HHS establishing new Administration for Community Living

The Department of Health and Human Services last week announced plans to establish a new agency, the Administration for Community Living.

The agency is being developed under the president’s Community Living Initiative, and will combine the Administration on Aging, Office on Disability and Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Its mission will be to promote independent living for elderly and disabled people.

HHS listed these objectives for the new agency:
• Reduce the fragmentation in federal programs for community living services and support needs of the elderly and disabled.
• Enhance access to quality health care and long-term services and supports.
• Promote consistency in community living policy across other areas of the federal government.
• Complement the community infrastructure, as supported by both Medicaid and other federal programs, to better respond to the needs of seniors and people with disabilities.
The new agency will be headed by Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary of aging. Henry Claypool, director of the Office on Disability, will serve as principle deputy administrator.