Sebelius signals readiness to tweak long-term care insurance program

The goal will be to ensure the program's fiscal sustainability into the future — a frequent criticism from GOP critics who hope to repeal the program.

The Wall Street Journal: Officials Might Tweak Health-Law Program
The Obama administration is looking at modifying a workers' long-term-care insurance program included in last year's health care overhaul, responding to criticism that the plan is fiscally unsustainable (Adamy, 2/8).

Politico: Kathleen Sebelius Gets Ahead Of CLASS Debate
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius got out in front of critics who say the CLASS act can't work, addressing key questions about the long-term care program created by the ACA. Sebelius signalled the direction HHS would take in making the Community Living and Support Services Program financially viable. Her remarks at a Monday morning event at the Kaiser Family Foundation amounted to a defense of the provision that Republicans have targeted for repeal (Feder, 2/7).

Kaiser Health News: Sebelius Vows To Ensure CLASS Program Is Financially Viable
The Obama administration is working aggressively to fend off critics of the CLASS Act, a voluntary insurance program created by the new health law to help individuals who require long-term care remain in the community. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today promised to pursue changes to ensure the program is financially self-sustaining into the future (Werber Serafini, 2/7).

Connecticut Mirror: Federal Officials Wrestle With Long-Term Insurance Under Health Reform
Top federal health officials are designing a new insurance program aimed at increasing the health care options for people with disabilities--and helping them avoid the financial collapse that often comes with severe medical crises. If successful, the program could also provide much-needed fiscal relief to states like Connecticut, where the Medicaid program, which pays for long-term care for the poor and disabled, is a significant element of the busted budget. Proponents say the new insurance initiative, created under the federal health reform law, is potentially transformative. But critics say it is seriously flawed and will almost certainly fail (Shesgreen, 2/7).