SPECIAL PROJECTS IN COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM CARE.

SEC. 407. SPECIAL PROJECTS IN COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM CARE. (a) In General.— Section 423 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3035b) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 423. SPECIAL PROJECTS IN COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM CARE. “(a) Definitions.— As used in this section: 106 STAT. 1247 “(1) Project.— The term ‘Project’ means a Project to Improve the Delivery of Long-Term Care Services. “(2) Resource center.— The term “Resource Center” means a Resource Center for Long-Term Care. “(b) Resource Centers.— “(1) Grants and contracts.— The Commissioner shall award grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to support the establishment or operation of not fewer than four and not more than seven Resource Centers in accordance with paragraph (2). “(2) Requirements.— “(A) Functions.— Each Resource Center that receives funds under this subsection shall, with respect to subjects within an area of specialty of the Resource Center— “(i) perform research; “(ii) provide for the dissemination of results of the research; and “(iii) provide technical assistance and training to State agencies and area agencies on aging. “(B) Area of speciality.— For purposes of subparagraph (A) the term ‘area of speciality’ means— “(i) Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and other cognitive impairments; “(ii) client assessment and case management; “(iii) data collection and analysis; “(iv) home modification and supportive services to enable older individuals to remain in their homes; “(v) consolidation and coordination of services; “(vi) linkages between acute care, rehabilitative services, and long-term care, facilities and providers; “(vii) decision making and bioethics; “(viii) supply, training, and quality of long-term care personnel, including those who provide rehabilitative services; “(ix) rural issues, including barriers to access to services; “(x) chronic mental illness; “(xi) populations with greatest social need and populations with greatest economic need, with particular attention to low-income minorities; and “(xii) an area of importance as determined by the Commissioner. “(c) Projects.— The Commissioner shall award grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to support the entities in establishing and carrying out not fewer than 10 Projects. “(d) Use of Funds.— “(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), an eligible entity may use funds received under a grant or contract— “(A) described in subsection (b)(1) to pay for part or all of the cost (including startup cost) of establishing and operating a new Resource Center, or of operating a Resource Center in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1992; or 106 STAT. 1248 “(B) described in subsection (c) to pay for part or all of the cost (including startup cost) of establishing and carrying out a Project. “(2) Reimbursable direct services.— None of the funds may be used to pay for direct services that are eligible for reimbursement under title XVIII, XIX, or XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq., or 1397 et seq.). “(e) Preference.— In awarding grants, and entering into contracts, under this section, the Commissioner shall give preference to entities that demonstrate that— “(1) adequate State standards have been developed to ensure the quality of services provided under the grant or contract; and “(2) the entity has made a commitment to carry out programs under the grant or contract with each State agency responsible for the administration of title XIX or XX of the Social Security Act. “(f) Application.— “(1) In general.— To be eligible to receive funds under a grant or contract described in subsection (b)(1) or (c), an entity shall submit an application to the Commissioner at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commissioner may require. “(2) Project application.— An entity seeking a grant or contract under subsection (c) shall submit an application to the Commissioner containing, at a minimum— “(A) information identifying and describing gaps, weaknesses, or other problems in the delivery of long-term care services in the State or geographic area to be served by the entity, including— “(i) duplication of functions in the delivery of such services, including duplication at the State and local level; “(ii) fragmentation of systems, especially in coordinating services to populations of older individuals and other populations; “(iii) barriers to access for populations with greatest social need and populations with greatest economic need, including minorities and residents of rural areas; “(iv) lack of financing for such services; “(v) lack of availability of adequately trained personnel to provide such services; and “(vi) lack of a range of chronic care services (including rehabilitative strategies) that promote restoration, maintenance, or improvement of function in older individuals; “(B) a plan to address the gaps, weaknesses, and problems described in clauses (i) through (v); and “(C) information describing the extent to which the entity will coordinate with area agencies on aging and service providers in carrying out the proposed Project. “(g) Eligible Entities.— “(1) Resource centers.— Entities eligible to receive grants, or enter into contracts, under subsection (b)(1) shall be— “(A) institutions of higher education; and 106 STAT. 1249 “(B) other public agencies and nonprofit private organizations. “(2) Projects.— Entities eligible to receive grants, or enter into contracts, under subsection (c) include— “(A) State agencies; and “(B) in consultation with State agencies— “(i) area agencies on aging; “(ii) institutions of higher education; and “(iii) other public agencies and nonprofit private organizations. “(h) Report.— The Commissioner shall include in the annual report to the Congress required by section 207, a report on the grants awarded, and contracts entered into, under this section, including— “(1) an analysis of the relative effectiveness, and recommendations for any changes, of the projects of Resource Centers funded under subsection (b)(1) in the fiscal year for which the Commissioner is preparing the annual report; and “(2) an evaluation of the needs identified, the agencies utilized, and the effectiveness of the approaches used by projects funded under subsection (c). “(i) Availability of Funds.— The Commissioner shall make available for carrying out subsection (b) for each fiscal year not less than the amount made available in fiscal year 1991 for making grants and entering into contracts to establish and operate Resource enters under section 423 as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1992.”. (b) Obligation.— Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall obligate, from the funds appropriated under section 431(a)(1) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3037(a)(1)) for fiscal year 1992— (1) not less than the amount described in section 423(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3035b(i)) for carrying out section 423(b)(1) of such Act; and (2) such sums as may be necessary for carrying out section 423(c) of such Act.