For the most up-to-date information on federal health care reform legislation, click here.

Legislation

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee passed their healthcare reform bill 13-10 on July 15, 2009. The Senate Finance Committee passed their healthcare reform bill 14-9 on October 13, 2009. The Senate HELP Committee's Affordable Health Choices Act and the Finance Committee's America's Healthy Futures Act will now be merged into one bill in preparation for consideration by the full Senate. Majority Leader Harry Reed (D-NV) wanted to begin debate on the Senate bill the week of October 26th, but that timeline has slipped and consideration of the bill is not likely to start before the first week of November.

As the HELP Committee and Finance Committee bills are merged, two pieces of disability specific language to watch for in the final bill include:

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act), added by the late HELP Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy to his Committee-version of health care reform. The CLASS Act would create a national, voluntary disability insurance program under which: (1) all employees are automatically enrolled, but are allowed to waive enrollment; (2) payroll deductions pay monthly premiums; and (3) two-tiered benefits are provided, based on the level of disability, to purchase nonmedical services and supports that the beneficiary needs to maintain independence.

The Community First Choice Option, included in the Senate Finance Committee version of the bill, was proposed by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) as an amendment and was accepted as part of the Chairman’s mark. It would create Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) alternatives to nursing home care for disabled individuals who are eligible for Medicaid.

On the House side, all three of the House Committees, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor and Ways and Means, reported bills in July. All three committees continue to work on merging their bills. The House could take up healthcare reform in November.

Kaiser Family Foundation

The Kaiser Family Foundation briefing “The Sleeper in Health Reform: Long Term Care and the Class Act” is now available on their website as a webcast: http://www.kff.org/healthreform/kcmu102009pkg.cfm. The briefing included a summary of the measure and discussion by an expert panel. This enhanced webcast presentation includes the speakers' slides synced to the video of the briefing.