To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administration for Community Living, to carry out a grant program for States to provide telephone reassurance services to certain older adults and to other adults with disabilities, and for other purposes.
The Friendly Calls for Our Seniors Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services to help states provide regular telephone reassurance services to seniors aged 60 and older and adults with disabilities who are at risk of social isolation or loneliness. States receiving grants must prioritize serving people in rural and medically underserved areas and may use funds for data analysis, technology improvements, and evaluating the program's impact. The bill authorizes $5 million in funding for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2027, with up to 1 percent of appropriated funds reserved for comprehensive program evaluations. States must submit annual reports on how many people were served, call frequency, voluntary referrals made, and overall participant satisfaction, while protecting individuals' privacy. The program takes effect on October 1, 2024, and reflects congressional concern that social isolation among older adults poses serious health risks comparable to smoking and costs the federal government approximately $6.7 billion annually in additional healthcare spending.
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