Background
There is no comprehensive system of long-term care or long-term services and support in this country. Yet millions of older adults currently, or in the future will receive or provide LTSS. Currently, we lack affordable public and private financing options for people to pay for the services they need to help them with basic activities—such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Planning ahead can help with paying for services and give individuals more choices, but financing options are limited, and quality is inconsistent. LTC is not generally covered by private health insurance or Medicare. While private LTC insurance and some public programs pay for some long-term services, these services are most commonly provided by family caregivers or paid for out-of-pocket until individuals impoverish themselves and become eligible for Medicaid. In fact, the estimated economic value of family caregiving was about $375 billion in 2007. This unpaid care is the backbone of LTC in this country. Yet family caregivers are not receiving adequate support in the format such as information, education, training, and respite care to help them with their caregiving roles and to enable their loved ones to remain at home, potentially delaying or preventing more costly institutional care.
Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term support in this country, yet Medicare has a bias toward institutional settings rather than home and community-based settings at home and in their communities are places where individuals prefer to receive services and where services can often be provided at lower cost. For example, a recent AARP report found that, nationally, 75 percent of Medicaid LTC spending for older people and adults with physical disabilities paid for institutional services, with only 25 percent going to home and community-based services. Yet among individuals age 50 and older, 89 percent say they want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. In addition, Medicaid is available to only those who have low incomes and limited assets or who face catastrophic costs.
Patients with multiple chronic conditions often see many providers, take numerous medications, and receive services in multiple settings. Care coordination and communication across providers and settings with the person and his or her caregiver is critical, can improve health care quality and outcomes, and potentially save money. Ensuring quality of care and quality of life across all settings is vital, and requires improved oversight and an adequate, stable, and well-trained workforce at all levels.
Much progress and innovation on LTC has occurred at the state level, but there are important steps that the federal government can take to help consumers and their families, to expand care options at home and in the community , improve quality across all settings, strengthen the caregiving workforce, and provide better LTC financing tools. Any LTC solution should involve the shared responsibility of government, individuals, and the private sector. Action is needed now so that consumers have more choices, do not impoverish themselves to get the services they need, and can rely on a strong infrastructure and system. In these ways, we will provide assistance to the growing number of older adults and younger people with disabilities who need long term help.
Legislative and Regulatory Action
Home and Community-Based Services: Expand these by enacting legislation such as the Empowered at Home Act (S. 3327/ H.R. 7212)
Chronic-Care Coordination: Enact legislation to improve chronic-care coordination for those with multiple chronic conditions, such as the Independence at Home Act (S. 3613/ H.R. 7114)
Family Caregiving: Enact legislation to support family caregivers, such as establishing a Medicaid family-caregiver-assessment demonstration program to help determine the needs of and get supports to primary family caregivers
