National Senior and Disability Advocates Agree on Principles for Financing Long-Term Services and Supports

from MarketWatch:

WASHINGTON, Nov 20, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ --
In a historic step toward a healthier, more equitable and affordable
system for financing long-term services and supports, the Leadership
Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) and the Consortium for Citizens
with Disabilities (CCD) have agreed on a set of joint principles for
reform.

The principles are:

    1. National Problem, National Solution -- Recognize that although states,<br />       communities, families, and individuals have important roles to play,<br />       financing for long-term services and supports is a national problem that<br />       requires a national solution.<br />    2. Universality with Limited Opt-Out -- Create a public program that allows<br />       all people, including individuals with disabilities and those near<br />       retirement, the opportunity to contribute to and prepare for the costs of<br />       long-term services and supports.  Make participation as convenient as<br />       possible but give people the limited choice to opt out.<br />    3. Public/Private Partnership -- Provide a strong foundation of protection<br />       while providing opportunities for personal planning that include a role<br />       for private sector options.<br />    4. Affordability and Risk Pooling -- Provide for broad pooling of risk and<br />       appropriate low-income subsidies to make premiums affordable enough so<br />       that all people, regardless of income and health status, can participate.<br />       Ensure that a new program does not force people to impoverish themselves<br />       to qualify.<br />    5. Fiscal Responsibility -- Provide actuarially sound funding, such as<br />       through voluntary premiums that build reserves over time sufficient to<br />       pay for future needs in a way that is affordable to individuals and to<br />       society as a whole.<br />    6. Relieve Pressure on Medicaid -- Provide additional long-term services and<br />       supports funding mechanisms that will help take the pressure off of<br />       future Medicaid expenditures, while preserving the guaranteed safety net.<br />    7. Consumer Choice and Control -- Promote independence and dignity across<br />       the broad continuum of services and supports by ensuring beneficiaries<br />       the right to control and choose what services they receive, how and where<br />       they are delivered and who provides them.<br />    8. Support Family Caregivers -- Recognize and support the central role<br />       families and other informal caregivers play in planning for and providing<br />       long-term services and supports, including developing strategies to<br />       support working caregivers to maintain their financial security.<br />    9. Invest in Quality Care and Quality of Life -- Target additional funding<br />       to ensure sufficient training and compensation for the workforce and to<br />       strengthen oversight, enforcement, and advocacy programs that improve<br />       quality of life and quality of care in all settings.<br /><br /><br /></pre>
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            About CCD ( <a class="lk001" target="_blank" href="http://www.c-c-d.org/">http://www.c-c-d.org</a>)

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The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is a coalition of
approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to
advocate for national public policy that ensures the self
determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of
children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society </div>
    
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            About LCAO ( <a class="lk001" target="_blank" href="http://www.lcao.org/">http://www.lcao.org</a>)

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The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) is a coalition of
national nonprofit organizations concerned with the well-being of
America's older population and committed to representing their interest
in the policy-making arena. The 56 members offer expertise and advocacy
on a broad range of issues affecting the elderly and those who care for
them. The coalition focuses on ensuring social justice and fiscal
responsibility for an aging society. </div>
    
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            SOURCE  Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

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    <pre> <a class="lk001" target="_blank" href="http://www.c-c-d.org/">http://www.c-c-d.org</a><br /><br />