Dingell, Bilirakis, Frankel Introduce Bill to Improve Public Health Programs for Older Adults

Statement

Today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), and Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) introduced the Protecting the Health of America's Older Adults Act. This bipartisan legislation would create a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve the health and well-being of older adults and provide grants to state and local health departments to implement age-friendly public health programs.

"The number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years. We have the power to prepare for this through strategic legislation that supports critical resources for older Americans," said Rep. Dingell. "I'm proud to work with my colleague Rep. Lois Frankel to introduce the Protecting the Health of America's Older Adults Act to create a Healthy Aging program at the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. From lowering health care costs to improving health equity, this program will be a lifeline to the American people as they age."

"We owe it to our seniors to ensure they have access to the best possible health care," said Rep. Bilirakis. "As the population continues to age, it only makes sense that public health officials are working closely with senior advocacy organizations to identify and address unmet needs."

"As people age, they face unique health challenges including dementia, food insecurity, balance, and isolation," said Rep. Frankel. "This bipartisan legislation will provide the CDC and state and local health departments with resources to address these, and other critical health issues older Americans confront every day."

This CDC program would provide grants and technical assistance to state, local, territorial, and tribal health departments for:

· Improving the coordination of public health interventions that improve the health and well-being of older adults;

· Disseminating and implementing evidence-based best practices and programs with respect to promoting the health and well-being of older adults;

· Coordinating multisectoral efforts to improve the health and well-being of older adults across governmental and nongovernmental health agencies;

· Improving coordination of interventions to identify gaps and reduce duplication of efforts at federal, local, and state agencies and with other aging services organizations.

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