Statement From Larry Minnix, AAHSA President & CEO, on the Creation of the Office to Oversee Implementation of the CLASS Program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote to House Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers (R-K.Y.) that the implementation of the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) program will be housed in a new office in the Administration on Aging and overseen by Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee.  This is very good news for this program, which is a game changer for America.

Kathy Greenlee understands the importance of non-medical home and community-based services and how they will be increasingly important to help people with disabilities -- young and old -- stay at home and avoid more expensive services.  She is also a former insurance regulator and knows well the issues involved with running an insurance program. Placing CLASS under her supervision makes sense for helping this program be successful.

The CLASS Program will help all American families to create a financial and services safety net in case of disability.  It is consumer-focused, voluntary and self-sustaining.  We look forward to working with the Administration on the implementation of this most important component of health reform.  We are proud to be part of Advance CLASS, a group that is focused on implementation of a strong and vital long-term services and supports program.

About AAHSA

The members of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (www.aahsa.org)  help millions of individuals and their families every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services that people need, when they need them, in the place they call home. Our 5,800 member organizations, many of which have served their communities for generations, offer the continuum of aging services: adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. AAHSA's commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people can trust.

SOURCE American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging