A discussion draft to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OSS) 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, and are pleased to see the concerns raised were addressed in this discussion draft.

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