Russ Feingold: “I rise to continue my floor statements on the need for long-term care reform as part of the health care reform effort. I…”

“I rise to continue my floor statements on the need for long-term care reform as part of the health care reform effort. I am proud to be part of an effort that we are making on the floor, those of us who support health care reform and universal health care, to portray in a very human way the faces of health care, the faces of those who often do not get health care. As I have noted in earlier statements, establishing consumer-oriented and consumer-directed flexible benefits, as well as making fundamental reforms to the linkages between the long-term care and acute care systems, are absolutely necessary if we are to realize the goals of health care reform. President Clinton's home- and community-based long-term care proposal goes further than any other in achieving this needed reform. It lays the groundwork for creating a system of community- and home-based flexible services that respond to individual consumer choice and preference. Madam President, I am proud to note that much of the basis for the President's long-term care reform provisions flow from a program established in Wisconsin in the early 1980's--the Community Options Program, known as COP. COP has been an enormous success by any measure.”