IAAAA Policy Position
on
CHOICE Revision

Position

The Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging (IAAAA) supports action that will ensure that any unexpended CHOICE funds at the end of the fiscal year return to the CHOICE fund.

Background

The CHOICE program is administered by the Area Agencies on Aging which are responsible for its programmatic and fiscal administration. Area Agencies on Aging cannot obligate the state for costs that exceed the agency CHOICE allocation.

In order to meet this obligation, Area Agencies on Aging budget with fiscal restraint.  Unexpended funds occur when program participants move off the CHOICE program or when the final allocation of funds comes late.

In FY 2003 and FY 2004, final CHOICE allocations were not made until near the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year. The impact of late allocations is that clients who are added to the program are likely to receive services for a period of several months and then would be forced back to the waiting list.  Such a practice does not meet the goals of the program, is detrimental to the health and safety of clients, and is a poor method to manage the program.

The reversion of the unexpended dollars creates the illusion that the program cannot obligate the dollars. That is a misperception.

Current Action Needed

IAAAA supports legislation that would return any unexpended CHOICE dollars to the CHOICE program.  Such action would a) guarantee funding for grandfathered clients; b) allow for instances where the final allocation is late; and, c) allow for planning that meets the goals of the program.

Source

• Durr, M., IAAAA. Email Correspondence, Reversion 3/23/2004

Last Updated May 2010