It’s coming … it has to … health care reform, that is. And no health care reform is complete without long-term care coverage.

Mark your calendars for another call-in to Congress on June 4th. Each time we’ve had more callers and we need to do it again.

Ecumen participated in on a conference call today with other senior services leaders from around the country and former Minnesota U.S. Rep. Vin Weber, who is lobbying on this effort … . there is more momentum building for reforming long-term care financing than at any time in recent history.

AAHSA-Mellman Group Poll

According to a poll of 1,000 U.S. adults released today by AAHSA and conducted by the Mellman Group, long-term care services are seen as a priority – not an option – for health care reform. Key findings include:

– 85% of Americans believe long-term services and supports should be included in national health care reform.

– More than half of Americans (51 percent) feel strongly that with so many Americans needing help caring for seniors and disabled Americans, no health care reform plan is complete unless it addresses long-term services and supports.

– A majority of adults believe that offerings like care for people with Alzheimer’s disease (61 percent), assisted living (57 percent), and assistance for an older or disabled person in taking their medications (64 percent) will be covered when health care reform is enacted.