Advocacy

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging is committed to staying engaged in, and sharing, the latest public policy news affecting older adults, caregivers and the professionals who care for them.

Check out current policy news below!

In late July, the Biden Administration issued proposed rules on mental and physical health parity requirements. The proposed rule is intended to bolster mental health parity laws and improve patients’ access to providers including by offering clear guidance on how insurers should evaluate whether their plans comply with the law. This includes behavioral health services. 
 
On July 31, the Biden Administration announced a Medicare Dementia Care Model to enhance care coordination and increase support for caregivers. 
 
On July 13, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed policies to expand behavioral health access by providing coverage for intensive outpatient services, which represents an intermediate level of behavioral health care. CMS is requesting input on potential payment adjustments to hospitals for additional expenses incurred in establishing and maintaining a buffer stock of essential medicines. 
 
On July 20, CMS approved requests from California and Kentucky to provide essential behavioral health services through community-based mobile crisis intervention teams. 

Appropriations for FY 2024

The House Labor- Health and Human Services Subcommittee passed its FY 2024 funding bill on July 14. While specific line-item numbers are not yet available, indications are that the Administration for Community Living will endure a small reduction in its budget of close to $20 million. The House bill kept funding at FY 2022 levels. In the bill, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) was eliminated. The bill next goes to the full House Appropriations Committee. 
 
On Thursday July 27, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its FY 2024 spending bill for the Departments of Health and Human Services and Labor. It is the first funding bill for Labor HHS since the debt ceiling agreement was adopted. The Senate bill kept funding at FY 2023 levels. The bill next moves to the full Senate when it returns in September. 

Senior Nutrition Bills

On July 17, Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) introduced two bills (S.2360 and S.2361) related to senior nutrition. The Tools for Ensuring Access to Meals (TEAM) Act (S.2360) establishes an interagency collaborative and innovative pilot program to address hunger and access to health food for older adults. The Senior Nutrition Task Force Act of 2023 (S.2361) establishes an interagency task force to address hunger and promote access to healthy food among older adults and adults with disabilities. 
 
On July 17, Representative Ryan Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced a Senior Nutrition Task Force bill (H.R.4706) to establish an interagency task force that would address hunger and promote access to healthy food for older adults and adults with disabilities. The bill has Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) as a cosponsor. 

Elder Justice Bill

On July 20, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL)and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) reintroduced the Promote Responsible Oversight and Targeted Employee Background Check Transparency for Seniors (PROTECTS) Act (S.2429). This bill seeks to promote responsible oversight in employee background checks for organizations that serve senior citizens, like nursing homes or home health agencies.

Social Work Bill

In late July, a new bipartisan legislation “Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act” (H.R. 4638) was introduced. It would amend the current law’s definition of clinical social worker services to allow them to bill under Medicare for services they provide under their state scope of practice. More information can be found from the Center for Health and Social Care Integration at Rush University CHaSCI@rush.edu.

Looking Ahead

During August, Congress will enter a recess period. As a result, the appropriation bills and the farm bill will be on hold until after then. The government has until September 30th to enact spending measures or it could risk a government shutdown.

Statehouse Update - Ohio

Governor DeWine signed Ohio's Fiscal Year 2024-2025 operating budget bill into law on July 4. HB33, the “budget bill” included increases in funding for programs and services for older adults. This includes additional funding for behavioral health services, increases in rates for home and community-based services and enhancement of quality incentives for long-term care skilled nursing facilities (see below). Increases in provider rates are intended to provide wage increases for the direct care workforce. 

The Ohio Governor’s Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force recently released its Recommendations Report. The report includes actionable recommendations designed to effect substantive improvements in the quality of care and quality of life in every Ohio nursing home. The recommendations aim to address issues currently being faced by residents, employees, and families while also looking to improve the future of nursing home care in the state.  The report, which is available online, incorporates input gathered at listening session across the state earlier this year, as well as professional testimony and online comments from persons unable to attend the sessions in person. 

The report identifies four pillars of the “North Star for Ohio’s nursing home care: Quality of Life, Quality of Care, Resident Rights, and System Performance.” Priorities and recommendations in the plan are reflected in the state budget signed by Governor DeWine.  

Washington Update

The Washington Update is produced monthly with our partners at Matz, Blancato & Associates to share the latest information about policy issues impacting older adults and their families. Subscribe here.