Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the potential use of enhanced home and community-based services (HCBS) funding that is available to states through Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Adult Day is a vital part of the continuum of aging services that prevents nursing home admissions and keeps families together in their homes. Adult Day Centers help aging adults remain in the community as long as possible while providing support and respite to their caregivers. But centers throughout Virginia are at risk of closing due to decreased participation resulting from COVID. Funding is needed for this important home and community based service to rebuild capacity.

Some targeted areas of focus are not only needed for reopening to increase access HCBS services, but also to re-educate the consumer about the beneficial impacts of the service, provide reliable transportation systems to and from centers, implement needed technology - such electronic medical record systems, and to develop and build the HCBS workforce related to recruitment and retention strategies.

Thank you for considering this request.