Committee backs $200,000 bill to expand rural elder services and seed new programs

BISMARCK -- The House Human Services Committee voted to give Senate Bill 2138 a "do pass" recommendation and re-refer it to appropriations after hearing from program leaders who said increased funding would allow them to serve more rural older adults and help other counties replicate the model.

Senator Mark Webber, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the Community of Care program began receiving state support in 2009 and that the request in SB 2138 is for an additional $200,000 to expand services and provide seed grants for other rural areas. "The object is to keep our elderly in their homes as long as they possibly can," Webber said.

Myrna Hansen, executive director of Community of Care, testified the nonprofit serves rural Cass County across roughly 1,700 square miles and provides a mix of services free of charge: a one-stop service center with a social worker and care coordinator, faith community nurses, volunteer transportation to medical appointments, bone-builder exercise classes and outreach. She told the committee Community of Care served 688 individuals in 2024 and that volunteers logged more than 10,700 miles for medical transportation in that year.

Hansen said the program's four-part model ' information and referral, faith community nursing, volunteer transportation and support/education ' helps older residents remain in place and reduces potential Medicaid and long-term-care costs. She said Community of Care has provided consulting to NDSU Extension's aging and community project, which is piloting the model in other counties.

Committee members asked about eligibility and how seed funds would be distributed. Hansen said the program generally serves adults 65 and older but will help some clients aged 60-65 when eligible for programs; she said the additional $100,000 in the bill is intended as startup seed money for other communities rather than ongoing operating support for Community of Care. Nancy Nicholas Meyer, director of Adult and Aging Services at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the department would likely distribute startup grants through a competitive request-for-proposals process and could provide progress reports to the committee.

Representative Fralick moved for a due pass and re-referral to appropriations; Representative Balinski seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as "Motion carries 11-0-2." Representative Rios volunteered to carry the bill.

Hansen provided program detail to quantify savings and needs: Community of Care currently receives $120,000 per biennium through the Department of Health and Human Services and requests an increase to better align funding with rising operating costs and the cost of long-term care. Hansen cited a Genworth Financial figure showing the North Dakota average long-term-care cost increased from about $56,940 in 2009 to $146,635 in 2025 and said staff identified at least 15 clients in 2024 who would likely have required long-term care without the program's support.

The committee closed the hearing with unanimous support and re-referred the bill to appropriations.