• A voluntary, federal LTC benefit.  A federal benefit covering LTC expenses would be available to those who commit a portion of their private funds, known as a personal responsibility amount (PRA), to LTC.  
• A standardized benefit built on a public-private partnership.  Individuals with limited assets and incomes below 150% of the poverty line would qualify for the federal benefit without any PRA.  For everyone else, the PRA amount would vary from $50,000 to $180,000 based on income and assets.  Once individuals satisfy the PRA, the government pays all remaining care costs.  
• More effective care coordination.  As part of the benefit package, care coordinators will assist in assessing an individual’s needs and finding the right care at the right time, whether the individual needs long-term chronic care and support or short-term post-acute care.  
• Evidence-based payment system for Post-Acute Care (PAC).  The development of a new prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare PAC services to enhance care coordination by basing payments primarily on patient need rather than the setting in which services are delivered.

With demand for eldercare services like those under discussion expected to double by 2040, the U.S. has an obligation to reform the nation’s health care system in a manner that optimizes quality, choice and efficiency throughout the entire care continuum.