Ten States Selected to Participate in Long-Term Care Partnership Expansion Project
May 14, 2007
Hamilton, NJ – With the graying of America, affordable long-term care insurance options are increasingly important. In response to recent federal legislation that allows states to pursue public-private partnerships for long-term insurance coverage, 10 states have been selected to participate in the Long-Term Care Partnership Expansion project to develop practical insurance options for moderate-income consumers.
Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia will participate in this new Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) initiative. The national effort will help states work with private insurers to create affordable insurance options that protect both consumer assets and minimize the risk to state Medicaid program budgets. The initiative is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Four states – California, Connecticut, Indiana, and New York – began piloting Long-Term Care Partnership programs in the early 1990s and, combined, have sold more than 200,000 policies. In 1993, Congress enacted restrictions on the development of further state Partnership programs. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 subsequently enables additional states to develop these public-private long-term care coverage options.
GET STATE UPDATES NOW!
The 10 states, selected through a competitive process, will implement Long-Term Care Partnership programs. Each state will receive extensive technical assistance as well as a seed grant of $50,000 for participation in the 24-month initiative. CHCS is working closely with the George Mason University Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide targeted technical support for the states.
“Partnership programs can be a win-win-win policy option,” said Wendy Yallowitz, Program Officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Consumers, Medicaid programs, and the private insurance industry can all benefit when accessible and affordable long-term care insurance is available.”
“This is an exciting opportunity to help states design long-term care options for consumers with moderate incomes,” said Stephen A. Somers, PhD, president of CHCS. “We hope that the work done by these 10 states can lead the way for others which are considering this important policy option.”
A variety of resources and tools for states considering Long-Term Care Partnership programs will be made available at
www.chcs.org.
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of publicly financed care for Americans with chronic illnesses and disabilities, the elderly, and racially and ethnically diverse populations. CHCS works with state and federal agencies and health plans to design and implement innovative programs that better serve people with high-risk and high-cost health care needs. Its program priorities are: regional quality improvement, racial and ethnic disparities, and people with complex and special needs. For more information, visit
www.chcs.org.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit
www.rwjf.org.
Source: The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and cost effectiveness of publicly financed health care for people with chronic health needs, the elderly, and racially and ethnically diverse populations. CHCS works with state and federal agencies, health plans, providers, and consumers to design programs that better serve high-need and high-cost populations.