Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT)

Long-term care providers are keeping a wary eye on a Congressional “super committee” that has been given the task of reforming entitlement programs. The panel will be targeting Medicare and Medicaid as part of a federal debt-limit deal signed in August.

This committee of six Republicans and six Democrats must trim federal budget deficits by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years, or risk triggering mandatory 2% cuts for programs such as Medicare. Possible changes could include raising the Medicare eligibility age to 67 or cutting Medicare prescription drug payments, which the White House says could save $200 billion over 10 years.

LeadingAge is keeping a close watch on the committee, especially whether the CLASS Act will be a bargaining chip, said Cheryl Phillips, M.D., LeadingAge’s senior vice president for advocacy.

Committee members include Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT); Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); House Ways and Means Chairman David Camp (R-MI); and House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI).