March 5, 2018
This weekend seems a bit quiet for a change, so we can finally write about something we’ve been wanting to post for over a month.
On January 22, 2018, President Trump signed the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (“Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage”). The law directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a national Family Caregiving Strategy within 18 months. The report must recommend actions for government at all levels and private health and long-term care providers to (1) increase “person-centered care,” (2) improve caregiver training, and (3) improve financial security for caregivers.
The Act also directs creation of a 15 member Family Caregiver Advisory Council, composed of family caregivers, older adults with long-term services and supports needs, individuals with disabilities, health care and social service providers, long-term services and supports providers, employers, paraprofessional workers, state and local officials, accreditation bodies, and veterans. The Council is to (1) make recommendations regarding the Strategy, (2) oversee implementation of the Strategy, and (3) issue a report within one year with periodic updates thereafter.
Congress did not allocate any funds for the effort, which must come from the existing DHHS budget, nor did it allocate any funds to implement the Strategy or to pay caregivers.
More about the RAISE Family Caregivers Act is at Forbes.