Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) Amendments to the Older Americans Act of 1965.—

(1) PROMOTION OF DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE.—Section 202(b)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3012(b)(1)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: “, and, in carrying out the purposes of this paragraph, shall make recommendations to other Federal entities regarding appropriate and effective means of identifying, promoting, and implementing investments in the direct care workforce necessary to meet the growing demand for long-term health services and supports and of assisting States in developing a comprehensive State workforce development plan with respect to such workforce, including assisting efforts to systematically assess, track, and report on workforce adequacy and capacity”.

(2) PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT WORKFORCE ADVISORY PANEL.—Section 202 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3012) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g)(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall establish a Personal Care Attendant Workforce Advisory Panel to examine and formulate recommendations on—

“(A) working conditions and training for workers providing long-term services and supports, including home health aides, certified nurse aides, and personal care attendants; and

“(B) other workforce issues related to such workers, including with respect to the adequacy of the number of such workers; the salaries, wages, and benefits of such workers; and access to the services provided by such workers.

“(2) The Panel shall include representatives of—

“(A) relevant home- and community-based service providers, health care agencies, and facilities (including personal or home care agencies, home health care agencies, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and residential care facilities);

“(B) the disability community, including individuals with disabilities and family caregivers;

“(C) the nursing community;

“(D) direct care workers (which may include unions and national organizations);

“(E) older individuals, including senior individuals and family caregivers;

“(F) State and Federal health care entities; and

“(G) experts in workforce development and adult learning.

“(3) Within one year after the establishment of the Panel, the Panel shall submit a report to the Assistant Secretary and the Congress on workforce issues related to providing long-term services and supports, including information on core competencies for eligible personal or home care aides necessary to successfully provide long-term services and supports to eligible consumers, as well as recommended training curricula and resources.

“(4) Within 180 days after receipt by the Assistant Secretary of the report under paragraph (3), the Assistant Secretary shall establish a 3-year demonstration program in 4 States to pilot and evaluate the effectiveness of the competencies articulated by the Panel and the training curricula and training methods recommended by the Panel.

“(5) Not later than 1 year after the completion of the demonstration program under paragraph (4), the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report containing the results of the evaluations by the Assistant Secretary pursuant to paragraph (4), together with such recommendations for legislation or administrative action as the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate.”.

(b) Authorization of Additional Appropriations for the Family Caregiver Support Program Under the Older Americans Act of 1965.—Section 303(e)(2) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3023(e)(2)) is amended by striking “, $173,000,000” and all that follows through “2011”, and inserting “and $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013”.