Buncombe County advisory panel warns of tight aging-services funding, urges stronger provider coordination

Buncombe County’s Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Advisory Committee on Sept. 24 reviewed early fiscal-year spending and year-end program summaries and urged providers to invoice promptly amid a risk that the state budget could be delayed or reduced.

The committee, which advises the county on distribution of HCCBG and supplemental aging funds, heard staff say some providers are already spending above expected rates and were reminded to submit invoices and enter units of service promptly so reimbursements can be processed.

Committee staff summarized the grants report and cautioned that two related numbers on the spreadsheet mean different things. "The grant percent is what is allowable through the ARMS, and the percent of grants served shows the entirety of the grant that they have already put into ARMS," Zach, a program staff member, said. He added later that “we are hoping for a budget passed Oct. 1. I don’t know that that will happen.”

Why it matters: Committee members said a late or reduced state appropriation could force the county to reduce reimbursements or seek repayments from providers. Staff repeatedly urged conservative spending until state budget action is final, and the group discussed how to minimize disruption to services for older adults.

Key details and immediate issues

- Providers and invoices: Committee staff reported one small supplemental invoice from Mountain Aging Partners ($91.83) had been processed; most other entries were unchanged. Billy, an HCCBG staff member who compiled the year-end summary, said MAHEC’s contract remains unsigned and that finance will not process invoices from that provider until the contract is fully executed: "We're waiting on the final signature and notarization by the executive director there," he said.

- Spending and demand: The committee noted some programs already show more than 100% of grant activity entered in the reporting system, which members said signals demand outpacing available funding. One member referenced a Citizen-Times report that legal services had cut staff due to funding shortages.

- Year‑end impact stories: Members praised the year‑end summary, which included provider-reported outcomes such as an adult-day program reporting that 84% of respondents said the service helped delay long-term care placement. Members cited Meals on Wheels, adult day centers and transportation programs (Working Wheels) as visible examples of services that help older residents remain independent.

- Coordination and access: A substantial portion of the meeting shifted to how older adults and family caregivers learn about services and navigate a fragmented system. Committee members discussed existing venue and networking options: Buncombe Aging Services Alliance (BASA) quarterly meetings, funded-provider technical sessions, and a shared calendar of meetings. The committee also discussed NC Care 360, a statewide referral platform some providers used previously and which staff said the state is trying to re‑energize.

Zach described how NC Care 360 works: providers create profiles and can send referrals so a provider such as Working Wheels would receive a referral for car-repair help and then accept or decline it. Staff noted sign-up is optional and that services only appear in the network if a provider enrolls.

- Larger proposals: Committee members recalled an earlier plan for an "active aging center" (an idea previously discussed with UNC Asheville and county commissioners) but were told county leaders deprioritized the project because of other spending needs and post‑Helene recovery costs. Staff said the estimate they remembered for a dedicated center was about $27 million.

Committee next steps and application guidance

Members agreed to revise the HCCBG philosophy and scoring/application materials to emphasize (1) client access and outreach, (2) how prospective clients learn about services, and (3) whether providers use referral platforms such as NC Care 360. Allison, a committee member, volunteered to draft a proposed mission/philosophy statement and share it with the group for further revision.

No formal policy change or funding reallocations occurred at the meeting. Staff said they will continue encouraging providers to invoice in a timely fashion, to enter units of service in ARMS, and to consider registering with NC Care 360 if they wish to receive electronic referrals.

Ending

Committee members applauded the year-end narrative and the data that illustrate how HCCBG-funded programs affect residents’ daily lives but emphasized that uncertainty in the state budget makes near-term fiscal prudence essential. The group plans to follow up on draft mission language and application questions at a future meeting, and staff will continue to monitor contract executions and provider invoice submission.