[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6361822,"mediaKeyId","2169660-11721436ff6db55b9e2972183f19bf9e","parentId",2169660,"title","DHS FY26 allowance rises to $4.2B; analysts flag FY24 closeout errors, foster‑care hotel placements and TANF drawdown","audioSeconds",1096,"startMs",4124000,"endMs",5220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169660-11721436ff6db55b9e2972183f19bf9e&start=4124&end=5220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169660-11721436ff6db55b9e2972183f19bf9e/thumbnail_4124000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361822/Maryland/DHS-FY26-allowance-rises-to-42B-analysts-flag-FY24-closeout-errors-fostercare-hotel-placements-and-TANF-drawdown","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361822-b4709787d8b2e5fb6dd2d7f58da16b8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153183&Signature=mS7o9ELoFwKhXYw~zagRwrT-CDalRTl1Qgka6pCT3BG3ZXVVjhqmNiHEVA8RBzwwAk~PpFjgZ4YyY86mSk1ArZDcYGKxDYI095ig0UHvJR3G5UXH1tEfSPmrASGhOUED1g0rY74NDuLNG83LhpHA8idq7vS4ZktZxKYkwDaMNOfoaJhYDnyX~l7zB4uQ~zMe8L6Q1VCy7~S9VE5tf8QiJiXeI3SrSrLKwzSGcwOxvoP~Q~mfUyVyMiM~iQnsIv1tGV79TZ3CwZEoWTAjIXZRZTe1BYklb43ZOfPkrNynMeYLo3Jq2z91K35HwFl6OXJUVyiNK56MVtVIqn132Hqnyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-09T10:46:16Z","article","Analysts from the Department of Legislative Services told the Health and Social Services Subcommittee on Jan. 29 that the Department of Human Services’ fiscal 2026 allowance totals about $4.2 billion, an increase of roughly $55.1 million (1.3%) from FY25, and that the department’s budget remains heavily federal‑funded.

DLS reported a set of fiscal closeout and programmatic issues that shaped the questioning. The FY26 budget includes proposed deficiency appropriations totaling about $200.1 million, including roughly $99.1 million in general funds. The largest single adjustment — $64.3 million — replaces assistance payments funds that were reverted in error during the FY24 closeout, DLS said.

\"We acknowledge our accounting errors and have taken immediate corrective actions,\" Jessica Smith, acting chief financial officer for DHS, told the subcommittee. Smith said the department has rebuilt its fiscal leadership, implemented quarterly expenditure monitoring with local departments of social services, and begun loading detailed financial data into the state’s financial management system to improve budget alignment and oversight.

DLS also outlined problems with reporting: inconsistent closeout reporting for foster care maintenance payments and assistance payments in FY24 resulted in discrepancies between amounts reported to the comptroller and amounts reported to DLS/DBM. DLS said it was still awaiting complete responses to some closeout questions at the time of the analysis.

The analysts highlighted growing use of flexible funds and hotel placements for children in out‑of‑home care. Exhibit data showed 154 children were placed in hotels in FY23 and 180 in FY24; the department said improved data collection may explain part of the increase but that flex‑fund spending rose substantially as well. DHS said it is pursuing rate reform, expanded provider expectations and weekly staffing to reduce hotel placements; the department reported that placements have fallen since early 2024 and said it will provide requested reporting language to the subcommittee.

Principal Deputy Secretary Carnita White said DHS has prioritized kinship placements, citing the kinship care law passed in 2024 that broadens the definition of kin and directs the state to prioritize family placements. White also highlighted operational innovations: the state’s Sunbucks program distributed $120 to eligible children last summer and served more than 594,000 children, and DHS launched a Unified Benefits Screener that completed more than 42,800 checks with an average completion time of 4 minutes, 41 seconds.

DLS and committee members pressed DHS on the TANF fund balance and the use of TANF to cover child‑welfare shortfalls. DLS reported the TANF balance was about $57 million in FY24 and that the balance was drawn down in FY25 to cover assistance‑payment and foster‑care shortfalls; DLS concluded that the balance will decline further in FY26 and recommended the state align spending with ongoing annual receipt levels.

White acknowledged federal uncertainty and said DHS had already drawn down some funds while awaiting final federal guidance. Committee members asked about the potential effect of interrupted federal guidance on programs such as TANF, SNAP, refugee assistance and certain discretionary grants; White said DHS is monitoring federal changes and preparing contingency plans.

On data and reporting, White and Smith described a multistep corrective plan: rebuilding budget and finance functions, developing standard operating procedures, creating a data office to modernize collection and public reporting, and partnering with the Office of Legislative Audits to address issues.

Ending: Committee members requested additional documentation and timelines for outstanding reports and follow‑up on DHS’s corrective actions. DHS committed to provide the requested information, including more detail on closeout reconciliations and reporting on children placed in hotels.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HHR Committee Session, 1/30/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Human Services officials defended a $4.2 billion FY26 allowance while analysts highlighted FY24 closeout errors that required $200.1 million in deficiency appropriations, rising foster‑care costs, use of TANF balances and hotel placements for children in care. DHS highlighted Sunbucks and new data tools.","taxTitle","Health and Social Services Subcommittee, Appropriations Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",78564,"location","Maryland","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6361827,"Department of Aging urges preservation of senior-care dollars as state analysts flag waitlist and spending issues",3296,576000,3872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169660-11721436ff6db55b9e2972183f19bf9e&start=576&end=3872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169660-11721436ff6db55b9e2972183f19bf9e/thumbnail_576000.jpg","/articles/6361827/Maryland/Department-of-Aging-urges-preservation-of-senior-care-dollars-as-state-analysts-flag-waitlist-and-spending-issues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361827-fbfdf81ecd57e7d6882fb2fcdb65d90f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153183&Signature=ipK88u--bjESifp7Ua5~wlI~wVMb6uKXvsiqATWrO4aMDdfHi5~4Mxz6JoQcvWj~W4HZbdRa0ulrgH3fBgj0nGK9DARGDOnkXxIAu5EplkTn46ZUBFDIJQxcSJo5SjWGT-c6~Ooh5jk6AxSOzBr5dq2Bik4kJ3FEij4qhUWNqUilynW1sFkDThwXequoBjaeXlYoqlB1By6Zsac-ODv2evd3vhLZtComNG7OqKaCXxlv31Wh-CIkEJSOMZOBxk6EJxv0jBAF0nAchu8xa8wURGkf5XRLrcPVppLPo~FtHiTNOVxbdCMDUrROEoNZ7ReSf1ka~e8eMjzsGqb39uzV4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Victoria Martinez of the Department of Legislative Services presented the fiscal 2026 review of the Maryland Department of Aging on Jan. 29 before the Health and Social Services Subcommittee of Appropriations, reporting the department’s allowance at about $90.3 million, a roughly $869,000 decrease from the prior year.

The DLS analysis highlighted three items that dominated questioning: a growing senior care program waitlist amid declining participation; substantial one‑time ARPA and other reversions that reduced FY24 spending; and ongoing implementation of recently created initiatives, including a Long Term Care and Dementia Care Navigation Program and the Longevity Ready Maryland plan.

DLS found that the senior care program, which receives state funding that pays for services and case management intended to help older adults remain at home, had $8.5 million added by the General Assembly in fiscal 2024 to address the waitlist. The department reported actual FY24 spending of about $8.7 million but reverted roughly $5.9 million at FY24 closeout. The program is budgeted at $13.9 million in FY25 and $13.2 million in the FY26 allowance; DLS recommended reducing the FY25 appropriation by $2.5 million to better match recent spending patterns.

\"The senior care funds are being fully planned for at the area agency on aging level,\" Carmel Roque, secretary of the Maryland Department of Aging, told the subcommittee. Roque said a DLS‑proposed $2.5 million cut for FY25 \"would be very destabilizing,\" because AAAs have already budgeted staffing and services on the expectation the funds would be available.

Roque said the department has reduced its vacancy rate significantly over two years and added staff capacity to improve fiscal and programmatic oversight. She noted the FY26 allowance includes one new IT position and six contractual conversions, with a total of 56 regular positions and three contractual positions reflected in the request.

DLS pointed out that jurisdictions such as Baltimore City, Frederick, Wicomico and Charles counties have waitlist counts larger than current participation. Eloise Maine, assistant secretary for grants administration at the Department of Aging, said data collection and reporting varied across the 19 area agencies on aging and that the department has restored a program manager position and implemented midyear fiscal checks to improve reporting and spending oversight.

Advocates who testified after the department urged the subcommittee to restore and protect specific program funding. Megan Peters of the Alzheimer’s Association emphasized the 2023 law that created the dementia care navigation program and the program’s $2.4 million statutory mandate; she said the Board of Public Works cut $1.2 million in FY25 and the introduced Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act would reduce the recurring appropriation to $1.2 million going forward. \"This program helps our caregivers navigate the complexity of dementia care,\" Peters said, arguing navigation reduces costs and caregiver strain.

Anne Secot, representing Maryland’s area agencies on aging, and Carol Linehard of the Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network described senior‑care programs as cost‑effective alternatives to nursing homes and said AAAs need steady, ongoing funding to hire case managers and enroll people from the waitlist.

On initiatives and task‑force work, DLS noted the Department of Aging’s Long Term Care and Dementia Care Navigation Program includes a $2.4 million mandate, reduced by $1.2 million by the Board of Public Works; the department’s longevity planning (the Longevity Ready Maryland initiative) is an executive‑order‑driven, multiyear planning effort with a final plan due to the governor and General Assembly in July 2025. DLS also asked the department to describe plans to implement recommendations from a task force on preventing and countering elder abuse; the task force submitted its final report in December 2024.

The subcommittee pressed the department for detail on why waitlist counts rose while participation fell; department staff cited inconsistent eligibility and reporting definitions across AAAs and staffing shortages that limited case management capacity in jurisdictions such as Baltimore City. The department said some jurisdictions expanded outreach and screening when waitlist funding was added, which temporarily increased the number of people identified as needing services.

The hearing ended with the department urging the subcommittee to reject DLS’s suggested midyear cut and to preserve funding that AAAs have already planned to spend. The department said it is working on regulatory changes tied to agency bills intended to modernize state programs for older adults and to standardize data collection across AAAs.

Ending: The subcommittee did not take a formal vote during the hearing. Lawmakers said they would follow up with additional questions and may examine DLS’s recommendation and the department’s implementation plans in subsequent budget deliberations.","Legislative analysts and advocates debated the Maryland Department of Aging’s FY26 budget, focusing on a growing senior care waitlist, unspent FY24 appropriations, and a proposed cut recommended by DLS. Secretary Carmel Roque and advocates urged lawmakers to protect funds, including a dementia care navigation program facing a BPW reduction.","actionData","errors"]

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DHS FY26 allowance rises to $4.2B; analysts flag FY24 closeout errors, foster‑care hotel placements and TANF drawdown

Department of Aging urges preservation of senior-care dollars as state analysts flag waitlist and spending issues