WASHINGTON – Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has made available $27 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to help older Americans with chronic conditions improve their health and reduce the use of medical care.

Up to $650 million is provided under ARRA to the HHS for its Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative, launched this fall to promote evidence-based prevention strategies in communities and states.

“This program is about getting money to communities to help seniors manage chronic conditions that threaten their ability to remain in their own home,” Sebelius said.

Research has shown that prevention programs can reduce costs and improve the quality of life for older people, including seniors with multiple chronic conditions. The initiative will serve more than 1,200 community-based sites across the country.

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been about helping families in need during challenging economic times, “ said Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee. “This innovative program will give at-risk older people and their caregivers the tools they need to make their own decisions so they can live longer, healthier and more independent lives."

The initiative allows state Aging and Health Departments to implement a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), such as one developed by Stanford University.

The CDSMP is a six-week, peer-led training program that covers topics such as healthy eating, exercise, managing fatigue and depression and communicating effectively with healthcare professionals. The program is designed to improve participants’ health and energy levels and result in savings to Medicare through fewer hospital stays.

“Too many seniors do not receive the recommended preventive and primary care they need,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh. “This program will strengthen the healthcare that our seniors need and deserve by coordinating and integrating care in the community.”

Every state and U.S. territory is eligible, and each will identify the communities and the organizations involved in the delivery of the program. The deadline for applications is Feb. 12, 2010.