Health care reform in the 1990s: where does long-term care fit in?

Although the impetus behind the nation's quest for health care reform is primarily public dissatisfaction over glaring deficiencies in America's acute care system, the way the nation finances and delivers long-term care may be even more badly in need of reform. This article outlines some of the critical policy issues that must be addressed in devising a new national policy for long-term care, with special emphasis on President Clinton's proposal. The focus is on decisions that must be made in designing a major new home-care program.