AMA adopts policy to address costs of long-term services, supports

CHICAGO — With national spending on long-term care services soaring—impacting retirement funds and Medicaid—the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates today adopted policy during its Annual Meeting to make long-term care insurance simpler, more affordable, more innovative, and part of automatic enrollment for current employees and retirees. The new AMA policy also called for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap plans to bolster their offerings with regard to benefits related to long-term care.

Long-term services and supports (LTSS) refers to the range of clinical health and social services that assist individuals in their daily activities, including eating, bathing, dressing, and instrumental tasks like medication management and meal preparation. In 2013, national spending for LTSS was $310 billion; by 2015, that figure grew to $331 billion. Medicaid spending accounts for over half of national spending for LTSS. Twelve million Americans needed LTSS in 2010, and, by 2050, that number is expected to be 27 million—an increase driven by aging Baby Boomers and advances in technology that allow people with chronic illness and disabling conditions to live longer. But, even as the need increases, a possible funding source for LTSS, long-term care insurance (LTCI), is too expensive and complex for most consumers.