The move comes as an estimated 10,000 baby boomers retire every day.
It may come as a shock to realize that the nation’s oldest baby boomer and the current U.S. life expectancy this year became the same age: 77.
That might help explain why the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) is seeking input on a broad range of proposed updates to most of its Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, which haven’t been substantially changed since 1988.
“Our world has changed dramatically in the 35 years since,” the ACL said in a post to its website. “The population of older adults has nearly doubled and has grown increasingly diverse. Older adults are living longer than ever before, and their expectations are different from those of earlier generations. Increased understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health is reshaping healthcare, as non-medical services that help people avoid hospitalization and institutional care – like those provided through OAA programs – are increasingly being incorporated into healthcare service delivery models.”
Specifically, officials said that the proposed changes are needed to align regulations to the current version of the OAA statute and reflect the aims of the services offered under it.
“Like the Inflation Reduction Act, which has cut healthcare costs for millions of older adults, and the steps we have taken to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, the update to the Older Americans Act regulations reflects President Biden’s commitment to supporting the health and well-being of older adults,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement (the ACL is an umbrella program of HHS). “By strengthening the stability and sustainability of Older Americans Act programs and promoting equitable access to its services, the proposed rule will help ensure that older people, particularly those in greatest need, have the support they need to live independently and age with dignity.”
“The overwhelming majority of older adults want to live in the community as they age, and almost 95 percent of them do. For many, services provided through the Older Americans Act – such as rides to doctors’ appointments, nutritious meals, in-home services, and support to family caregivers – make this possible,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator Alison Barkoff added. “This proposed rule will strengthen the system of support that allows millions of older adults to stay in their own homes. With our population aging rapidly, and nearly three out of four people needing assistance to age in place, this is more important than ever.”
Officials said the proposed rule specifically would include the following:
The OAA was passed in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” reforms, becoming the first federal program specifically created to provide services to older adults. It is generally reauthorized by Congress every four years, and it continues to benefit Americans over 60 – of which there is a rapidly growing number.
Baby boomers are defined as the estimated 76 million Americans born between the years of 1946 to 1964, when the U.S. birth rate hovered between about 21 and 26 births per 1,000 people annually – it has fallen by more than a third since. The trend pushed the country’s median age to a whopping 38.8 as of earlier this year.
A Forbes article published late last year noted that an estimated record 26 million Americans more than 50 live alone, and by the end of the decade, all baby boomers will be over the age of 65.
Comments on the proposed rule may be submitted by “all who are interested in improving implementation of OAA programs and services,” officials said, with input from aging and disability networks, as well as OAA beneficiaries, labeled “particularly crucial.” Comments can be made anytime through Aug. 15, in one of two ways: online at Regulations.gov (enter “2023-12829” in the search bar, select ACL’s proposed rule, and then click the blue “comment” box at the top left of the page) or by mail sent to the Administration for Community Living, Administration on Aging, Attention: ACL-AA17-P, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201.
To read a brief summary of the proposed rule, go online to: https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/oam/2023/Overview%20-%20Proposed%20OAA%20Regulations%20-%202023%20-%20final.pdf
To read the full Federal Register posting in its entirety, go to: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/06/16/2023-12829/older-americans-act-grants-to-state-and-community-programs-on-aging-grants-to-indian-tribes-for
Mark Spivey is a national correspondent for RACmonitor and ICD10monitor who has been writing and editing material about the federal oversight of American healthcare for nearly 15 years. He can be reached at mcspivey33@gmail.com.
Imagine receiving notice that your healthcare organization faces a potential multimillion-dollar repayment demand based on the review of just 100 claims. This scenario, playing out
Some of you may have read my article from last week kindly published as a special bulletin. For those who did not, let me recap.
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Master the complexities of heart failure coding with this expert-led webcast by Emily Montemayor, CCS, CMBCS, COC, CPC, CPMA. Discover strategies to ensure compliance with ICD-10-CM guidelines, documentation integrity, and capture comorbidities like CKD and hypertension. Learn how to resolve coding challenges, improve documentation practices, and submit clean claims to minimize denials and safeguard your organization’s financial health. With practical insights and real-world examples, this session equips you to prevent revenue leakage, enhance compliance, and secure optimal reimbursement—all while supporting better patient outcomes.
Prepare your organization for the 2025 OPPS updates with expert insights from Tiffani Bouchard, CCS, CRCR, a Revenue Integrity Professional with over 30 years of experience. This webcast will address critical challenges in charge capture and coding, providing clarity on APC policies, C-APC packaging, exclusions, and payer-specific requirements. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to ensure compliance, optimize reimbursement, and mitigate risks of claim denials. Gain the knowledge needed to implement updates effectively, educate your team, and maintain seamless revenue cycle operations in the face of evolving OPPS complexities.
Join Beth Wolf, MD, CPC, CCDS, for an in-depth webcast on the FY2025 spinal fusion MS-DRG updates. Discover key changes in DRG classification, understand impacts on documentation and CMI, and learn strategies to ensure compliance.
Join Angela Comfort, DBA, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, as she presents effective strategies to strengthen collaboration between CDI, coding, and quality departments in acute care hospitals. Angela will also share guidance on implementing cross-departmental meetings, using shared KPIs, and engaging leadership to foster a culture of collaboration. Attendees will gain actionable tools to optimize documentation accuracy, elevate quality metrics, and drive a unified approach to healthcare goals, ultimately enhancing both patient outcomes and organizational performance.
Dr. Ronald Hirsch dives into the basics of Medicare for clinicians to be successful as utilization review professionals. He’ll break down what Medicare does and doesn’t pay for, what services it provides and how hospitals get paid for providing those services – including both inpatient and outpatient. Learn how claims are prepared and how much patients must pay for their care. By attending our webcast, you will gain a new understanding of these issues and be better equipped to talk to patients, to their medical staff, and to their administrative team.
Hospitals face growing challenges in measuring observation metrics due to inconsistencies in classification, payer policies, and benchmarking practices. Join Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, and Anuja Mohla, DO, FACP, MBA, ACPA-C, CHCQM-PHYADV as they provide critical insights into refining observation metrics. This webcast will address key issues affecting observation data integrity and offer strategies for improving consistency in reporting. You will learn how to define meaningful metrics, clarify commonly misinterpreted terms, and apply best practices for benchmarking, and gain actionable strategies to enhance observation data reliability, mitigate financial risk, and drive better decision-making.
The 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule brings significant changes to payment rates, coverage, and coding for physician services, impacting practices nationwide. Join Stanley Nachimson, MS., as he provides a comprehensive guide to understanding these updates, offering actionable insights on new Medicare-covered services, revised coding rules, and payment policies effective January 1. Learn how to adapt your practices to maintain compliance, maximize reimbursement, and plan for revenue in 2025. Whether you’re a physician, coder, or financial staff member, this session equips you with the tools to navigate Medicare’s evolving requirements confidently and efficiently.
Dr. Ronald Hirsch provides critical details on the new Medicare Appeal Process for Status Changes for patients whose status changes during their hospital stay. He also delves into other scenarios of hospital patients receiving custodial care or medically unnecessary services where patient notifications may be needed along with the processes necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal guidance.
Copyright © 2025 RACmonitor. Powered by MedLearn Media.
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
