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1993.
10.27 :  Award to IOM for Long-Term Care Study

Wednesday, October 27, 1993
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration on Aging
Contact: Moya Benoit Thompson 
(202) 401-4541

     Fernando M. Torres-Gil, assistant secretary for aging in the
Department of Health and Human Services, has announced an award of
$732,650 to the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy
of Sciences, to conduct a national effectiveness study of the State
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.
     The 1992 Older Americans Act Amendments direct the
Administration on Aging to prepare an effectiveness study and
submit a report, based on the findings, to the Congress.  The
legislation calls for the analysis of the following aspects of the
ombudsman program:
     o the availability, access and effectiveness of the ombudsman
program for residents of long-term care facilities, board and care
homes and other adult care facilities;
     o the adequacy of federal and other resources available to
operate the programs throughout the United States;
     o state compliance and the barriers to compliance in
implementing the program;
     o the presence of any actual and potential conflicts of
interest in the administration and operation of the program; and,
     o the need for and feasibility of providing ombudsman services
to older individuals who are not residing in long-term care
facilities but who are users of health and long-term care services.
     "Increasing responsibilities have been assigned to the
ombudsman program over the past few years.  The Congress has
recognized the importance of these activities and has increased
federal funding to nearly $4.3 million for critical ombudsman
services in FY 1994," said Torres-Gil.  "This should be an
encouraging sign to those who are familiar with the program.  This
study will examine whether those aspects of the program that are
thought to contribute to its success in long-term care facilities
are transferable to settings, such as private homes or community
health clinics where the care is provided outside a long-term care
facility."
     As the health policy arm of the congressionally chartered
National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine acts as
independent advisor to the federal government in matters of health
care policy analysis.
     Jo Harris-Wehling will serve as the IOM study director for the
project.  Before joining IOM, she held positions with the 1981
White House Conference on Aging, the HHS Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Maryland State Office
on Aging.