Congress Passes Trump Signs RAISE Family Caregivers Act 'Elevating Caregiving To A Priority'
Rhonda Richards
âThis elevates this issue as a priority â said  Rhonda Richards  senior legislative representative of AARP . As the initial driving force behind the legislation  AARP rallied more than 60 aging and disability organizations to support the idea  including the Elizabeth Dole Foundation  Paralyzed Veterans of America  Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Alzheimerâs Association and then championed the appeal to legislators. The senior advocate organization has nearly 38 million members and offices in every state  the District of Columbia  Puerto Rico  and the U.S. Virgin Islands
 Richards  said whether you have been a caregiver  will be a caregiver  or may need a caregiver at some point  âThis issue has touched just about everyone. Itâs non-partisan. Itâs bi-partisan. Most people have a personal story. The law helps bring together stakeholders to better recognize and support families and caregivers to help make sure caregivers get the training and support they need to navigate the healthcare system.â
While RAISE does not authorize additional funding for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)  it does mandate the development of a strategy within a 3-year period.  Richards  said RAISE calls for the creation of an advisory council that will be required to issue a report to HHS Secretary Eric D. Hargan within a year of the lawâs enactment. Hargan will then be required to issue a national strategy within 18 months of the lawâs enactment. Going forward  the advisory council will be required to provide the secretary annual progress reports.
Some of the topics that will likely be addressed to support caregivers  according to  Richards   include:
âThe idea is to come up with best practices for health care providers and others  for employers to better support family caregivers and for government to better support family caregivers â  Richards  said. âThe reports and strategy provide important information and steps that can be acted upon.â
âThis elevates this issue as a priority â said   [TGT]  . As the initial driving force behind the legislation  AARP rallied more than 60 aging and disability organizations to support the idea  including the Elizabeth Dole Foundation  Paralyzed Veterans of America  Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Alzheimerâs Association and then championed the appeal to legislators. The senior advocate organization has nearly 38 million members and offices in every state  the District of Columbia  Puerto Rico  and the U.S. Virgin Islands
  [TGT] said whether you have been a caregiver  will be a caregiver  or may need a caregiver at some point  âThis issue has touched just about everyone. Itâs non-partisan. Itâs bi-partisan. Most people have a personal story. The law helps bring together stakeholders to better recognize and support families and caregivers to help make sure caregivers get the training and support they need to navigate the healthcare system.â
While RAISE does not authorize additional funding for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)  it does mandate the development of a strategy within a 3-year period.   [TGT]   said RAISE calls for the creation of an advisory council that will be required to issue a report to HHS Secretary Eric D. Hargan within a year of the lawâs enactment. Hargan will then be required to issue a national strategy within 18 months of the lawâs enactment. Going forward  the advisory council will be required to provide the secretary annual progress reports.
Some of the topics that will likely be addressed to support caregivers  according to   [TGT] include:
âThe idea is to come up with best practices for health care providers and others  for employers to better support family caregivers and for government to better support family caregivers â   [TGT] said. âThe reports and strategy provide important information and steps that can be acted upon.â