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Adult day centers press committee for transportation funding as costs outpace rates
Summary
Adult day centers told the Aging Committee that transportation is a growing expense that consumes about one‑third of the state medical model per‑day reimbursement; centers asked the committee to back HB 6984 to offset van, driver and fuel costs so more seniors can attend and avoid costlier in‑home or institutional care.
Leaders of Connecticut’s adult day programs told the Aging Committee that transportation costs are straining operations and limiting access for homebound older adults who would benefit from daily community programs.
Witnesses from multiple adult day providers urged passage of HB 6984, which would provide funding to offset transportation costs. Program managers and association leaders said the state’s current medical model rate of roughly $98.10 per day must cover staffing, meals, programming and transportation; witnesses estimated transportation itself now consumes about $28–$32 per participant per day — roughly one‑third of the reimbursement rate — after increases in van prices, maintenance and fuel since the pandemic.
Cheryl Rosenbaum, manager of Caring Connection Adult Day Center in Windsor, said adult day centers provide door‑to‑door service, trained drivers and staff who handle transfers, meals and supervised activities that reduce isolation and provide respite to caregivers. Chrissy Scatini, president of the Connecticut Association of Adult Day Services, told the committee that roughly 90% of state‑funded participants rely on center vans and that without transport those clients would remain at home or require costlier in‑home care.
Andre Brell, an adult day center operator, described the sharply higher price of wheelchair‑accessible vans (one example: a 12‑passenger plus two‑wheelchair van priced at about $65,000 pre‑pandemic versus roughly $120,000 today) and urged funding for fleet replacement and maintenance. Providers argued that boosting transportation capacity would enable centers to expand reach, reduce isolation, and be cost‑effective compared with higher‑cost alternatives.
Why it matters: Adult day programming supports aging in place, provides socialization that can slow cognitive decline and offers a lower‑cost alternative to institutional care. Witnesses said modest transportation investments could prevent more expensive long‑term services and supports.
What lawmakers heard: Providers offered to supply utilization data and cost studies to inform any fiscal request. Committee members asked for more granular data on client diagnoses and the share of participants with dementia; witnesses said many participants have Alzheimer’s or related dementias and that routine attendance helps stabilize health, medication schedules and daily rhythm.
Key speakers: Chrissy Scatini, Connecticut Association of Adult Day Services; Cheryl Rosenbaum, Caring Connection Adult Day Center; Andre Brell, Juniper Home Care/association testimony.
Next steps: The association will provide data and cost estimates to the committee for appropriations and fiscal review.
