CBO Predicts Delay In Start Of CLASS Program

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) anticipates a one-year delay in implementation of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act included in last year’s health reform bill.  In its latest periodic update to Congress on the federal budget, the CBO notes that based on the pace of implementation of the CLASS program so far, the program will start collecting premiums in fiscal year (FY) 2013, not FY 2012, as previously estimated.

The CLASS program has been under close scrutiny since the health reform law was enacted; the budget plan approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year included a provision to repeal it.