Policy Corner: April 14, 2023
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
Lawmakers Introduced Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act
On March 29, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif) introduced H.R. 542, the Elizabeth Dole Home- and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2023 or the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023, to improve home and community-based services and programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans who are aging and veterans with disabilities. The legislation is also to improve and expand resources for caregivers. The legislation directs the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which collaboratively carry out the Veteran-Directed Care Program, to enter into agreements with Aging and Disability Resource Centers; an area agency on aging, or a state agency; or a center for independent living as providers under this program. The legislation also creates the “Homemaker and Home Health Aide program” under which the Secretary of the VA may enter into agreements with home health agencies to provide to eligible veterans such home health aide services as may be determined appropriate, among other provisions. Seventeen Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors.
Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) has introduced similar legislation, S. 141. The purpose of these bills is to furnish non-institutional alternatives to nursing home care for veterans.
Senate Appropriations Committee Sets Written Public Testimony Due Date as May 18
Individuals and organizations interested in submitting testimony to the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies in support of fiscal year 2024 funding for brain injury programs must do so by May 18. The Committee has guidelines that must be followed. These guidelines can be found here.
ACL Solicits New State TBI Grant Application
On April 6, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Disabilities (AOD) announced that it is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) State Partnership Program grants to create and strengthen person-centered, culturally competent systems of services and supports that maximize the independence and overall health and well-being of all people with TBI across the lifespan, their family members, and their support networks. For the 2023 funding cycle, ACL is funding one TBI State Partnership Program. This program is authorized by the TBI Act of 1996, as amended.
Applicants for this program must agree to:
- Provide a required 2:1 state match;
- Support a state TBI Advisory Board with a person-centered focus that includes a make-up of at least 50% individuals with TBI within the first 12 months of the start of the grant;
- Provide the equivalent of 1 full-time employee at the state or sub-awardee level;
- Create a TBI state plan; and
- Establish culturally competent resource facilitation practices that educate individuals with TBI and their support networks on available resources, services, and supports within their state and/or communities.
For more information go here. ACL will host a pre-application teleconference TODAY, April 13, at 3:00pm (ET). The purpose of this teleconference is to review the funding announcement. You can join the meeting server call-in number at 206-420-5032 with the access code: 877154191#.
NIDILRR to Hold Stakeholder Webinar on Long-Range Plan
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) will hold a webinar on April 19, 2:00pm (ET), to share with stakeholders feedback the agency has received regarding their proposed 2024-2028 Long-Range Plan that outlines guiding principles, priorities, and focus areas for the next five years. Last year, NIDILRR initiated the development of its new plan and obtained comments and input from the field about current gaps and needs, experiences, and opportunities, to ensure that NIDILRR’s planning is relevant and responsive to the needs of the disability community. If you are interested, you may register for the webinar here. ASL interpreting and CART will be provided.