Statement of Josefina G. Carbonell,
Assistant Secretary for Aging
On the Release of the FY 2009 Budget Request to Congress

On February 4, 2008, the Administration on Aging’s (AoA) FY 2009 budget request to Congress of $1.381 billion was released as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget request. The AoA FY 2009 budget request will strengthen the national aging services network in meeting the challenges presented by the aging of the baby boomers and the need for more options for long-term living.

The AoA FY 2009 budget request provides continued support for activities that help give people choices, control and independence as they grow older, and will enhance our ability to address the future of long-term care in this country. The FY 2009 request again includes a request for $28 million to evaluate, through a time-limited, randomized trial design in three to five States, whether the Choices for Independence proposal achieves savings in Medicaid and Medicare through its use of low cost home and community-based alternatives. Choices holds the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of adults as they age, support the network’s efforts to help high-risk individuals who are not Medicaid eligible to remain at home through the use of low-cost alternatives, and assist State efforts to rebalance their systems of care.

The Administration on Aging FY 2009 budget request provides continued support for activities that help give people choices, control and independence as they grow older, and will enhance our ability to address the future of long-term care in this country. The FY 2009 request again includes a request for $28 million to evaluate, through a time-limited, randomized trial design in three to five States, whether the Choices for Independence proposal achieves savings in Medicaid and Medicare through its use of low cost home and community-based alternatives. Choices holds the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of adults as they age, support the network’s efforts to help high-risk individuals who are not Medicaid eligible to remain at home through the use of low-cost alternatives, and assist State efforts to rebalance their systems of care.

The Choices demonstration builds on existing, successful investments in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services programs and best practices from the field that will:

• Help individuals make informed decisions about care options, plan for long-term care needs and streamline access to publicly supported long-term care programs through Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
  
• Assist seniors to make behavioral changes that have proven effective in reducing the risk of disease and disability through evidence-based prevention efforts designed to address chronic disease and disability.
  
• Help seniors at high risk of nursing-home placement avoid or delay institutionalization and unnecessary spend-down to Medicaid through an array of flexible services.

Choices for Independence advances the Administration’s New Freedom Initiative, which supports people’s desire to live in the community, and complements the Secretary’s prevention and health promotion priorities. It supports the Administration’s efforts to modernize Medicare and Medicaid and the reforms in Medicaid under the Deficit Reduction Act, such as Money Follows the Person. It builds on partnerships with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services including outreach efforts on prescription drug coverage and the prevention focus of My Health. My Medicare.

To learn more about the FY 2009 Budget Request to Congress….