[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6543 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6543
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to define care coordination,
include care coordination as a fully restorative service, and detail
the care coordination functions of the Assistant Secretary, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 21, 2012
Ms. Schwartz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to define care coordination,
include care coordination as a fully restorative service, and detail
the care coordination functions of the Assistant Secretary, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Care Coordination for Older
Americans Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF OBJECTIVES.
Section 101(4) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3001(4)) is amended by inserting ``care coordination and'' after
``including''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(55)(A) The term `care coordination' means a person- and
family-centered, assessment-based, and interdisciplinary
approach to meet the needs and preferences of an older
individual and a family caregiver while enhancing the
capabilities of the older individual (including the ability to
self-direct services).
``(B) The term `care coordination' means coordination
that--
``(i) integrates health care, long-term services
and supports, housing, and social support services in a
high-quality and cost-effective manner in which an
individual's needs, preferences, and capabilities are
assessed, along with the needs and preferences of a
family caregiver;
``(ii) includes, as a core element, the active
involvement of the older individual, the family, or a
representative appointed by the older individual or
legally acting on the individual's behalf, community-
based service professionals, and health care
professionals providing care to the older individual,
in the design and implementation of an individualized,
individual-centered service and support plan, through
which the services and supports will be provided in a
manner free from conflicts of interest;
``(iii) integrates services and interventions that
are implemented, monitored, and evaluated for
effectiveness using an evidence-based process, which
typically involves a designated lead care coordinator
and involves feedback from the older individual;
``(iv) includes activities that aim simultaneously
at meeting individual and family needs and preferences,
building on individual capabilities, and improving
outcomes and systems of care;
``(v) includes provision of some or all of the
services and activities described in clauses (i)
through (iv) by trained professionals employed by or
under a contract with--
``(I) area agencies on aging;
``(II) Aging and Disability Resource
Centers; or
``(III) other service providers, including
in-home service providers; and
``(vi) is not furnished to directly diagnose,
treat, or cure a medical disease or condition.''.
SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
Section 202(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3012(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (27), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (28), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(29)(A) encourage, provide technical assistance to, and
share best practices with, States, area agencies on aging,
Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and service providers to
carry out outreach and coordinate activities with health care
entities in order to assure better care coordination for
individuals with multiple chronic illnesses; and
``(B) coordinate activities with other Federal agencies
that are working to improve care coordination and developing
new models and best practices.''.
SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION.
Section 305(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3025(g)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) the State agency shall promote the development and
implementation of a State system to address the care
coordination needs of older individuals with multiple chronic
illnesses, and shall work with acute care providers, area
agencies on aging, service providers, and Federal agencies to
ensure that the system uses best practices and is evaluated on
its provision of care coordination.''.
SEC. 6. AREA PLANS.
Section 306(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3026(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)(B)(i)(VII) by inserting ``with
multiple chronic illnesses or'' after ``older individuals'';
(2) in paragraph (6)(D), by inserting ``(including acute
care providers)'' after ``service providers'';
(3) in paragraph (16), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (17) by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(18) provide assurances that the area agency on aging
will--
``(A) identify existing (as of the date of
submission of the plan) care coordination programs and
systems;
``(B) identify unmet community need for care
coordination;
``(C) facilitate the development and implementation
of an area-wide system to address the care coordination
needs of older individuals with multiple chronic
illnesses; and
``(D) work with acute care providers, service
providers, and Federal and State agencies to ensure
that the system uses best practices in its provision of
care coordination.''.
SEC. 7. STATE PLANS.
Section 307(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3027(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``care
coordination,'' after ``information and assistance,'';
(2) in paragraph (17), by striking ``and develop
collaborative programs, where appropriate,'' and inserting ``,
ensure care coordination, and (where appropriate) develop
collaborative programs,'';
(3) in paragraph (18), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``and ensure care coordination that
integrates long-term care services and other care services,''
before ``for older'';
(4) in paragraph (23), by striking ``with other State
services'' and inserting ``with other Federal and State health
care programs and services''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(31) The plan shall provide assurances that the area
agencies on aging in the State will facilitate the area-wide
development and implementation of an area-wide system to
address the care coordination needs of older individuals with
multiple chronic illnesses, and work with acute care providers,
service providers, and other Federal and State agencies to
ensure that the system uses best practices and is evaluated on
its provision of care coordination.''.
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