Rep. Rehberg launches CLASS Act probe

The law provides the HHS secretary with considerable flexibility to make sure the program is solvent over 75 years, and Sebelius last month said the department will make tweaks to the program to ensure its sustainability. 

“It would be irresponsible to ignore the concerns about the CLASS program’s long-term sustainability in its current form, and we haven’t done that,” Sebelius told senior advocates last month.

Concerns about the sustainability of the CLASS Act came up during the healthcare reform debate, but Republicans have recently targeted the flawed program. House Republicans during a hearing last week questioned why the administration wants more than $90 million in 2012 for an education and outreach campaign about the program.

“If we have a program that everyone acknowledges is broken, why do we want to waste money educating people on something that might not work in its present form?” asked Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) last week.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) last week asked the Senate Budget Committee to hold a hearing on the program.