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December 3, 2007 The Honorable Tom Harkin, Chairman ATTN: Adrienne Hallet Dear Chairman Harkin, As you proceed in drafting a final FY08 Labor, HHS, Education funding bill, we, the undersigned national organizations, are writing to thank you for your leadership on this issue and to urge you to retain language reserving the $2 million for the Lifespan Respite Program (PL 109-442) as agreed to in the FY 08 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations conference agreement. As you know, the conference agreement sets aside $2 million in the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s General Management Fund for the Lifespan Respite Care Act. The Lifespan Respite Care Act authorizes competitive grants to Aging and Disability Resource Centers in collaboration with a public or private non-profit state respite coalition or organization to make quality respite available and accessible to family caregivers regardless of age or disability. The law allows grantees to identify, coordinate and build on federal, state and local respite resources and funding streams, and would help support, expand and streamline planned and emergency respite, provider recruitment and training, and caregiver training. The nation’s estimated 50 million family caregivers provide 80% of long-term care. Respite, the most frequently requested family support service, has been shown to provide family caregivers with the relief necessary to maintain their own health, bolster family stability, keep marriages intact, and avoid or delay more costly nursing home or foster care placements. No other federal program provides a focus on respite programs, delivery, capacity building or quality assurance for all age groups and conditions. We know what to do. The Act is based on model State Lifespan Respite Systems in Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oklahoma, which provide easy access to an array of affordable, quality respite services; ensure flexibility to meet diverse needs; and assist with locating, training, and paying respite providers. For families and individuals who may not qualify for any other public or private respite funding streams, including children with severe disabilities, teens with serious emotional conditions, and adults with Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, cancer, Alzheimer’s and many other chronic conditions, these programs may be holding out the only helping hand. In these times of serious budget constraints, the economic value of respite is exceptional. Delaying nursing home or institutional placement of just one individual with a chronic condition for several months can save Medicaid, private insurance, or the family thousands of dollars. The value of uncompensated family caregiving services to the U.S. economy is estimated at $350 billion a year, as much as total spending for the Medicare program ($342 billion in 2005); more than total spending for Medicaid, including both federal and state contributions and both medical and long-term care ($300 billion in 2005); and more than the amount of the U.S. budget deficit ($248 billion in FY 2006). In addition, American businesses lose $17.1 to $33.6 billion annually in lost productivity costs related to caregiving responsibilities. We urge you to retain language in the final FY 08 funding bill reserving the $2 million for the Lifespan Respite Program (PL 109-442) as agreed to in the FY 08 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations conference agreement and thank you for your ongoing leadership on this issue. The program has strong bipartisan support and the Act passed unanimously in both chambers in the 109th Congress. Send a message to the nation’s family caregivers that we value their health and well-being and that help is on the way. Sincerely, ACCSES
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