Improved Knowledge Base Would Be Helpful in Reaching Policy Decisions on Providing Long-Term, In-Home Services for the Elderly

GAO reviewed the provision for in-home health or health-related services under four Federal programs, titles XVIII, XIX, and XX of the Social Security Act and title III of the Older Americans Act, to determine how well the services meet the elderly's need for long-term, in-home care. Each of these programs, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), presents different requirements on the availability and use of in-home services.