"President Barack Obama is backing efforts to create a new government program to provide long term care insurance as part of the broader health care overhaul," The Associated Press reports. "The voluntary insurance program — sponsored by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy — would pay a modest daily cash benefit of at least $50 that people could use for in-home services or nursing home bills."
In a letter to Kennedy (.pdf), Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote that the administration believes the program would provide resources for elderly and disabled Americans to remain in their homes. The Congressional Budget Office, however, is "questioning the program's long-range solvency. A Senate committee could vote Tuesday on the plan" (7/7).
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