CCD Press Release (March 26, 2009):
NATIONAL
AGING AND DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS UNITED IN CALL FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM TO
ADDESS NEEDS FOR LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
Washington , DC
Long-term services and
supports encompass a broad range of assistance with everyday activities, such
as assistance and supervision with dressing, bathing, using the bathroom,
preparing meals, taking medication, managing a home, and managing money. An estimated 10 million Americans currently
have needs for long-term services. As
the U.S.
Nearly half of all funding
for long-term services is currently provided through Medicaid, which presents significant
problems for beneficiaries. The Medicaid
program requires individuals to become and remain poor to receive the services
and support they need. In addition, there
is an institutional bias in Medicaid where approximately two-thirds of all
spending is directed towards nursing homes and other institutions instead of
preferred community-based services. And
lastly, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities and
families on waiting lists for services and supports.
Fortunately, there are
viable policy options. Two significant
pieces of legislation were reintroduced this week. On Tuesday, Senator Harkin (D-IA) and
Representative Davis (D-IL) reintroduced the Community Choice Act which would
provide individuals with disabilities and seniors with an equal choice of
receiving home and community-based services in Medicaid. This legislation would help correct the
institutional bias by requiring a community-based personal attendant services
and supports benefit within Medicaid. On
Wednesday Senator Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative Pallone (D-NJ) reintroduced
the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. The CLASS Act would establish a new national
insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits
to adults who become severely functionally impaired. This new system will help to preserve the
Medicaid program, which currently bears the brunt of covering long-term
supports and services and will not be able to sustain an aging baby boom
generation. It would promote
independence and dignity across the lifespan by ensuring beneficiaries the
right to control and choose what services they receive, how and where they are
delivered and who provides them.
“While approximately 45 million Americans do
not have medical insurance, over 200 million Americans lack any protection for
the costs of long-term services and supports.
Americans should no longer have to impoverish themselves to cover the
costs of services they or their family members need in the event of disability
or advancing age,” said Marty Ford
Comment Below: What are you doing to spread the word about Health Care Reform and Long Term Services and Supports? What should our next steps be as a community? How will these reforms affect you personally?
Yes we need this.
Posted by: retirement communities | March 31, 2009 at 07:09 PM