Abstract
The story of the rise, passage, and repeal of the Commu-
nity Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act
has, to a large extent, neglected political context. Most ac-
counts have focused on perceived flaws in the design of
the program, such as its voluntary nature or absence of
underwriting. While these analyses have resurfaced old de-
bates, spawned numerous inside-the-beltway workgroups,
and contributed to some thoughtful new ideas, the political
environment contributed to passage and repeal, and will
continue to influence the range of available long-term care
(LTC) financing options and affect future progress.