Senior Living Executives Discuss Health Care Reform at 2010 Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) Conference & Expo

PHOENIX, May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senior Living executives assembled today at the 2010 ALFA Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Ariz. to discuss the impact health care reform will have on the growth and success of senior living services.

During the special briefing held at the conference, participants learned that ALFA advocacy efforts helped shape the new health care reform law that will soon offer seniors more choice, quality and access to long-term care, especially assisted living.

"Twenty years ago, seniors and their families had few options to turn to for long term assistance and support other than expensive, institutional-like nursing homes," said Richard Grimes, president and CEO of the Assisted Living Federation of America.  "We've come a long way since then thanks to broad consumer interest, courageous policymakers and the entrepreneurial spirit of the senior living profession.  The new health care law takes us even further by giving more seniors greater access to resident-centered options."

The discussions, led by the ALFA public policy committee, explained that the new law will:

• Promote and increase access to community-based long term care services.  ALFA encouraged Congress to improve the portability of benefits in the legislation, so consumers can live and receive care wherever they choose.  
• Reduce the overall cost of long term care by offering consumers more options to use benefits for residential care and services typically less costly than institutional settings.  ALFA worked with Congress to ensure assisted living was part of the law.
• Encourage consumers to plan for their long term care needs.  ALFA supports the creation of a new, voluntary national long term care insurance program that recognizes a beneficiary's freedom to use the benefits where they choose.
• Reduce the impending shortage of health care workers, specifically those interested in caring for seniors and assisting their family caregivers.  ALFA supports grants that fund senior care education and training.

"The vast majority of Americans, many of whom are approaching retirement, are not adequately covered for long term care," said Maribeth Bersani, senior vice president of Public Policy at the Assisted Living Federation of America.  "ALFA supports many aspects of the health care law because it will give seniors more choices and the right to age with dignity and respect wherever they wish to call home. At the same time, the law could help reduce the cost burden of long term care by increasing access to less expensive, more home-like options such as assisted living."

The health care reform legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress and then signed into law by President Barack Obama in March.  The law is now under review by the Obama administration as administration officials, primarily at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, plan to implement the law.  

"ALFA is carefully monitoring the development of government plans to deliver the benefits of the law.  We look forward to addressing their questions and offering expertise and feedback on behalf of our members and the seniors and families they serve," added Bersani.

About The Assisted Living Federation of America

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally managed assisted living communities and the seniors and families they serve.  For 20 years, ALFA has worked to educate policymakers and consumers by advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all Americans.  ALFA's member-driven programs promote business and operational excellence through education, research, publications, professional networking and online tools designed to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of senior living.  Visit ALFA's Web site at www.alfa.org.

SOURCE Assisted Living Federation of America