US Codex
Bill
Notes

Title III — Quality measures for home and community-based services

S. 998 · 113th Congress · May 21, 2013 · Lineage

III Quality measures for home and community-based services

Sec. 301 Functions of Assistant Secretary

Section 202(b) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3012(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (8)—
(A)
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;
(B)
in subparagraph (E) by adding “and” at the end; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:

“(F) to provide information, relating to the quality measures identified under paragraph (11)(A), using the methods described in paragraph (11)(B), about home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, and resources, when referring consumers to those programs, providers, or resources;”

(2)
in paragraph (9)—
(A)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “and community-based service providers” and inserting “community-based service providers, and, for purposes of subparagraph (C), Aging and Disability Resource Centers,”;
(B)
in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” at the end;
(C)
subparagraph (B), by adding “and” at the end; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:

“(C) methods, consistent with the methods described in paragraph (11)(B), to communicate to consumers quality information, relating to the measures identified under paragraph (11)(A), about home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, and resources;”

(3)
in paragraph (10), by striking “and” at the end;
(4)
by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12); and
(5)
by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:

“(11)

“(A) identify, in consultation with States (either directly or by entering into a contract under this subparagraph and considering the recommendation of the contract recipient) measures of quality for home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, and resources that—

“(i) shall be designed to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of consumers who are referred to such programs, service providers, and resources by area agencies on aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and such other entities as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

“(ii) shall be identified after the Assistant Secretary takes into account, at a minimum, information regarding—

“(I) background checks of service providers;

“(II) licensure of agencies and certification and training of service providers;

“(III) consumer satisfaction regarding programs, service providers, and resources, in cases in which consumer satisfaction information is available; and

“(IV) such additional matters as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

“(B) taking into account the variation in communication infrastructure development among Aging and Disability Resource Centers, establish consumer-friendly methods for communicating to consumers, consistently throughout a State—

“(i) quality information relating to the measures identified under subparagraph (A) about home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, and resources to which such consumers are referred to by area agencies on aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and such other entities as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

“(ii)

“(I) the content of the State certification or licensure requirements applicable to such home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, or resources; or

“(II) an explanation that the State does not have certification or licensure requirements applicable to such home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, or resources; and”

Sec. 302 Organization

Section 305(a)(3)(E) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)(3)(E)) is amended—
(1)
in the matter before clause (i), by striking “information relating to”;
(2)
in clause (i)—
(A)
by inserting “information relating to” after “(i)”; and
(B)
by striking “and” at the end;
(3)
in clause (ii)—
(A)
by inserting “information relating to” after “(ii)”; and
(B)
by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:

“(iii) quality information, relating to the measures identified under section 202(b)(11)(A), about home and community-based long-term care programs, service providers, and resources, provided through methods described in section 202(b)(11)(B), when the Aging and Disability Resource Centers, area agencies on aging, and such other entities as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate, refer consumers to those programs, providers, and resources in the State.”