The Senate Committee on Appropriations passed the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025 on August 1, which would fund several program and services for older adults through multiple agencies beginning October 1, 2024.

The bill provides funding for multiple job training programs including $2.9 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), $290 million for Registered Apprenticeships and $1.5 billion for Career and Technical Education (CTE), and $729 million for Adult Education. WIOA, CTE and adult education programs provide funding for a variety of training programs including those for allied health professionals such as certified nurse and home health aides. The bill also includes $1.4 billion for Health Professions Workforce Development that supports education funding for nurses and other providers, and more than $397 million for state survey and certification activities (a $70 million increase).

The Committee called for multiple reports to examine a range of issues related to aging services, including:

1. 1. The Committee encourages the Department of Labor, in coordination with the HHS, to study the effects of worker shortages in the direct care sector and the impact that worker shortages will have on long-term care programs, and affordability and accessibility. This report was requested in the FY24 budget as well and the Committee emphasized that they looked forward to seeing it.
   2. An instruction to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure adequate access to hospice for patients with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, and a report on these efforts in FY26.
   3. An examination of the impact of private equity ownership on patient care, facility closures, staffing, and health care costs in nursing homes and other health care settings.
   4. A report that would provide details for a PACE-specific model testing methods of increasing access and affordability of care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
   5. An instruction to CMS to continue expanding access to home and community-based services, including support for family caregivers. CMS is also asked to issue guidance and best practices on how states can implement intensive home and community-based behavioral health services.

The House Committee on Appropriations passed their version of the Labor and Health and Human Services Budget on July 10, 2024, but has not been scheduled for a vote. The Senate and the House will have to both pass their versions of the bills and work through conference committee to resolve any differences.

LeadingAge will continue to review the legislation and highlight areas of interest to our members.