The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging was pleased the Senate included the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act in its healthcare package bill last month.
“I felt like all along it was going to wind up in health reform,” Larry Minnix, AAHSA CEO and president told McKnight’s prior to the Senate’s passage of the bill.
The CLASS Act, which AAHSA helped develop, would create a trust that would offer a cash benefit to workers and others if they become disabled. It is estimated that employees would have to pay a premium of at least $65 per month over five years to take advantage of the program. They would then receive an estimated $50 a day, or more, depending on their condition, if they struggle with two or more activities of daily living.
Minnix said the next big initiative for long-term care is to define a housing with services model for low-income people.
“Somebody’s got to solve the problem of housing with affordable services for people of low income,” he said.
From the December 01, 2009 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
