I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3266 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 26, 2011 Mr. Langevin (for himself and Mrs. McMorris Rodgers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program under such title relating to lifespan respite care.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2011.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)There are an estimated 62,000,000 family caregivers nationwide that provide care for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions across the lifespan. (2)The economic value of uncompensated family caregiving to the United States economy was estimated at $450,000,000,000 in 2009, more than total Medicaid spending of $366,000,000,000, including both Federal and State contributions for medical and long-term care in the same year. (3)While caring for the aging population remains a growing concern, more than half of care recipients are under age 75, and almost one-third are under age 50. (4)Respite provides temporary relief to caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for individuals of all ages with special needs. (5)Respite care is the most frequently requested family support service. (6)Respite has been shown to provide family caregivers with the relief necessary to maintain their own health, balance work and family, bolster family stability, keep marriages intact, and avoid or delay more costly nursing home or foster care placements. (7)Delaying nursing home, institutional, or foster care placement of just one individual for several months can save Medicaid, child welfare, or other government programs tens of thousands of dollars. (8)The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 was originally enacted to improve the delivery and quality of respite care services available to families across all age and disability groups by establishing coordinated lifespan respite systems. (9)Twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia have received grants under the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 to improve the availability and quality of respite services across the lifespan. (10)For the Nation’s wounded service members and veterans with traumatic brain injuries and other conditions, respite systems could be an integral lifeline for families in their new roles as life long family caregivers. (11)The Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress have both acknowledged the unique challenges facing caregivers of returning service members and veterans, as well as the need for increased caregiver services. (12)Only 15 percent of caregivers caring for veterans have received respite services from the Veterans Administration or some other community organization in 2010. (13)The increased utilization of, and costs to, long-term care systems requires the continued development of coordinated family support services like lifespan respite care.

3.

Reauthorization of lifespan respite care program

Section 2905 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300ii–4) is amended— (1)in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end; (2)in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (6)$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2012; (7)$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; (8)$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; (9)$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and (10)$17,500,000 for fiscal year 2016. .