"This is the biggest of all 13 appropriations bills," Grassley said. "It includes dozens of programs that protect the health, safety and financial well-being of millions of Americans. I'm pleased that my colleagues found my contributions worthy of including in this bill."
Grassley, as chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, contributed several items that will benefit older Americans, including:
?Funding of the Social Services Block Grant. Grassley helped to restore funding for this program, which serves older Americans, children and people with disabilities. At the urging of Grassley and others, Senate leaders agreed to suspend a $1.1 billion cut in the Social Services Block Grant. Funding for the block grant will be restored to $1.7 billion from $600 million. This program has a significant presence in Iowa.
?Pension counseling projects. These projects fall under the purview of the Administration on Aging. They provide needed counseling, information and help to older Americans about their pension benefits. Grassley is working to make permanent these demonstration projects and to expand them so workers and seniors in all parts of the country have access to a counseling project.
?Health insurance counseling. Grassley secured $15 million, which will continue to fund staff to counsel older people about Medicare, Medicare supplemental insurance, long-term care insurance and other health insurance issues. In Iowa, the program is run out of the State Department of Insurance.
?Accountability on nursing homes. For the second fiscal year, Grassley's language requires the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to report to the Congress by July 15 of the next year on improvements in the quality of care in nursing homes. This is part of Grassley's effort to keep federal regulators focused on improvement in the quality of care provided to nursing home residents.
?Nursing home inspections. Grassley sought and received a $15 million increase for HCFA's nursing home inspections. Under HCFA's oversight, state agencies inspect nursing homes to gauge compliance with federal nursing home quality standards. HCFA has asked for more funding to beef up its enforcement efforts.
?Trauma/emergency medical services. Grassley secured $3 million toward increased funding for the Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act, which authorizes federal grants to states for the purpose of planning, implementing and developing statewide trauma care systems. Emergency medical services are important in rural areas, where distance is a factor in getting people to trauma care.