Action Update

Older Americans Act Passes in the House

March 22, 2016

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016!  After months of negotiations between House members on the House Education and Workforce Committee, an agreement has been reached on the House's version of the Senate-passed S.192 Older Americans Act (OAA) bill and includes provisions that would make the long-term care ombudsman program more effective and help long-term care consumers.  The bill will reauthorize the current OAA, which expired in 2011.

House S.192 includes provisions clarifying both organizational and individual conflicts of interest within the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program; improving resident access to ombudsmen; better protecting the confidentiality of ombudsman information; ensuring that State Ombudsmen receive ongoing training; and, permitting ombudsmen, when feasible, to continue to serve residents transitioning from a long-term care facility to a home care setting. 

For more information about Older Americans Act Reauthorization, visit the issue page.