HR-8867-119
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sponsored by Thomas Suozzi (D-NY)
What it does
This bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and implement a public education initiative on long-term care planning as part of the existing National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. The initiative would use traditional media, digital platforms, community partnerships, and multilingual materials to inform working-age adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers about long-term care options and financial planning. The bill would also require HHS to submit an initial implementation plan to Congress within one year, followed by annual progress reports, and would fund the initiative through existing appropriations under Section 411 of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Who benefits
Working-age adults and retirees who gain access to objective information about long-term care costs and options. Low- to middle-income individuals who fall into the gap between Medicaid eligibility and the ability to self-finance care. People with disabilities who need accessible planning resources. Family caregivers who assist loved ones with long-term care decisions. Area agencies on aging, nonprofit organizations, and community groups that would receive partnership opportunities and potentially funding. Long-term care insurers, financial advisors, and care providers who may see increased consumer engagement. State and local governments that would gain a federal partner for outreach efforts.
Who is hurt
Taxpayers who bear the cost of the initiative, funded through existing Older Americans Act appropriations that could otherwise support direct services. Organizations currently receiving Older Americans Act Section 411 grants may face increased competition for the same pool of funds if the initiative draws from that appropriation. Federal agencies and HHS staff who would bear new administrative and reporting burdens. Potentially, long-term care Medicaid programs if increased awareness leads to greater uptake of planning strategies that shift costs — though this effect is speculative and indirect.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the United States faces a looming long-term care financing crisis: roughly 70% of adults turning 65 today will need some form of long-term care, yet surveys consistently show most Americans significantly underestimate both the likelihood and cost of that care. They contend that a federally coordinated public education campaign — modeled on lessons from the prior "Own Your Future" campaign — could prompt earlier planning, reduce reliance on Medicaid as a default payer, and help individuals make informed choices among home-based, community-based, and institutional care options before a crisis forces their hand.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that a public awareness campaign does not address the structural affordability barriers that prevent most Americans from acting on long-term care planning information — namely, that private long-term care insurance premiums have risen sharply and the market has contracted significantly, leaving few viable financial products for middle-income households. They contend that directing Older Americans Act funds toward a media and outreach initiative diverts resources from direct services that currently help vulnerable seniors, and that prior federal awareness campaigns, including the "Own Your Future" effort the bill itself references, produced limited measurable changes in planning behavior.
Constitutional context
No significant constitutional tension exists here. Congress is directing an executive agency to conduct a public education program using existing statutory authority and appropriations, a well-established exercise of the Taxing and Spending Clause (Art. I, §8, cl. 1) and the Necessary and Proper Clause (Art. I, §8, cl. 18). The bill amends existing provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Older Americans Act of 1965, both of which have long-established constitutional footing.
Checks and balances
The executive branch (HHS Secretary) gains new programmatic authority to implement the initiative and establish funding partnerships; Congress retains oversight through mandatory annual reporting requirements and controls funding through the existing Older Americans Act appropriations process.
Historical precedent
The federal "Own Your Future" Long-Term Care Awareness Campaign, conducted in partnership with states in the mid-2000s, is a direct predecessor; the bill explicitly references it and requires HHS to assess lessons learned from that effort.