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House vote on repeal of long-term care program set for next week: Boehner

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House vote on repeal of long-term care program set for next week: Boehner

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives next week will vote on legislation that would kill a health care reform law provision to establish a voluntary long-term care program, House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday.

“Next week, we will repeal the CLASS Act,” the Ohio Republican said during an address before the National Assn. of Health Underwriters conference in Washington.

CLASS is the acronym for the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, which was incorporated in the 2010 health care reform law.

“Let's get it off the books,” Speaker Boehner said of the program.

Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill, H.R. 1173, to kill the program, implementation of which the Obama administration suspended in October as being unworkable.

Administration officials said the program would have been unworkable because of its voluntary nature, with massive adverse selection that would have sent health care premiums spiraling.

Turning to the health care reform law, which he strongly opposes, Speaker Boehner said its costs ultimately will bankrupt the country.

“It will ruin” what has been the world's best health care system, he said.

He noted that the law is transferring to government from consumers health care coverage decisions.

As an example, he cited a requirement that will require many health care plan sponsors—including those opposed for religious reasons—to offer coverage for contraceptives.

Speaker Boehner did not address the bill's prospects of passage in the Senate.