Department of Aging seeks $19 million for home services, $15 million authorization for federal match

The Department of Aging told the Senate Finance Committee Health and Human Services Subcommittee on March 19 that it needs new state funding to preserve federal grants and expand services for South Carolina seniors.

Department director Connie Munn told committee members the agency’s top requests include $15,000,000 in state authorization to maintain federal funding streams (which requires a $3,000,000 state match), and a $19,000,000 request to bolster home- and community-based services, among other items.

The funding request matters because the older-adult population is growing and the department said federal and one-time ARPA funds that expanded services after the pandemic are phasing out. “This allows us the opportunity not to have to come and ask for money … rather than coming back 2 or 3 times during the year to ask for the authorization,” Munn said, explaining the $15 million authorization would let the agency pursue discretionary federal grants without seeking repeated legislative approvals.

Munn described the $19 million ask as targeted at meal programs, transportation, home modifications, legal…