[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18879]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              THE COMPREHENSIVE LONG TERM CARE SUPPORT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 21, 2004

  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Comprehensive 
Long Term Care Support Act of 2004. This Act will make it easier for 
families to obtain critical long-term care insurance.
  As I traveled around my home state of South Dakota this August, the 
most common concerns I heard relate to health care needs. We sit on the 
verge of a new crisis in health care. Health care should not be 
considered a luxury for anyone--but quality, affordable care remains 
out of reach for far too many Americans. Medicine has moved 
dramatically toward treating and curing many illnesses through 
pharmacology and advances in technology, often avoiding the need for 
invasive surgical procedures. Public policy, however, still has not 
done enough to keep pace with these advances.
  As members of Congress we must be committed to improving our health 
care system and directly addressing the rising cost of health insurance 
and prescription drugs, the high number of uninsured, and the 
challenges associated with long-term care.
  A year in a nursing home now averages more than $55,000, while daily 
home care can cost just as much. In South Dakota--where we have the 
nation's highest rate of women over age 85 living at or below the 
poverty level and the second highest rate of people over 65 living 
alone--the average cost of a year in a nursing home is over $47,000. 
Long-term care insurance is often the only way to meet these expenses 
without sacrificing one's life savings and other assets in order to 
qualify for Medicaid.
  We know that we need to do more to make long-term care more 
affordable. But often lost in that discussion is the important role 
that adult children and other family members play in providing care for 
their parents. Today I introduce legislation to help alleviate the 
burden of providing long-term care for our nation's families.
  This legislation makes long-term care insurance premiums tax 
deductible--separate from itemized deductions--for those who pay the 
premiums for themselves, their parents, or for any other family member. 
It also gives a tax credit of up to $3000 for those caregivers with an 
income of less than $75,000/year who are responsible for an individual 
who has been certified as having long-term care needs.
  Family caregivers are a critical source of care to older persons with 
disabilities and chronic health problems. The unpaid and informal care 
they provide is an essential source of help for elders in the 
community. The National Family Caregiver Support Program helps 
caregivers obtain vital information and supportive services in their 
community. This legislation also doubles the authorized funding for 
this successful program.
  Health care, including long-term care is essential for the social and 
economic health of our communities. I urge my colleagues to support 
this important legislation.