Ron Wyden: “Long-term care is in need of rethinking. Right now it is a form of Russian roulette for many Americans who pray they can…”

“Long-term care is in need of rethinking. Right now it is a form of Russian roulette for many Americans who pray they can avoid it, and with it a fatal financial bullet. Under the current system, we are sending older Americans into a long-term care system that is more fragile than they are. States are staggering under the weight of projected Medicaid long-term care costs and fear that they will face economic calamity as their baby boom population begins to need services. Similarly, the staggering weight of family caregiving for many 'sandwiched' adult children, who are caring for their children as well as their elderly parents with serious health problems, makes some family members feel like they are staggering too. Every 15 years, since the days of Harry Truman, health care advocates have woken up, looked around, and said, 'This is the moment. This time my dream of universal health care will be achieved.' Then something goes wrong. That vision is not returned by the powers that be, and the dream of finding a health care solution is dashed on the rocks of harsh reality. That 15-year reawakening is upon us again, but this time I believe this story might have a different ending because of the leadership of the Senator from Montana and the commitments of Chairmen Kennedy and Kohl and President Obama. As we work together to tackle health reform and entitlement reform, I want to work with you and Chairman Kohl to include thoughtful health care workforce reforms.…”