OLDER
AMERICANS ACT REAUTHORIZED
The Older Americans Act provides the funding and direction
for state agencies on aging and area agencies on aging to identify the needs of
the elderly and provide services to meet those needs. Community providers
furnish congregate and home delivered meals, transportation, information and
assistance, outreach, legal assistance, ombudsman services and many others
through the auspices of the Older Americans Act.
The Act was newly reauthorized in late 2000 and signed into law
by then President Clinton. The key components of the Act are listed below:
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Reauthorization extends the Act for five years, until 2005.
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Requires the Administration on Aging (AoA) to develop
performance measures by December 31, 2001.
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Does not set specific authorizations for funds but asks
Congress to approve "such sums as may be necessary". The
exceptions to this are the family caregiver support component which sets
funding at $125 million, program for Native Americans with funding at $5
million and older workers funding set at $475 million. Keep in mind, however
that funds authorized do not mean they will actually be appropriated. The
OAA has historically been funded well below authorization levels.
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Emphasizes the importance of Information and Assistance
services.
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Moves Pension Counseling to Title II and establishes a
hotline for the dissemination of information about retirement.
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Requires Area Agencies on Aging (AAA's) to report annually
to the state agency regarding needs of older persons and service provision.
AAA's must coordinate community based and long term care services to enable
older individuals to remain in their homes. Provides additional requirements
for the development and coordination of case management activities. AAA's
must also provide a grievance procedure for older individuals who are
dissatisfied with their services.
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State may allow cost sharing under certain circumstances for
some services.
These are only a few of the components of the newly reauthorized bill. You
can access a full copy of the Act using the following instructions.
Go to http://thomas.loc.gov At this
site go to the "Search Current Congress for Text of Bill" and in box
following "By Bill Number" type in the bill number HR 782 then click
on enter. You will come to a screen which lists four versions of HR 782. Click
on version #3, The engrossed version, HR 782. EH
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