Action Update

Additional Federal Funding Secured for Certain Aging Programs in 2016

December 22, 2015

On December 18th, 2015, the U.S. Congress approved the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, legislation that will continue the funding of federal programs through Fiscal Year 2016. This bill, which has since been signed into law, will increase funding for elder justice programs as well as Alzheimer's research in the coming year. Specifically, it will double the amount of funding provided for the Elder Justice Initiative from $4 million to $8 million and increase funding to $350 million for Alzheimer's disease clinical research at the National Institute on Aging. The additional funds provided for the Elder Justice Initiative will continue to support the creation of an Adult Protective Services (APS) National Data System and the support of evidence-based research regarding elder abuse. These appropriations also contain new increases for caregiver support activities through the National Family Caregiver Support Program ($5 million) and Native American caregiver support ($1.5 million).

However, programs such as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and Elder Rights Support Activities funded under the Older Americans Act will remain at Fiscal Year 2015 levels ($20.6 million and $3.8 million respectively). In addition, there is no additional funding for survey and certification activities at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which includes the oversight and inspection of nursing homes.

We thank all of you who reached out to your members of Congress asking them to increase funding for programs benefiting long-term care consumers. Consumer Voice will continue to advocate for additional appropriations for these underfunded programs in the next fiscal year. To view the text of the final FY 2016 appropriations bill, click here.