House File 2073 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2073 BY HUNTER A BILL FOR An Act relating to the use of the elder index to determine 1 provision of services and programs for older individuals. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5604HH (3) 84 pf/nh

H.F. 2073 Section 1. USE OF ELDER INDEX IN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR 1 OLDER INDIVIDUALS. 2 1. a. The department on aging shall amend the state plan 3 on aging and submit the amended plan to the United States 4 administration on aging for approval to allow the use of 5 the elder index in determining eligibility for programs and 6 services under the state plan. 7 b. If the state plan amendment is approved, the department 8 on aging shall use the elder index in determining eligibility 9 for all needs-based programs for older individuals under the 10 department’s purview pursuant to the federal Older Americans 11 Act and shall require each area agency on aging to use 12 the elder index in preparing needs assessments and in the 13 development of each area agency on aging area plan. 14 c. If the state plan amendment is approved, the department 15 shall update the elder index annually. 16 2. For the purposes of this section, “elder index” 17 means the elder economic security standard index developed 18 by the wider opportunities for women and the gerontology 19 institute at the university of Massachusetts Boston that is a 20 geographically-based measure of the income adequacy required 21 by an older individual to meet all basic needs including but 22 not limited to housing, food, health care, transportation, 23 long-term care, and miscellaneous essentials without reliance 24 on income-eligible public supports. 25 EXPLANATION 26 This bill relates to the use of the elder index in 27 determining eligibility for programs and services under the 28 purview of the department of elder affairs pursuant to the 29 federal Older Americans Act. 30 The bill defines “elder index” and directs the department 31 on aging (IDA) to amend the state plan on aging and submit the 32 amended plan to the United States administration on aging for 33 approval to allow the use of the elder index in determining 34 eligibility for programs and services under the state plan. If 35 -1- LSB 5604HH (3) 84 pf/nh 1/ 2

H.F. 2073 the state plan amendment is approved, IDA is directed to use 1 the elder index in determining eligibility for all needs-based 2 programs for older individuals under the department’s purview 3 and require each area agency on aging to use the elder index in 4 preparing needs assessments and in the development of each area 5 agency on aging area plan. IDA is directed to update the elder 6 index annually following approval. 7 -2- LSB 5604HH (3) 84 pf/nh 2/ 2