OAA Reauthorized

19. Older Americans Act Reauthorized

On October 17, President Bush signed the reauthorized Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (HR 6197), which had been passed without opposition by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The new legislation promotes the principles of President Bush's Choices for Independence plan, emphasizing consumer choice, access to reliable information, and health promotion. It includes provisions to launch Aging and Disabilities Resource Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to create a single point of access to the range of services available to seniors, including the new Medicare prescription drug program. No changes were made to the long-term care ombudsman provisions, other than to set maintenance of effort minimum funding provisions at year 2006 levels, rather than the previous year 2000 levels.

Source: House Committee on Education and Workforce Press Release, October 17; conversation with Sue Wheaton, Administration on Aging.