Keep the CLASS Act and HCBS provisions in the merged Senate Finance/HELP bill

AARP, in collaboration with several aging and disability organizations, is encouraging our Senators to keep the CLASS Act and HCBS provisions in the merged Senate Finance/HELP bill. 

Please see talking points from AARP’s perspective.

We have set up a separate toll-free number going directly into the Senate offices:  1-800-944-6723
You will need to make two separate calls to reach both offices.

Any additional points you can make from your own local experience or from your agency’s perspective will help with this effort.

HCBS/CLASS TALKING POINTS

Senate

  • As the Finance and HELP Committee bills are merged in the Senate, we urge you to retain key long-term services and supports provisions from both bills in the final Senate bill.
  • Americans need greater access to home and community-based services (HCBS) and more financing options to help them pay for these critical services. 
  • HCBS can help slow the growth in health care spending and keep millions of Americans out of nursing homes and in their own homes. 
  • HCBS are cost-effective: On average, Medicaid can provide HCBS to three people for the cost of serving one person in a nursing home.  And the vast majority (89%) of Americans age 50+ want to live in their homes and communities as long as they can.
  • That’s why we strongly urge you to support and retain Finance Committee provisions to expand access to Medicaid HCBS to help individuals live in their homes, including by providing financial incentives to states. 
  • We also strongly urge you to support and retain HELP Committee provisions on the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) plan to establish a national voluntary insurance program for long-term services and supports to help individuals plan ahead so they can afford to pay for services when they need support to help them live independently in their homes and communities. 
  • AARP strongly supports these important HELP and Finance provisions and asks for Senator ______’s support to keep them in the final Senate health care reform bill.

 

October 13, 2009