HHS Answers Coalition Letter ANCOR Joined on RAISE Family Caregivers Act

ANCOR and its coalition partners received a response from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding a letter the coalition sent on June 28, 2018. The letter called for the implementation of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, signed into law by the President in January 2018. As a refresher, the Act calls for the creation and maintenance of a Family Caregiving Strategy, which would include supports and training to assist family caregivers.

HHS’ response reads:

“Family caregivers are the bedrock of long-term services and supports and play an integral role in helping older adults and people with disabilities remain in their homes in the community. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its federal partners support family caregivers in meaningful and impactful ways. Programs such as the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and the Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program provide information and referral, assistance, counseling, and training programs for caregivers.

While HHS is committed to implementing the requirements of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, a key barrier to implementation of the RAISE Act is the lack of an appropriation to begin implementing the requirements of the Act in fiscal year (FY) 2018. The Senate has included $300,000 to establish a Family Caregiving Advisory Council in the appropriations bill for FY 2019 it passed on August 23, 2018. In the event that Congress appropriates funding to carry out the RAISE Act, HHS will act swiftly to implement it.”