Policy Corner: November 1, 2019

Senate Committee Approves Lifespan Respite Care Program Reauthorization

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions unanimously approved the Lifespan Respite Care Program Reauthorization Act, S. 995, Oct. 31. The bill, originally introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), reauthorizes the program for five years for $50 million ($10 million annually through FY 2024). The bill also requires a report from the Secretary of the Health and Human Services to Congress by Oct. 1, 2023.

The Lifespan Respite Care Program was authorized by Congress in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 201) to help states with coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children and adults of all ages with special needs. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) administers this program.

House Passes Aging Bill that Includes Screening for Fall-related TBI

The U.S. House of Congress passed the Dignity in Aging Act, H.R. 4338. Sponsored by Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), the act reauthorizes programs authorized by the Older Americans Act (OAA). These programs provide home-delivered and congregate nutrition services, in-home supportive services, multipurpose senior centers, transportation, caregiver support, disease prevention and health promotion, community service employment, the long-term care ombudsman program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults.

The bill includes an amendment, offered by Rep. Fred Keller (R-Pa.), to add fall-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to the list of conditions covered under the OAA. The amendment was adopted by the House Committee on Education and Labor. It allows funding for screening for fall-related TBIs and promotes public awareness to help detect these injuries early and ensure that seniors receive the care they need. Under health promotion activities, programs already authorized for evidence-based health promotion programs include high blood pressure screening to prevent strokes, alcohol and substance abuse reduction, stress management, falls prevention, and improved nutrition. TBI is also added to the list of age-related diseases and chronic disabling conditions with regard to the provision of information concerning diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

A few states and state brain injury associations work with the aging community to conduct training on TBI. This bill will provide another resource to help with this endeavor. The bill, now in the Senate, requires approval of the OAA reauthorization proposal. OAA program authority expired Sept. 30.

Senator Introduces Bill to Address Mass Violence and Making Communities Safer

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) introduced the Restoring, Enhancing, Strengthening, and Promoting Our Nation’s Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act, S. 2690, Oct. 23 to reduce mass violence and make communities safer by increasing access to mental health treatment, promoting collaboration between the mental health and criminal justice systems, and supporting school-based behavioral intervention teams. Co-sponsors include Sens. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

The bill provides new tools to law enforcement, such as prosecuting illegal unlicensed firearms dealers and encouraging internet service providers to better collaborate with law enforcement to prevent mass shootings. It increases resources for mental health treatment and crisis intervention teams, expanding the mental health workforce and bolstering mental health funding in the criminal justice system. The bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and facilitate the development of best practices to assist elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education to operate behavioral intervention teams to identify students whose behavior indicates a threat of violence and ensure they receive the assistance and services they need.

Congressional Caucus to Hold Briefing on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Among Women Veterans

An annual veterans’ briefing, “Improving Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Among Women Veterans,” will be held Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. in room 2060 Rayburn House Office Building. The briefing is sponsored by the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute and Disabled American Veterans in cooperation with Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and Debbie Lesko (R-Wis.), co-chairs, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.), vice-chairs, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. This event is made possible through a grant from Philips. Click here to RSVP in the affirmative only to WCPI by Nov. 12 or email Chidiebere Azubuike.

ACL Launches the TBI Technical Assistance and Resource Center

ACL announced the launch of the TBI Technical Assistance and Resource Center, which the Human Services Research Institute will administer along with its partners from the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and a group of subject matter experts including people with lived experience of TBI. The center aims to help states promote access to integrated, coordinated services and supports for people who have sustained a TBI, their families, and caregivers. These services and supports will encourage both community inclusion and the personal independence of people with TBI. In addition to providing program support to ACL and technical assistance to ACL’s TBI State Partnership program grantees, the center will also develop and compile resources that will be publicly available.

NCAPPS Introduces the Brain Injury Learning Collaborative

The National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) and Human Services Research Institute are convening teams committed to improving policies and processes for serving people with brain injury. These teams will meet with each other, NCAPPS staff, and subject-matter experts as they implement their plans for systems change. The collaborative will last for 18 months, beginning in January 2020 and ending June 2021. Participation is free and no travel is required, but organizations are expected to devote time and effort to improvement.

What constitutes a team may vary from state to state, but should include individuals who have a good understanding of brain injury programs and policies and are in a position to effect systems change, organizations/members that have a strong working relationship, state agency employees, people with lived experience of brain injury, and other organizations.

If you believe your organization would benefit from NCAPPS new learning collaborative, please register here for the Informational Webinar Nov. 13, 2-3 p.m. (EST). If you are unable to attend but would like to be a part of the Learning Collaborative, please email NCAPPS Project Coordinators Connor Bailey and Miso Kwak. The recording of this information session will also be available on the NCAPPS website shortly after the webinar takes place.

NCAPPS is a new initiative from ACL and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that helps states, tribes, and territories implement person-centered thinking, planning, and practice in line with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy.