Speaking out against the CLASS Act

This week, the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, D.C., held a briefing on the CLASS Act, a long-term care insurance plan that generally has garnered praise from the long-term care community.

Among those present were Judy Feder, Diane Rowland, Josh Wiener and Howard Gleckman—all respected long-term care researchers and experts.

Yet another expert attending and carefully observing was Stephen A. Moses, who offered a unique look at the meeting in an e-mail this week. His views are insightful, humorous and thought-provoking. Head of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform, which is based in Seattle (in a different Washington), he has a decidedly different take on the CLASS Act than some of his peers in the beltway.

If you know Moses, you probably know his feelings on the CLASS Act. In brief, he's not a fan. Some, in fact, may consider him a bit of a spoiler.

Whether or not you agree with him, his ideas are worth thinking about. Among his gripes: The CLASS Act would lead to another expensive government program, and there is not a need for it since Americans already have the option of purchasing private long-term care insurance.

It may be easy to see him as someone just throwing darts at those in the ivory tower of Washington, but his main message—look before you leap—is a good one. All voices should be heard on healthcare reform. That includes those outside of Washington.