by Marci Phillips. This article originally appeared on the NCOA blog.
The 35-day partial government shutdown that occurred during December and January was the longest government shutdown on record, and it hampered many aspects of the government’s work on behalf of older adults. While the government is back at work, Congress must pass a funding bill by February 15th. The National Council on Aging‘s Public Policy and Advocacy team are monitoring the negotiations and the shutdown’s effects on benefits and services that older adults rely on.
Only 5 of the 12 FY19 appropriations bills have been enacted into law. Those 5 bills provide 75% of federal government funding, and many aging services programs are included. FY19 funding is secure for Older Americans Act (OAA) and Elder Justice Act (EJA) programs, Senior Corps, the Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
However, several other programs have not been funded. These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), low-income housing assistance, senior transportation programs, and elder justice and consumer protection initiatives administered by the Justice and Treasury Departments. To date, there have not been any reductions in these services for older adults. But the threat of another shutdown looms, and these programs could be impacted.
What’s ahead for FY20
Traditionally, the annual appropriations debate kicks off with the release of the President’s budget request in early February. Due to the shutdown, we believe this will be delayed and the Congressional debate will be postponed until all FY19 funding is enacted.
An important element for FY20 will be the need for another 2-year deal to raise the caps on discretionary spending. Congress has done this in increments over the past few years, and this year they are facing a 9% cut (from $597 to $543 billion) in non-defense discretionary spending and an 11% cut (from $647 to $576 billion) for defense spending if the caps are not raised.
For FY20, NCOA will continue to focus on funding for a range of aging services, calling particular attention to protecting and increasing investments in falls prevention, Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME), SHIPs, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
Key statutes slated for renewal
Also due later this year are renewals of key statutes impacting older adults.
The first is renewal of authority under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) to provide targeted funding for SHIPs, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), and the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE) to find and enroll eligible low-income older adults into benefits programs. The current authority expires Oct. 1. NCOA is advocating to make this initiative permanent to eliminate the need for regular renewal.
Also up for renewal is the Older Americans Act. Reauthorization provides an opportunity to update and modernize the OAA to better serve the rapidly growing older population and strengthen the ability of the aging services network to address their needs. We are focused on strengthening research, demonstration, and evaluation activities through the creation of a new Innovation Center; protecting investments in falls prevention, CDSME, and SCSEP; enhancing efforts to coordinate and promote federal resources for home modifications; building upon senior center modernization secured in the last reauthorization; and enhancing the measurement of economic security of older adults.
Despite legislative activity getting off to a slow start, we were able to secure a three-month extension of the Medicaid home care Money Follows the Person (MFP) and Spousal Impoverishment protection programs. MFP has proven successful in helping low-income nursing home residents return to their homes. Advocates from all over the country worked hard to earn these victories, and we look forward to continuing work with our colleagues of the aging and disability communities toward a long-term reauthorization of these important programs.
As these debates ramp up, the NCOA Public Policy and Advocacy team will provide additional details about these proposals and how you can help ensure benefits and services for older adults are protected and strengthened in this Congressional session.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Diverse Elders Coalition.