The 2000 amendments to the Older Americans Act include a five-year reauthorization, and maintain the original ten objectives aimed at preserving the rights and dignity of our nation’s older citizens. Although the seven titles remain intact, the following Title III categorical programs are now consolidated under Part B, Supportive Services: Part D, In-Home Services for Frail Older Individuals; Part E, Additional Assistance for Special Needs of Older Individuals; and Part G, Supportive Activities for Caretakers Who Provide In-Home Services to Frail, Older Individuals.

The amendments retain the targeting provisions for low-income minorities, and add focus on older individuals residing in rural areas. The amendments also retain priority services, thereby maintaining emphasis on access, in-home, and legal services. The addition of the National Family Caregiver Support Program provides a means of addressing the nation's growing needs of caregivers. In addition, a new part of Title VI, Grants to Native Americans, authorizes a program to support caregivers of Native American elders.

The amendments streamline, consolidate and grant more flexibility to the states and area agencies on aging in developing comprehensive and coordinated service systems. States and AAA's are now specifically allowed to provide services to non-elderly with outside resources such as Medicaid waiver funds. Much of the prescriptive language of the Act, such as compiling information on higher education, developing volunteer programs, and AAA telephone directory listings, is deleted from the Act.

To permit demonstrations and promote innovations or improve service delivery, additional flexibility is provided with waiver provisions in the areas of statewide uniformity and state and area plan requirements. Also waiver authority is provided for the restrictions on transfer of funds between supportive and nutrition services, and for the maintenance of effort levels.

The prohibition against the direct provision of service remains intact, but additional provisions are added. If the state agency or area agency is already providing case management under a state program, the state plan may specify that the agency is allowed to continue. In addition, the state plan may specify that an area agency is allowed to directly provide I&A and outreach.

A provision for cost sharing allows states to choose this option for certain supportive services, while exempting access, nutrition and elder rights services. Services provided to low-income older persons are also excluded from cost sharing.

The interstate funding formula components for Title III (not including III-E, National Family Caregiver Support Program) and Title VII services, while reordered, are unchanged except for the updated “hold harmless” year (FY-2000), and the addition of a second “hold harmless” level, i.e., No state will receive less than 20% of the percentage increase above the FY-2000 allotments for all states. The interstate funding formula for Title III-E is based upon the population of persons 70+, along with the same minimum funding level factor outlined in the Title III/VII funding formula. The intrastate funding formula provisions are unchanged.

The 2000 amendments modify the USDA meal reimbursement program to lessen the administrative burdens on states, tribes, and local agencies. The Act retains the connection with the number of meals provided, and minimizes any disruptions in allocations to states. This is accomplished by revising the basis for allocations from a reimbursement model to a performance incentive model. It will be based on the actual number of meals served in the previous year and is designed to eliminate estimated numbers.