In a memo explaining HHS's decision not to implement the CLASS long-term care program, Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee explains that the steps that would have been necessary to make the program solvent risked violating the letter of the law. "As we take necessary steps to mitigate solvency risks, we concomitantly raise the legal risk that the plan could be found impermissible under the [health reform] statute." The memo is accompanied by a report analyzing the options HHS explored to implement the program.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Obama pulls plug on part of health overhaul law Updated: Oct 14, 2011 - 23:55PM
Targeted by congressional Republicans for repeal, the program became the first casualty in the political and policy wars over the health care law. It had been expected to launch in 2013.
So, the spin is to blame the failure of CLASS on the Republicans. Not put the blame where it belongs, which is the administration for putting a wothless & unworkable piece of legislation into law in the first place.
For those of you (can you spell NADM?) who claimed that CLASS Act was good because it would raise the public's awareness, it appears that by shutting it down, the same results have been accomplished.
So, I guess it's a win-win situation for everyone
Demise of CLASS boosted awareness of long-term care, says former actuary
Although all signs point to the CLASS Act being shelved indefinitely, the program's former leader says the silver lining is the ongoing discussion about long-term care needs.
Bob Yee, who was CLASS office's head actuary, told McKnights' John O'Connor at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting last week that while he is disappointed with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' decision to halt development of the program, he's glad to see public discussion continue.
"I'm really glad that all the information out there," Yee told O'Connor. "People can make up their mind to see whether the program works or not, and understand some of the analysis that has been undertaken to make it work."
Sebelius has long touted the fact that she would not implement a long-term care benefit that was not financially solvent. When asked if shelving the program broke that statute, Yee says a possible solution is still workable.
"There is one plan that is clearly actuarially sound, and legal, the question is that it's very expensive," Yee said. "The more appropriate question is maybe the Secretary should ask the Congress: 'Is that what you want?'"
And indeed, the conversation about CLASS has continued. A report in The New York Times details the overwhelming debt of expenses incurred by catastrophic illness and disability and the burden put on families in such situations.