### §3017. Evaluation of programs

#### (a) Authority of Secretary; scope of evaluation; persons conducting evaluation

The Secretary shall measure and evaluate the impact of all programs authorized by this chapter, their effectiveness in achieving stated goals in general, and in relation to their cost, their impact on related programs, their effectiveness in targeting for services under this chapter unserved older individuals with greatest economic need (including low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas) and unserved older individuals with greatest social need (including low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas), and their structure and mechanisms for delivery of services, including, where appropriate, comparisons with appropriate control groups composed of persons who have not participated in such programs. Evaluations shall be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the administration of the program or project evaluated.

#### (b) Relationship of programs to health care expenditures

Not later than July 1, 2020, the Secretary shall provide, directly or through grant or contract, for an evaluation of programs under this chapter, which shall include, to the extent practicable, an analysis of the relationship of such programs, including demonstration projects under subchapter IV of this chapter, to health care expenditures under the Medicare program established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and the Medicaid program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). The Secretary shall oversee analyses of data obtained in connection with program evaluation to evaluate, where feasible, the relationship of programs under this chapter to health care expenditures, including under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

#### (c) General standards

The Secretary may not make grants or contracts under subchapter IV of this chapter until the Secretary develops and publishes general standards to be used by the Secretary in evaluating the programs and projects assisted under such subchapter. Results of evaluations conducted pursuant to such standards shall be included in the reports required by section 3018 of this title.

#### (d) Opinions of program and project participants; comparison of effectiveness of related programs; consultation with organizations concerned with older individuals

In carrying out evaluations under this section, the Secretary shall, whenever possible, arrange to obtain the opinions of program and project participants about the strengths and weaknesses of the programs and projects, and conduct, where appropriate, evaluations which compare the effectiveness of related programs in achieving common objectives. In carrying out such evaluations, the Secretary shall consult with organizations concerned with older individuals, including those representing minority individuals, older individuals residing in rural areas and older individuals with disabilities.

#### (e) Annual summaries and analyses of evaluation; demonstration projects; transmittal to Congress; dissemination to Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations; accessibility to public

The Secretary shall annually publish summaries and analyses of the results of evaluative research and evaluation of program and project impact and effectiveness, including, as appropriate, health and nutrition education demonstration projects conducted under section 3027(f) 1 of this title, the full contents of which shall be transmitted to Congress, be disseminated to Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations with an interest in aging, and be accessible to the public.

#### (f) Federal property

The Secretary shall take the necessary action to assure that all studies, evaluations, proposals, and data produced or developed with Federal funds shall become the property of the United States.

#### (g) Availability to Secretary of information from executive agencies

Such information as the Secretary may deem necessary for purposes of the evaluations conducted under this section shall be made available to him, upon request, by the departments and agencies of the executive branch.

#### (h) Funds

From the total amount appropriated for each fiscal year to carry out subchapter III, the Secretary may use such sums as may be necessary, but not to exceed 1⁄2 of 1 percent of such amount, for purposes of conducting evaluations under this section, either directly or through grants or contracts. No part of such sums may be reprogrammed, transferred, or used for any other purpose. Funds expended under this subsection shall be justified and accounted for by the Secretary.

(Pub. L. 89–73, title II, §206, formerly §207, as added Pub. L. 93–29, title II, §201(c), May 3, 1973, 87 Stat. 35; amended Pub. L. 95–478, title I, §102(g), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1515; renumbered §206 and amended Pub. L. 97–115, §2(e)(2), (h), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1596; Pub. L. 98–459, title II, §206, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1770; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §106(c), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 930; Pub. L. 102–375, title II, §207, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1213; Pub. L. 103–171, §§2(5), 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1988, 1990; Pub. L. 106–501, title II, §203, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2234; Pub. L. 109–365, title II, §205, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2535; Pub. L. 116–131, title I, §127(b), Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 253.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Titles XVIII and XIX of the Act are classified generally to subchapters XVIII (§1395 et seq.) and XIX (§1396 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

Section 3027(f) of this title, referred to in subsec. (e), which related to demonstration projects for health and nutrition education, was repealed by Pub. L. 102–375, title III, §307(q), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1223, and subsec. (g) of section 3027 was redesignated (f).

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 206 of Pub. L. 89–73 was renumbered section 205 and is classified to section 3016 of this title.

#### Amendments

2020—Subsecs. (b) to (h). Pub. L. 116–131 added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsecs. (b) to (g) as (c) to (h), respectively.

2006—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–365 substituted "From the total amount appropriated for each fiscal year to carry out subchapter III, the Secretary may use such sums as may be necessary, but not to exceed 1⁄2 of 1 percent of such amount, for purposes of conducting evaluations under this section, either directly or through grants or contracts." for "The Secretary may use such sums as may be necessary, but not to exceed $3,000,000 (of which not to exceed $1,500,000 shall be available from funds appropriated to carry out subchapter III of this chapter and not to exceed $1,500,000 shall be available from funds appropriated to carry out subchapter IV of this chapter), to conduct directly evaluations under this section."

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–501, §203(1), inserted "and older individuals residing in rural areas" after "low-income minority individuals" in two places.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–501, §203(2), inserted ", older individuals residing in rural areas" after "minority individuals".

Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 106–501, §203(3), (4), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which related to evaluation of nutritional services provided under this chapter, establishment of an advisory council to develop recommendations for guidelines on efficiency and quality in furnishing nutrition services, and reporting to the President and Congress on recommendations and final guidelines to improve nutrition services provided under this chapter.

1993—Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 103–171, §§2(5)(A), 3(a)(13), substituted "1995" for "1994" and "Assistant Secretary" for "Commissioner".

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 103–171, §§2(5)(B), 3(a)(13), substituted "Assistant Secretary" for "Commissioner" wherever appearing and "1994" for "1993" in subpar. (B).

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 103–171, §§2(5)(C), 3(a)(13), substituted "1995" for "1994" in introductory provisions and "Assistant Secretary" for "Commissioner" in subpar. (B).

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–375, §207(1), inserted "their effectiveness in targeting for services under this chapter unserved older individuals with greatest economic need (including low-income minority individuals) and unserved older individuals with greatest social need (including low-income minority individuals)," after "related programs,".

Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 102–375, §207(2), added subsecs. (g) and (h) and struck out former subsec. (g) which read as follows: "The Secretary is authorized to use such sums as may be required, but not to exceed one-tenth of 1 percent of the funds appropriated under this chapter for each fiscal year, or $300,000 whichever is lower, to conduct program and project evaluations (directly, or by grants or contracts) as required by this subchapter. In the case of allotments from such an appropriation, the amount available for such allotments (and the amount deemed appropriated therefor) shall be reduced accordingly."

1987—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–175 inserted "and older individuals with disabilities" before period at end.

1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–459, §206(a), substituted "the Secretary develops and publishes general standards to be used by the Secretary in evaluating the programs and projects assisted under such subchapter" for "he has developed and published general standards to be used by him in evaluating the programs and projects assisted under such section or subchapter".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–459, §206(b), inserted provision requiring the Secretary to consult with organizations concerned with older individuals, including those representing minority individuals, in carrying out evaluations under this section.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–459, §206(c), inserted reference to health and nutrition education demonstration projects conducted under section 3027(f) of this title and inserted provision requiring dissemination of summaries and analyses required by this subsection to Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations with an interest in aging.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98–459, §206, substituted "one-tenth of 1 percent" for "1 per centum", "under this chapter for each fiscal year" for "under this chapter", and "$300,000 whichever is lower" for "$1,000,000 whichever is greater".

1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–115, §2(h), struck out "under section 3028 of this title" after "The Secretary may not make grants or contracts".

1978—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–478, §102(g)(1), required the Secretary to conduct, where appropriate, evaluations which compare the effectiveness of related programs in achieving common objectives.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–478, §102(g)(2), required publication of analyses of evaluations and substituted "full contents of which shall be transmitted to Congress and be accessible to the public" for "full contents of which shall be available to Congress and the public".

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–175 effective Oct. 1, 1987, except not applicable with respect to any area plan submitted under section 3026(a) of this title or any State plan submitted under section 3027(a) of this title and approved for any fiscal year beginning before Nov. 29, 1987, see section 701(a), (b) of Pub. L. 100–175, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

#### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by section 206(a) of Pub. L. 98–459 effective 60 days after Oct. 9, 1984, see section 803(b)(1) of Pub. L. 98–459, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

Amendment by section 206(b), (c) of Pub. L. 98–459 effective Oct. 9, 1984, see section 803(a) of Pub. L. 98–459, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

Amendment by section 206(d) of Pub. L. 98–459 effective on first day of first fiscal year beginning after Oct. 9, 1984, see section 803(b)(2) of Pub. L. 98–459, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

#### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–478 effective at close of Sept. 30, 1978, see section 504 of Pub. L. 95–478, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

1 See References in Text note below.