STUDY OF NUTRITION PROJECTS.

SEC. 317. STUDY OF NUTRITION PROJECTS.(a) Study.—(1) In general.—The Assistant Secretary for Aging shall use funds allocated in section 206(g) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3017(g)) to enter into a contract with the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, for the purpose of establishing an independent panel of experts that will conduct an evidence-based study of the nutrition projects authorized by such Act.(2) Study.—Such study shall, to the extent data are available, include—(A) an evaluation of the effect of the nutrition projects authorized by such Act on—(i) improvement of the health status, including nutritional status, of participants in the projects;(ii) prevention of hunger and food insecurity of the participants; and(iii) continuation of the ability of the participants to live independently;(B) a cost-benefit analysis of nutrition projects authorized by such Act, including the potential to affect costs 120 STAT. 2550 of the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and(C) an analysis of how and recommendations for how nutrition projects authorized by such Act may be modified to improve the outcomes described in subparagraph (A), including recommendations for improving the nutritional quality of the meals provided through the projects and undertaking other potential strategies to improve the nutritional status of the participants.(b) Reports.—(1) Report to the assistant secretary.—The panel described in subsection (a)(1) shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a report containing the results of the evidence-based study described in subsection (a), including any recommendations described in subsection (a)(2)(C).(2) Report to congress.—The Assistant Secretary shall submit a report containing the results described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.