Indiana groups gather to support home health care funding
 

United Senior Action and the Indiana Home Care Task Force rallied Monday to support continued financing for the state’s home health care program for the elderly and disabled.

The move comes just days before the Indiana Senate is expected to unveil its budget proposal.

 

The House version of the state’s next two-year spending plan included $7 million in new financing each year and made the dollars non-reverting, which means unspent money can remain with the program instead of being reverted to the general fund.

 

CHOICE is Indiana’s home care program, which was established in 1987. It provides financing for in-home services so seniors and those with disabilities don’t have to be placed in nursing homes or other institutional care.

 

The two organizations put together stories of Hoosiers who use CHOICE dollars, and gave them to all 150 lawmakers.

 

“The collection reminds us there are human beings behind the numbers we talk about,” said Jim Wallihan, president of United Senior Action.

 

Supporters said the state spends less money for CHOICE services than if Hoosiers were in nursing homes on Medicaid dollars.

 

“We need to keep pushing for Hoosiers so they can remain in their homes and independent for as long as possible,” said Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville.