Health care reform's effect on long term care

The nonprofit SCAN Foundation has published a report by the National Academy for State Health Policy on provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which will enhance LTC for seniors. Parts of the new act are designed to help seniors avoid nursing homes, coordinate their care and finance long term services via a new public insurance program.

"The key thing to realize is the health care reform bill actually has probably a couple of dozen opportunities, all told, to think differently about aging successfully," said SCAN president and CEO Bruce Chernof.

Among the provisions in the act is the public long term care insurance program, which will be self-funded by enrollees. Other reforms are aimed at increasing access to Medicaid-funded, home- and community-based care. Care for seniors with multiple chronic conditions will be examined with a view toward improving its coordination.