§ 3012 — Functions Of Assistant Secretary

(a) It shall be the duty and function of the Administration to— (1) serve as the effective and visible advocate for older individuals within the Department of Health and Human Services and with other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government by maintaining active review and commenting responsibilities over all Federal policies affecting older individuals; (2) collect and disseminate information related to problems of the aged and aging; (3) directly assist the Secretary in all matters pertaining to problems of the aged and aging; (4) administer the grants provided by this chapter, but not approve an application submitted by an applicant for a grant for an activity under a provision of this chapter for which such applicant previously received a grant under such provision unless the Assistant Secretary determines— (A) the activity for which such application was submitted is being operated, or was operated, effectively to achieve its stated purpose; and (B) (5) develop plans, conduct and arrange for research in the field of aging, and assist in the establishment and implementation of programs designed to meet the health and economic needs of older individuals for supportive services, including nutrition, hospitalization, education and training services (including preretirement training, and continuing education), cultural experiences, activities, and services, including in the arts, low-cost transportation and housing, assistive technology, and health (including mental and behavioral health) services; (6) provide technical assistance and consultation to States and political subdivisions thereof with respect to programs for the aged and aging; (7) prepare, publish, and disseminate educational materials dealing with the health and economic welfare of older individuals; (8) gather statistics in the field of aging which other Federal agencies are not collecting, and take whatever action is necessary to achieve coordination of activities carried out or assisted by all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government with respect to the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relevant to older individuals; (9) develop basic policies and set priorities with respect to the development and operation of programs and activities conducted under authority of this chapter; (10) coordinate Federal programs and activities related to such purposes; (11) coordinate, and assist in, the planning and development by public (including Federal, State, and local agencies) and private organizations of programs for older individuals, with a view to the establishment of a nationwide network of comprehensive, coordinated services and opportunities for such individuals; (A) consult and coordinate activities with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the heads of other Federal entities to implement and build awareness of programs providing benefits affecting older individuals; and (B) carry on a continuing evaluation of the programs and activities related to the objectives of this chapter, with particular attention to the impact of the programs and activities carried out under— (i) titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq.); (ii) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); and (iii) the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) relating to housing for older individuals and the setting of standards for the licensing of nursing homes, intermediate care homes, and other facilities providing care for such individuals; (13) provide information and assistance to private organizations for the establishment and operation by them of programs and activities related to the objectives of this chapter; (14) develop, in coordination with other agencies (including the Health Resources and Services Administration), a national plan for meeting the needs for trained personnel in the field of aging, and for training persons for carrying out programs related to the objectives of this chapter, and conduct and provide for the conducting of such training; (15) consult with national organizations representing minority individuals to develop and disseminate training packages and to provide technical assistance efforts designed to assist State and area agencies on aging, and service providers, in providing services to older individuals with greatest economic need or individuals with greatest social need, with particular attention to and specific objectives for providing services to low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas; (16) collect for each fiscal year, for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1988, directly or by contract, statistical data regarding programs and activities carried out with funds provided under this chapter, including— (A) with respect to each type of service or activity provided with such funds— (i) the aggregate amount of such funds expended to provide such service or activity; (ii) the number of individuals who received such service or activity; and (iii) the number of units of such service or activity provided; (B) the number of senior centers which received such funds; and (C) the extent to which each area agency on aging designated under section 3025(a) of this title satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (4)(A) of section 3026(a) of this title; (17) obtain from— (A) the Department of Agriculture information explaining the requirements for eligibility to receive benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.]; and (B) the Social Security Administration information explaining the requirements for eligibility to receive supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.] (or assistance under a State plan program under title XVI of that Act); (A) establish and operate the National Ombudsman Resource Center (in this paragraph referred to as the “Center”), under the administration of the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs, that will— (i) by grant or contract— (I) conduct research; (II) provide training, technical assistance, and information to State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen; (III) analyze laws, regulations, programs, and practices; and (IV) provide assistance in recruiting and retaining volunteers for State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs by establishing a national program for recruitment efforts that utilizes the organizations that have established a successful record in recruiting and retaining volunteers for ombudsman or other programs; (ii) assist State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen in the implementation of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs; and (B) make available to the Center not less than the amount of resources made available to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman National Resource Center for fiscal year 2000; (19) conduct strict monitoring of State compliance with the requirements in effect, under this chapter to prohibit conflicts of interest and to maintain the integrity and public purpose of services provided and service providers, under this chapter in all contractual and commercial relationships; (A) encourage, and provide technical assistance to, States, area agencies on aging, and service providers to carry out outreach and benefits enrollment assistance to inform and enroll older individuals with greatest economic need, who may be eligible to participate, but who are not participating, in Federal and State programs providing benefits for which the individuals are eligible, including— (i) supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or assistance under a State plan program under such title; (ii) medical assistance under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); (iii) benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); or (iv) benefits under any other applicable program; and (B) at the election of the Assistant Secretary and in cooperation with related Federal agency partners administering the Federal programs, make a grant to or enter into a contract with a qualified, experienced entity to establish a National Center on Senior Benefits Outreach and Enrollment, which shall— (i) maintain and update web-based decision support and enrollment tools, and integrated, person-centered systems, designed to inform older individuals about the full range of benefits for which the individuals may be eligible under Federal and State programs; (ii) utilize cost-effective strategies to find older individuals with greatest economic need and enroll the individuals in the programs; (iii) create and support efforts for Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and other public and private State and community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations and coalitions, to serve as benefits enrollment centers for the programs; (iv) develop and maintain an information clearinghouse on best practices and cost-effective methods for finding and enrolling older individuals with greatest economic need in the programs for which the individuals are eligible; and (v) provide, in collaboration with related Federal agency partners administering the Federal programs, training and technical assistance on effective outreach, screening, enrollment, and follow-up strategies; (21) establish information and assistance services as priority services for older individuals, and develop and operate, either directly or through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, a National Eldercare Locator Service, providing information and assistance services through a nationwide toll-free number to identify community resources for older individuals; (22) develop guidelines for area agencies on aging to follow in choosing and evaluating providers of legal assistance; (23) develop guidelines and a model job description for choosing and evaluating legal assistance developers referred to in sections 3027(a)(13) and 3058j of this title; (24) establish and carry out pension counseling and information programs described in section 3020e–1 of this title; (25) provide technical assistance, training, and other means of assistance to State agencies, area agencies on aging, and service providers regarding State and local data collection and analysis; (26) design and implement, for purposes of compliance with paragraph (19), uniform data collection procedures for use by State agencies, including— (A) uniform definitions and nomenclature; (B) standardized data collection procedures; (C) a participant identification and description system; (D) procedures for collecting information on services needed by older individuals (including services that would permit such individuals to receive long-term care in home and community-based settings), as identified by service providers in assisting clients through the provision of the supportive services; and (E) procedures for the assessment of unmet needs for services under this chapter; (27) improve the delivery of services to older individuals living in rural areas through— (A) synthesizing results of research on how best to meet the service needs of older individuals in rural areas; (B) developing a resource guide on best practices for States, area agencies on aging, and service providers; and (C) providing training and technical assistance to States to implement these best practices of service delivery; (28) make available to States, area agencies on aging, and service providers information and technical assistance to support the provision of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion services, including information and technical assistance on delivery of such services in different settings; (29) provide information and technical assistance to States, area agencies on aging, and service providers, in collaboration with relevant Federal agencies, on providing efficient, person-centered transportation services, including across geographic boundaries; (30) identify model programs and provide information and technical assistance to States, area agencies on aging, and service providers (including providers operating multipurpose senior centers), to support the modernization of multipurpose senior centers; (31) provide technical assistance to and share best practices with States, area agencies on aging, and Aging and Disability Resource Centers, on how to collaborate and coordinate services with health care entities, such as Federally-qualified health centers, as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)), in order to improve care coordination for individuals with multiple chronic illnesses; (32) provide technical assistance to, and share best practices with, State agencies and area agencies on aging on how to collaborate and coordinate activities and develop long-range emergency preparedness plans with local and State emergency response agencies, relief organizations, local and State governments, Federal agencies as appropriate, and any other institutions that have responsibility for disaster relief service delivery; (33) with input from aging network stakeholders, including caregivers, develop objectives, priorities, and a long-term plan for supporting State and local efforts involving education about prevention of, detection of, and response to negative health effects associated with social isolation among older individuals, and submit a report to Congress on this effort by January 2021; and (34) provide (to the extent practicable) a standardized notification to State agencies, area agencies on aging, providers of services under this chapter, and grantees or contract awardees under this chapter, through an electronic format (e-mail or other electronic notification), of the availability of, or updates to, policies, practices, and procedures under this chapter. (b) To promote the development and implementation of comprehensive, coordinated systems at Federal, State, and local levels that enable older individuals to receive long-term care in home and community-based settings, in a manner responsive to the needs and preferences of older individuals and their family caregivers, the Assistant Secretary shall, consistent with the applicable provisions of this subchapter— (1) collaborate, coordinate, and consult with other Federal entities responsible for formulating and implementing programs, benefits, and services related to providing long-term care, and may make grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with funds received from other Federal entities; (2) conduct research and demonstration projects to identify innovative, cost-effective strategies for modifying State systems of long-term care to— (A) respond to the needs and preferences of older individuals and family caregivers; and (B) target services to individuals at risk for institutional placement, to permit such individuals to remain in home and community-based settings; (3) establish criteria for and promote the implementation (through area agencies on aging, service providers, and such other entities as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate) of evidence-based programs to assist older individuals and their family caregivers in learning about and making behavioral changes intended to reduce the risk of injury, disease, and disability among older individuals; (4) facilitate, in coordination with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other heads of Federal entities as appropriate, the provision of long-term care in home and community-based settings, including the provision of such care through self-directed care models that— (A) provide for the assessment of the needs and preferences of an individual at risk for institutional placement to help such individual avoid unnecessary institutional placement and depletion of income and assets to qualify for benefits under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); (B) respond to the needs and preferences of such individual and provide the option— (i) for the individual to direct and control the receipt of supportive services provided; or (ii) as appropriate, for a person who was appointed by the individual, or is legally acting on the individual’s behalf, in order to represent or advise the individual in financial or service coordination matters (referred to in this paragraph as a “representative” of the individual), to direct and control the receipt of those services; and (C) assist an older individual (or, as appropriate, a representative of the individual) to develop a plan for long-term support, including selecting, budgeting for, and purchasing home and community-based long-term care and supportive services; (5) provide for the Administration to play a lead role with respect to issues concerning home and community-based long-term care, including— (A) directing (as the Secretary or the President determines to be appropriate) or otherwise participating in departmental and interdepartmental activities concerning long-term care; (B) reviewing and commenting on departmental rules, regulations, and policies related to providing long-term care; (C) making recommendations to the Secretary with respect to home and community-based long-term care, including recommendations based on findings made through projects conducted under paragraph (2); and (D) when feasible, developing, in consultation with States and national organizations, a consumer-friendly tool to assist older individuals and their families in choosing home and community-based services, with a particular focus on ways for consumers to assess how providers protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights, including the rights provided under section 3030c–1 of this title, of older individuals; (6) promote, in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies— (A) enhanced awareness by the public of the importance of planning in advance for long-term care; and (B) the availability of information and resources to assist in such planning; (7) ensure access to, and the dissemination of, information about all long-term care options and service providers, including the availability of integrated long-term care; (8) implement in all States Aging and Disability Resource Centers— (A) to serve as visible and trusted sources of information on the full range of long-term care options, including both institutional and home and community-based care, which are available in the community; (B) to provide personalized and consumer-friendly assistance to empower individuals to identify and articulate goals of care and to make informed decisions about their care options; (C) to provide coordinated and streamlined access to all publicly supported long-term care options so that consumers can obtain the care they need through a single intake, assessment, and eligibility determination process; (D) to help individuals to respond to or plan ahead for their long-term care needs; (E) to assist (in coordination with the entities carrying out the health insurance information, counseling, and assistance program (receiving funding under section 1395b–4 of this title) in the States) beneficiaries, and prospective beneficiaries, under the Medicare program established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) in understanding and accessing prescription drug and preventative health benefits under the provisions of, and amendments made by, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003; and (F) to provide information and referrals regarding available home and community-based services for individuals who are at risk for residing in, or who reside in, institutional settings, so that the individuals have the choice to remain in or to return to the community; (9) establish, either directly or through grants or contracts, national technical assistance programs to assist State agencies, area agencies on aging, and community-based service providers funded under this chapter in implementing— (A) home and community-based long-term care systems, including evidence-based programs; and (B) evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion services programs, including delivery of such services in different settings; and (C) activities for increasing business acumen, capacity building, organizational development, innovation, and other methods of growing and sustaining the capacity of the aging network to serve older individuals and caregivers most effectively; (10) develop, in collaboration with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, performance standards and measures for use by States to determine the extent to which their State systems of long-term care fulfill the objectives described in this subsection; and (11) conduct such other activities as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate. (c) The Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, shall— (1) encourage and permit volunteer groups (including organizations carrying out national service programs and including organizations of youth in secondary or postsecondary school) that are active in supportive services and civic engagement to participate and be involved individually or through representative groups in supportive service and civic engagement programs or activities to the maximum extent feasible; (2) develop a comprehensive strategy for utilizing older individuals to address critical local needs of national concern, including the engagement of older individuals in the activities of public and nonprofit organizations such as community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations; and (3) encourage other community capacity-building initiatives involving older individuals, with particular attention to initiatives that demonstrate effectiveness and cost savings in meeting critical needs. (1) The Assistant Secretary shall establish and operate the National Center on Elder Abuse (in this subsection referred to as the “Center”). (2) In operating the Center, the Assistant Secretary shall— (A) annually compile, publish, and disseminate a summary of recently conducted research on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (B) develop and maintain an information clearinghouse on all programs (including private programs) showing promise of success, for the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (C) compile, publish, and disseminate training materials for personnel who are engaged or intend to engage in the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (D) provide technical assistance to State agencies and to other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to assist the agencies and organizations in planning, improving, developing, and carrying out programs and activities relating to the special problems of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and (E) conduct research and demonstration projects regarding the causes, prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. (A) The Assistant Secretary shall carry out paragraph (2) through grants or contracts. (B) The Assistant Secretary shall issue criteria applicable to the recipients of funds under this subsection. To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under subparagraph (A), an entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. (C) The Assistant Secretary shall— (i) establish research priorities for making grants or contracts to carry out paragraph (2)(E); and (ii) not later than 60 days before the date on which the Assistant Secretary establishes such priorities, publish in the Federal Register for public comment a statement of such proposed priorities. (4) The Assistant Secretary shall make available to the Center such resources as are necessary for the Center to carry out effectively the functions of the Center under this chapter and not less than the amount of resources made available to the Resource Center on Elder Abuse for fiscal year 2000. (A) The Assistant Secretary shall make grants or enter into contracts with eligible entities to establish the National Aging Information Center (in this subsection referred to as the “Center”) to— (i) provide information about grants and projects under subchapter IV; (ii) annually compile, analyze, publish, and disseminate— (I) statistical data collected under subsection (a)(19); (II) census data on aging demographics; and (III) data from other Federal agencies on the health, social, and economic status of older individuals and on the services provided to older individuals; (iii) biennially compile, analyze, publish, and disseminate statistical data collected on the functions, staffing patterns, and funding sources of State agencies and area agencies on aging; (iv) analyze the information collected under section 3011(c)(3)(F) of this title by the Director of the Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Aging; (v) provide technical assistance, training, and other means of assistance to State agencies, area agencies on aging, and service providers, regarding State and local data collection and analysis; and (vi) be a national resource on statistical data regarding aging. (B) To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under subparagraph (A), an entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. (C) Entities eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under subparagraph (A) shall be organizations with a demonstrated record of experience in education and information dissemination. (A) The Assistant Secretary shall establish procedures specifying the length of time that the Center shall provide the information described in paragraph (1) with respect to a particular project or activity. The procedures shall require the Center to maintain the information beyond the term of the grant awarded, or contract entered into, to carry out the project or activity. (B) The Assistant Secretary shall establish the procedures described in subparagraph (A) after consultation with— (i) practitioners in the field of aging; (ii) older individuals; (iii) representatives of institutions of higher education; (iv) national aging organizations; (v) State agencies; (vi) area agencies on aging; (vii) legal assistance providers; (viii) service providers; and (ix) other persons with an interest in the field of aging. (1) The Assistant Secretary, in accordance with the process described in paragraph (2), and in collaboration with a representative group of State agencies, tribal organizations, area agencies on aging, and providers of services involved in the performance outcome measures shall develop and publish by December 31, 2001, a set of performance outcome measures for planning, managing, and evaluating activities performed and services provided under this chapter. To the maximum extent possible, the Assistant Secretary shall use data currently collected (as of the date of development of the measures) by State agencies, area agencies on aging, and service providers through the National Aging Program Information System and other applicable sources of information in developing such measures. (2) The process for developing the performance outcome measures described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a review of such measures currently in use by State agencies and area agencies on aging (as of the date of the review); (B) development of a proposed set of such measures that provides information about the major activities performed and services provided under this chapter; (C) pilot testing of the proposed set of such measures, including an identification of resource, infrastructure, and data collection issues at the State and local levels; and (D) evaluation of the pilot test and recommendations for modification of the proposed set of such measures. (g) The Assistant Secretary shall, as appropriate, ensure that programs authorized under this chapter include appropriate training in the prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and provision of services that address elder justice and the exploitation of older individuals. (h) The Assistant Secretary shall publish, on an annual basis, a list of centers and demonstration projects funded under each subchapter of this chapter. The Assistant Secretary shall ensure that this information is also directly provided to State agencies and area agencies on aging. (i) The Assistant Secretary shall carry out the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (42 U.S.C. 3030s note).