individuals with severe disabilities and their families across Connecticut.