Weekly News Wrap-Up (September 21 - September 25)

Long-Term Care Providers Find Silver Linings Among Healthcare Reform Proposals (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, September 24, 2009)
After two days and more than 560 proposed amendments, adjustments to the Senate Finance Committee healthcare proposal are still a long way from being completed, but long-term care providers have found at least a few plums among them.

CLASS Act Might Be Left Out of Final Healthcare Reform Bill (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, September 22, 2009)
The future of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, which many observers see as a potentially powerful boon to long-term care, is increasingly uncertain. Many in the reform debate appear less than enthusiastic about the measure, according to a recent report.

The National Advisory Board (NAB) was Invited to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Summit to Present “Declaration for Independence” and Discuss State Long Term Services and Supports Programs
Four members of the NAB told an audience of legislators from across the country that the NAB’s Call to Action to transform our health care system to address long term services and supports was about people, not programs. Len Kirschner, Rob Sweezy, Jane Woods and Chuck Graham spoke to the National Conference of State Legislators on a panel entitled “Transforming the Systems of Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities.” The panel was moderated by Senator Renee Unterman (GA) who also serves as the Chair of NCSLs Human Services and Welfare Committee.