ADMINISTRATION
ON AGING, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AUTHORIZATION:
Older
Americans Act of 1965, Title III and Title VII, Chapter 2, Public
Law 89-73, as amended; Public Law 90-42, 81 Stat. 106; Public Law
91-69, 83 Stat. 108; Public Law 93-29, 87 Stat. 30; Public Law 93-351,
88 Stat. 357; Public Law 94-135, 89 Stat. 713; Public Law 95-65,
91 Stat. 269; Public Law 95-478; 92 Stat. 1513; Public Law 97-115,
95 Stat. 1595; Public Law 98-459, 98 Stat. 1767; Public Law 100-
175, 101 Stat. 926; Section 705, Public Law 100-628; 42 U.S.C. 3022-
3030(d); Public Law 102-375; Public Law 106-501.
The
principal role of this Ombudsman Program is to investigate and resolve
complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing homes or
other long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen also promote policies
and practices needed to improve the quality of care and life in
long-term care facilities; educate both consumers and providers
about residents' rights and good care practices; and help to prevent
both resident abuse and costly fraud against the Medicare and Medicaid
programs.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funds
are awarded to States to develop or strengthen service systems through
designated State Agencies on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging and other
local entities. Funds under this Title and Chapter are included
in State aging plan covering 2, 3, or 4 years, with annual revisions
as necessary, submitted for approval to the Assistant Secretary
for Aging. Funds are used to design and implement programs for the
provision of long-term care ombudsman services for older individuals
living in long-term care facilities.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: All States and U.S. Territories
which have State Agencies on Aging designated by the governors.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Older individuals residing in
institutional long-term care facilities or requiring assistance
in entering or transferring from such facilities.
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR, Parts 74 and
92.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is subject to the
State Plan Coordination Section of E.O. 12372. State plans are covered
under this Section, but Intergovernmental Consultation Review is
excluded. This program requires coordination in accordance with
45 CFR 74 and 92.
Application
Procedure: Consult the appropriate Regional
Office for State application instructions. (See Appendix IV of
the Catalog for listing.)
Award
Procedure: The Administration on Aging awards
funds through a statutory formula to State Agencies on Aging.
Deadlines:
Funds are awarded to State Agencies on Aging annually, based on
the Federal fiscal year.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: States are entitled
to these grants by statute.
Appeals:
Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45
CFR 16.
Renewals:
Applications are submitted for a 2-, 3-, or 4-year period and
revised as necessary.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: No matching is required.
The statistical factor used for fund allocation is the State population
of persons 60 years of age and over and the source is the most recent
data available to the Assistant Secretary for Aging. In addition,
minimum allotments are established for smaller States and Territories.
Statistical factors for eligibility do not apply to this program.
This program has maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements. See funding
agency for further details.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: One year.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
SF 269 Financial Status Report (Semi-annual), and the annual program
report.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of State and Local Governments, and Nonprofit
Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance
of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities
that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards is exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted
in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records:
Financial records must be kept available for 3 years after submission
of expenditure reports and 5 years after final disposition of
non-expendable property in accordance with the regulations at
45 CFR 74, Subpart D.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 75-0142-0-1-506.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $9,307,190; FY 02 est $12,449,000; and FY 03 est
$12,449,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$5,817 to $931,692; Average: $166,200.
In fiscal year 2001, 55 grants were made to States and related jurisdictions.
It is estimated that 55 grants will be made in fiscal year 2002
and in fiscal year 2003. The principal role of the Ombudsman Program
is to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of
residents. Ombudsmen also promote policies and practices needed
to improve the quality of care and life in long-term care facilities;
educate both consumers and providers about residents' rights and
good care practices; and help to prevent both resident abuse and
costly fraud against the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Projected
Ombudsman accomplishments for 2003 include: identify, investigate
and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents; provide
information to residents about long-term care services; represent
the interests of residents before governmental agencies and seek
administrative, legal and other remedies to protect residents; analyze,
comment on and recommend changes in laws and regulations pertaining
to the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents; educate
and inform consumers and the general public regarding issues and
concerns related to long-term care and facilitate public comment
on laws, regulations, policies and actions; promote the development
of citizen organizations to participate in the program; provide
technical support for the development of resident and family councils
to protect the well-being and rights of residents; and advocate
for changes to improve resident's quality of life and care. Ombudsmen
will investigate complaints made by over 137,000 individuals and
provide information on long-term care to another 245,000 or more
people. Seventy percent of complaints will be resolved or partially
resolved.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
45 CFR 1321, 74, and 1327.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Regional Administrator, Administration
on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Regional Offices.
(See Appendix IV of the Catalog.)
Headquarters
Office: Mr. Edwin L. Walker, Department of
Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, Center for
Wellness and Community-Based Services, Wilbur Cohen Building,
Room 4733, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: (202) 619-0011.
Use the same number for FTS.
