Older Americans Act Heads to President's Desk

Press Release

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) applauded the U.S. House's final passage of the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020. Johnson is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan bill which will reauthorize critical social and nutrition services for older Americans. Earlier this year, he saw the benefits of the program first-hand when he delivered Meals on Wheels to seniors. This legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law.

"For years, the OAA has provided a diverse range of services for older Americans with the greatest social or economic needs," said Johnson. "As someone who helped introduce this bipartisan bill, I'm proud to support the reauthorization of many critical services -- like Meals on Wheels -- to more than 41 million older Americans. Seniors deserve their independence, and I'm looking forward to seeing this important legislation signed into law."

The Supporting Older Americans Act:

- Clarifies existing authority to provide caregiver and long-term care services to those with Alzheimer's disease at any age.

- Clarifies that screening for malnutrition is included as part of nutrition screening within broader routine health screenings in the definition of disease prevention and health promotion services. Adds reducing malnutrition to the purpose of nutrition services programs under OAA.

- Adds screening an individual's immunization status to the definition of disease prevention and health promotion services and adds infectious diseases and vaccine-preventable diseases to evidence-based health promotion programs.

- Requires the Assistant Secretary for Aging to provide technical assistance on how to deliver evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs for different populations in a variety of different settings, such as in local communities and rural areas.

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