For Immediate Release:
September 23, 2013
Washington, DC – Five members of the Commission on Long Term Care issued an alternative report today outlining and discussing their recommendations to address the challenges facing our country’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) system.
The five Commissioners include: Laphonza Butler, President, SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers, Vice-President SEIU; Henry Claypool, Executive Vice President, American Association for People with Disabilities; Judith Feder, Urban Institute Fellow and Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute; Lynnae Ruttledge, Co-Vice Chair, National Council on Disability; Judith Stein, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
The Commission on Long Term Care was charged by Congress with developing recommendations for the establishment, implementation, and financing of a comprehensive, coordinated, and high-quality system that ensures the availability of long-term services and supports for individuals who depend on this system to live full and healthy lives. The five Commissioners issuing the alternative report write to fulfill this comprehensive charge. These Commissioners have a difference in vision and recommended action plan from the Commission majority.
“We are convinced that no real improvements to the current insufficient, disjointed array of LTSS and funding can be expected without developing social insurance financing,” said Judith Stein, Founder & Executive Director, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. “Planning and private insurance cannot meet the many exigencies of birth, injury, illness and advancing age that face individuals and families daily – often for a lifetime.”
The five Commissioners seek to consider the needs of people of all ages who have disabilities and LTSS needs now – and all of us who may need long term services in the future.
“We're all at risk and we're all responsible for building an effective LTSS system. We offer our recommendations as a path for the action that our nation so sorely needs.” Judith Feder said, Urban Institute Fellow and Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute. “A public program has to be the bedrock on which we build an effective LTSS financing system.”
The Commissioners’ alternative report can be found at https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/LTCCAlternativeReport.pdf
To speak with individual members of the Commission, please contact them directly:
Laphonza Butler, Vice President of SEIU, and President of SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers: Scott Mann, Scott@bedrockstrategies.com
Judith Feder, Urban Institute Fellow and Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, (703)508 9448, Federj@georgetown.edu
Henry Claypool, Executive Vice President, American Association for People with Disabilities
Lynnae Ruttledge, Co-Vice Chair, National Council on Disability
Judith Stein, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Medicare Advocacy, (860)456-7790
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