The 2020-21 Spending Plan

Human Services

Other Aging- and Disability-Related Budget Actions

In this post, we discuss budget actions that impact other aging and disability programs.

• Maintains Funding for Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) and Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) Program. As a part of the May Revision, the administration proposed to eliminate MSSP beginning July 1, 2020 and CBAS beginning January 1, 2021 for a total General Fund savings of $119 million in 2020‑21 (increasing to $252.5 million in 2021‑22). Ultimately, the spending plan maintains funding for MSSP and CBAS.

• Maintains General Fund Levels for Key Aging and Disability Programs. In May, the administration proposed the following funding reductions in 2020‑21: (1) $8.5 million General Fund for the senior nutrition program, (2) $2 million General Fund for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, and (3) $3 million for the Aging and Disability Resource Centers. However, the spending plan rejects the funding reductions, resulting in General Fund levels remaining flat year to year between 2019‑20 and 2020‑21.

• Transfers Funds From State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account to Long-Term Ombudsman Program. Current law includes language that allows for the transfer of up to $1 million from the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program if the balance of the account exceeds $6 million, as determined in the Governor’s May Revision each year. The balance of the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account was estimated to exceed $6 million in the 2020‑21 May Revision, resulting in a one-time transfer of $1 million to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program in 2020‑21.

• Authorizes Loan From the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) Fund to General Fund. The spending plan includes a $5 million one-time loan from the HICAP Fund to the General Fund. The loan shall be repaid with interest when the General Fund no longer needs the loan or the HICAP Fund needs the money for program operations.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019-Related Flexibilities in Adult Protective Services (APS) Program. In March 2020, the state allowed county APS offices to supplant immediate in-person visits with a phone call for reports that do not involve immediate life threats such as physical and sexual abuse. Beginning July 22, 2020, however, county APS offices must return to adhering to state regulations when it comes to in-person visits. (State regulations allow for immediate or ten-day in-person response to be waived if the county, based upon an evaluation of risk, determines and documents that the individual is not in imminent danger and not necessary to protect the health or safety of the elder or dependent adult.) Social workers must obtain essential protective gear before going on the in-person visit and may conduct the in-person visit outside depending on the nature the investigation and the person’s ability to go outside. Additionally, beginning March 2020, APS offices were allowed to conduct investigations and satisfy the required 30-day monitoring visits through phone calls or video conferencing with proper documentation, unless the individual is in imminent danger. County APS offices may continue to conduct investigations and monthly monitoring visits by telephone or through video conferencing under certain circumstances.