A discussion draft to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) was released for feedback on July 13 by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP), in partnership with Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mike Braun (R-IN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Special Committee on Aging,  and in collaboration with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

Originated in 1965 and last authorized in March 2020, the OAA was created to support a broad array of programs and services for older adults and their caregivers. These programs include home-delivered and congregate meals, support for family caregivers, preventive health services, personal and home care services, transportation, legal assistance, elder abuse prevention, and many other services. Additionally, the OAA offers ombudsman services for residents of long-term care facilities.

LeadingAge provided comments in August 2023 to the Health and Human Services’ Administration on Community Living (ACL) on the June 2023 release of proposed rules to modernize regulations governing OAA programs. The discussion draft addressed a concern we raised in those comments regarding the independence of local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), by eliminating an earlier proposed requirement that state agencies must approve commercial agreements and contracts undertaken by AAAs, regardless of whether the contracts were for OAA-funded services or programs.

LeadingAge is also heartened to see the committees’ renewed commitment to housing and workforce and supports the following additions:

• A report that analyzes housing programs and services that will include an assessment of the availability of affordable housing for older adults.
• The establishment of a national resources center to support the growth and professionalization of the direct care workforce.

We are reviewing the discussion draft and will provide comments to the committee.