Senate Committee Examines Long-Term Care Options for Health Care Reform

The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care held a hearing today entitled “The Role of Long-Term Care in Health Reform.” Subcommittee chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) began the hearing by telling witnesses that long-term care is an essential component of health care reform and must be included in current efforts to reform the health care system. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) also spoke of his strong support of home and community based services. Witnesses including Judy Feder, PhD., Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Dennis G. Smith, Senior Research Fellow in Health Care Reform at The Heritage Foundation, discussed the benefits of home and community based services, long-term care financing and options for improving long-term care programs funded through Medicaid. Witnesses emphasized the benefit to people with disabilities of strengthening home and community based services within the Medicaid program. Click here to download a video of the hearing.