[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6120786,"mediaKeyId","2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358","parentId",2706065,"title","Department of Disabilities and Special Needs seeks $9.3M for 48 non‑Medicaid placements and $17.5M for capital to open settings","audioSeconds",698,"startMs",1355000,"endMs",2053000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358&start=1355&end=2053","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358/thumbnail_1355000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120786/South-Carolina/Department-of-Disabilities-and-Special-Needs-seeks-93M-for-48-nonMedicaid-placements-and-175M-for-capital-to-open-settings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120786-4e4d4a8109c752eae626f62f037f6267/orig.mp4?Expires=1776161056&Signature=MB7K04LOZTo6JsX7dA868WKHCQ5qJawK3ridFGm7AUSV9CohwTo2HCSwLIfXFVvElorPtUC3nDy2F7lT9ne6hEFHkgxgL3G0v9BC4T7tuDTL8jPz4xkMTlfp3-eH3ZVJ0zS6Cyw4AMrHgKwixU84gwYXvMmvonhyQAPLMEqtha9Cbaf9lExDu-PAyBD0yfEi4frn5QQLlZN7xkDwwCr32lay-B8oQUDAJRgqrjA3OZEh2BTPsiiA6-hThhwMjQH4QiGhFlo9AR1ECq0qmqYf9BSzRnemFyxobH45WExQAjpibVRtyXDvWaCn5O0HvvtpSPJV48ZrCVx~3hPV3JNTfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","CONSTANCE HOLLOWAY, director of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, told the Senate Finance Committee Health and Human Services Subcommittee on March 19 that DDSN is requesting $9,275,380 to fund 48 individuals whose care cannot be reimbursed by Medicaid and $17.5 million in nonrecurring capital funds to help providers open new residential settings.

Holloway said Medicaid does not cover every placement scenario—examples named in testimony included people judicially admitted to DDSN after a finding of incompetence to stand trial and some children needing intensive out‑of‑home treatment. The department calculated a $529 per‑day cost per bed to arrive at the $9,275,380 figure for 48 beds, which the director said is needed because the agency’s residential wait list continues to grow.

DDSN reported 281 people on the residential services wait list, with an average lead time of 12.6 months; 19 people on the list have waited longer than 12 months. Holloway said 24 people are currently supported in institutional respite settings designed for short stays but often used longer because of placement shortages; she testified that the typical stay in a respite unit has been about six months, while an appropriate stay would be about 60 days.

To address placement capacity, DDSN asked for $17.5 million in nonrecurring capital that would be available to providers—both DSN boards and private entities—to build residential settings. Holloway said past capital solicitations produced openings (one solicitation yielded 24 beds through several providers) and described a typical contract mechanism that would include a revert clause so funds revert to the state if the provider later stops operating the facility.

Holloway also presented two Greenwood Genetics requests the department supports: a $500,000 recurring request to expand genomic testing access for adults and underfunded medical conditions, and a $1,000,000 nonrecurring request to support Greenwood Genetics’ efforts to expand and sustain genomic testing capacity statewide. Greenwood Genetics’ Dr. Skinner was not present; Holloway said Greenwood works statewide though its home base is in Greenwood.

Committee members asked about provider interest and capacity to open new settings; Holloway said DDSN conducts monthly provider outreach and would solicit interest before issuing funding solicitations. She noted that requests for additional Medicaid waiver slots have been made to HHS but that waiver approval does not solve the immediate problem without physical settings to place people.

Holloway concluded by saying DDSN needs capital and placement funding to reduce reliance on inappropriate, long‑term use of respite settings and to move people from institutional respite into community settings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance Committee - March 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","CONSTANCE HOLLOWAY, director of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, told the Senate Finance Committee Health and Human Services Subcommittee on March 19 that DDSN is requesting $9,275,380 to fund 48 individuals whose care cannot be reimbursed by Medicaid and $17.5 million in nonrecurring capital funds to help providers open new residential settings.","taxTitle","Finance, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17657,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120791,"Department on Aging asks Senate subcommittee for $15M authorization, $19M for home services",958,98000,1056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358&start=98&end=1056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358/thumbnail_98000.jpg","/articles/6120791/South-Carolina/Department-on-Aging-asks-Senate-subcommittee-for-15M-authorization-19M-for-home-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120791-21c65877afcca2c69692b97beabd559e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776161056&Signature=BaRfmgIWbFYctKyDOBL5SnH3ZlOIVXSBMugDzp~efzY5CjOLR~cBmeQN1oTfqeYCLf6Gr7QhuThtYx5BPvTVCa7-Q7m2ESp2-yKIgItZHLG0t3MDryqElKKCIHyaR4W-iSzLqUNqeCW1QLibCHFrfQWct5s1porWJ~JIfrY0hO~xiMQIfZXDQCPog8pqtOEDuLZtAGr7ycU~0c5ITn42sbGDfjUciZOFu2Oz56W5Ep9aFsmnMBLxMLiNxJPB8tuWjVkvtCkQcpo9~h67qAHkaSQAUp4UTnpxAo3BQfz6USaLm~UxYte1nhpuE1DrBo5TPjBeH~wa2IvWjZXpZibZEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CONNIE MUNN, director of the South Carolina Department on Aging, told the Senate Finance Committee Health and Human Services Subcommittee on March 19 that the agency is requesting $15 million for federal authorization and maintenance‑of‑effort and $19 million to expand home and community‑based services statewide.

The request, presented at the committee’s budget hearing in Columbia, seeks a $3 million state match (identified in testimony as a 25% match) to secure federal funding and to give the department authority to spend discretionary grants without returning frequently to the Legislature. “This allows us the opportunity not to have to come and ask for money,” Munn said during her presentation (first referenced 00:01:38 into the hearing). The department also asked for $527,000 to meet new Older Americans Act compliance requirements and several other staffing and program allocations.

The request comes as South Carolina’s older population grows and the state approaches the deadline for spending prior American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards. Munn said the aging network intentionally spent ARPA funding on innovative, flexible services—examples included weekend meals, food boxes, Uber partnerships for medical transportation and pest control services—and that roughly $4 million of ARPA funding remains under a no‑cost extension through September 2025.

Most of the $19 million home and community‑based services ask was explained as a response to area agencies on aging (AAAs) reporting service needs and waiting lists. Senators asked whether the request would eliminate waiting lists for home‑delivered meals and group dining; Munn said the funding would “attack” the waiting lists and reduce them substantially but would not fully eliminate waiting lists because the older population continues to grow. A senator referenced figures suggesting about $11 million for home‑delivered meals and another portion for group dining; Munn said the request numbers came directly from the 10 AAAs and that the department can provide a county‑by‑county breakdown on request.

Munn also described the department’s home stabilization program, which began as a HUD pilot and was expanded statewide through state administration. She said minor home modifications completed in 130 homes cost the state about $604,000 and likely avoided roughly $14.49 million in costs associated with institutional care—an estimated gross savings of about $13 million, according to the slide presented to the committee.

Other items in the agency’s priority list included $550,000 for ombudsman allocations to AAAs to expand long‑term care and behavioral health ombudsman coverage statewide, a requested guardian ad litem position to represent vulnerable adults in court proceedings, a $154,000 per‑year request for shared services and data warehouse support, an e‑learning/learning management position, marketing and communications funding, and a small FTE realignment across funding sources.

Committee members asked for additional detail on meal composition, procurement standards and contract requirements; Munn said meals provided under the Older Americans Act must meet one‑third of the recommended daily allowance and that AAAs follow dietary procurement requirements when contracting meal providers. She offered to provide a tutorial and a breakdown of current waiting‑list numbers by county.

Munn said the Older Americans Act final rule—updated in 2024 for the first time in 37 years—drives some of the staffing and compliance requests, including positions to develop legal assistance and veterans outreach. She also thanked staff and the AAAs for coordination in spending ARPA funds and implementing flexible services.

The department provided slides showing the priority list and impact metrics; Munn said the department can supply the committee with the detailed breakout and waiting‑list information that senators requested. The presentation concluded with an offer to provide additional data and follow‑up materials to the subcommittee.","At a March 19 Senate subcommittee budget hearing, Department on Aging Director Connie Munn requested $15 million for federal authorization/maintenance-of-effort, $19 million for home and community‑based services, $527,000 for Older Americans Act compliance, and other staffing and program funds to address rising demand and ARPA spending deadlines.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120781,"Vocational Rehabilitation requests $373,750 in state funds for campus repairs; seeks timeline to rebuild Upstate center",0,1993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358&start=1993&end=1993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706065-7faca063628d08d0b6325fbecab0c358/thumbnail_1993000.jpg","/articles/6120781/South-Carolina/Vocational-Rehabilitation-requests-373750-in-state-funds-for-campus-repairs-seeks-timeline-to-rebuild-Upstate-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120781-60f46daa69aa32531d87fb2de2c16435/orig.mp4?Expires=1776161056&Signature=GiKVJvuW0YQxToB-LlFNFkAPLYLvyop1w1UJ-8-o4pLyVz40mjx16RHEfFS1t5Mi3zFsZ3Ck~D7~e65fWBV9-xcJ2pRprUhZNK9Scrj2dgGjJMF~jD2Zvo4tYB43CRlLcGMU43wsQX9btoYIaVvEUzP-PK4ElKoUQwPkLgllR4tUtcj7kaOgQ1lr6vBX4szwTeApnVcZ7zrVEmHzKEr-zkPYBI9xLl5qBoEF~TzLM8Au3EnMtb2MMqJWgviygwBk-QvyUX4olZDUvpTkryLrsFsJRAy~cW1zpIp2UQObjc79CFTe3GCmHIoPYyxsJz1Sici7v6RiRgYKjgc1qv-CEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","FELICIA JOHNSON, Commissioner of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, told the Senate Finance Committee Health and Human Services Subcommittee on March 19 that the agency is requesting $373,750 in state funds for three capital projects and will use federal funds for the balance.

Johnson described three projects on the West Columbia campus: two parking lot repaving projects (each estimated at $600,000 total, proposed to be split roughly 75% federal and 25% state with $150,000 state per lot) and replacement of 23 outdated heat pumps at a dorm building (project cost split of $73,750 state and $221,250 federal). The combined state request presented to the subcommittee was $373,750.

The comprehensive evaluation center on the campus serves individuals with physical disabilities in a roughly 20‑day assessment program; Johnson said the center served about 200 adult consumers last year and the adjacent state office building serves about 215 employees who park on the lots daily. A separate complex housing rehabilitation technology services, a learn center and other training facilities served more than 400 consumers last year and hosted 31 internal trainings with 2,157 participants, the commissioner said.

Johnson and staff also discussed Holmesview, the Upstate treatment facility that burned in 2016. Committee members requested a timeline for federal prior approval and the rebuild process; Johnson said the department has solicited letters of support and engaged a cost consultant and that prior federal approval is required before construction can proceed. The Florence replacement facility currently provides services for the Upstate; Johnson said Florence currently houses a 60‑bed facility, while the pre‑fire Greenville center had 48 beds and the department is exploring whether a new facility could match the Florence 60‑bed design.

Committee members asked for a timeline from application to completion; the department said it would provide a timeline and cost estimate after completing the cost consultant estimate and federal prior‑approval request. Johnson said steps include obtaining engineering/cost estimates, letters of support, and then submitting for federal prior approval; she noted federal rules changed to require prior approvals for some construction projects.

No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing; Johnson said the department will follow up with the committee on prior‑approval timing and cost estimates.","Commissioner Felicia Johnson told the Senate subcommittee VR seeks $373,750 in state funds (to be paired with federal funds) for two parking lot repavings and heat pump replacements at the West Columbia campus, and asked for a timeline to seek federal prior approval and rebuild the Upstate Holmesview treatment center destroyed by fire in 2016.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Department of Disabilities and Special Needs seeks $9.3M for 48 non‑Medicaid placements and $17.5M for capital to open settings

Department on Aging asks Senate subcommittee for $15M authorization, $19M for home services

Vocational Rehabilitation requests $373,750 in state funds for campus repairs; seeks timeline to rebuild Upstate center