House Committees Recommend Significant LTSS Funding in COVID Relief

On January 8th, the House Education and Labor Committee, which is responsible for Older Americans Act (OAA), posted their funding recommendations for the upcoming COVID relief package under consideration in the House and the Senate. The Committee’s recommendations and the overall relief package will be voted on by both the Committee and full House. Therefore, none of these figures are final and could be subject to change during upcoming negotiations. The initial Committee recommendations included $1.44 billion for OAA services with specific funding allocations for the following programs:

  • $750 million for Congregate and Home-Delivered Nutrition Services (Title III-C);
  • $25 million for Native American Nutrition, Supportive and Caregiver Services (Title VI);
  • $480 million for Supportive Services (Title III-B), which will be used for existing services, to support and facilitate vaccinations for older adults, and activities to mitigate the risks of prolonged social isolation and loneliness among older adults;
  • $44 million for Evidence-Based Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Title III-D);
  • $145 million for Caregiver Services (Title III-E).

Additionally, the House Ways and Means Committee, which has responsibility for the Elder Justice Act (EJA), recommended $276 million for EJA programs such as the Long-term Care Ombudsman and Adult Protective Services. This funding would be split out over two years at $188 million/year.

Click here to view ADvancing States’ letter to Congress regarding COVID relief funding, 

Click here to view a joint statement from ADvancing States and other aging organizations in support of the funding proposals.

 

Alert date: 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021