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Budget

Obama's budget proposal would reduce Medicare payments

February 07, 2012

President Obama's 2013 budget proposal calls for spending cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, including a reduction in Medicare payments to nursing homes.

LeadingAge: Tough times ahead for long-term care providers

November 30, 2011

LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix openly acknowledged Wednesday afternoon that the next two years could be tense and difficult for long-term care providers. He was just one of a handful of experts painting a grave outlook.

Assisted living sector adds jobs

September 08, 2011

In the midst of glum employment news, the assisted living sector offers a bright spot: It created 3,900 jobs in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Republicans and Democrats spar over entitlement cuts

May 27, 2011

The U.S. Senate's vote rejecting Republicans' proposed 2012 budget — and all of its provisions to drastically overhaul Medicare and Medicaid — means both sides are back to debating how to best balance the federal budget.

Federal funding for age-related diseases and illnesses is declining, report finds

May 24, 2011

One of the realities of the national budget crisis is that government funding for age-related health conditions — particularly Alzheimer's — is drying up, says a new report from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

House passes GOP-supported fiscal year 2012 budget with big spending cuts

April 18, 2011

Voting along party lines, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed fiscal year 2012 budget Friday.

House Budget leader Ryan touts Medicare reform in 2012 proposal

April 05, 2011

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan says his proposed 2012 budget would give Medicaid "back to the states" in the form of block grants, and give seniors a list of privately run insurance programs to sign up for instead of the federally funded Medicare program.

Proposed state Medicaid cuts cause backlash from nursing home operators, wouldn't close budget gap anyway, top official says

March 28, 2011

Medicaid cost-cutting strategies the Department of Health and Human Services has suggested to states will not be enough to close $175 billion in cumulative budget gaps—and that's the way it should be. And that's according to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, based on remarks she made Friday.

President's budget due next week, already causing shivers through providers

February 10, 2011

President Obama is expected to release his budget proposal for fiscal 2012 on Monday, and it's not a document long-term care providers are happily anticipating. Lobbying intensified over the last several weeks, as advocates for many industries and groups—long-term care certainly among them-pushed statistics favorable to their cause. Some fear a call for significant Medicare and Medicaid cuts in the president's proposal. That would, no doubt, kick off a round of even more intense lobbying.

Governors convene on budget, Medicaid concerns

July 13, 2010

The nation's governors met in Boston recently to discuss budget matters. They also continued to push for more federal Medicaid funding, but some governors are losing enthusiasm for such assistance, according to news reports.

Senate readies for vote on FMAP amendment

June 14, 2010

Senators this week are expected to vote on an amendment that would extend the increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) until the end of next June.

States to further cut spending in fiscal year 2011, report finds

June 07, 2010

Fiscal year 2010 presented the most difficult challenge to states' financial management since the Great Depression, according to a new report from the National Governors Association. Fiscal 2011 will be equally challenging, the report said.

Congressional report explains FMAP proposals

February 12, 2010

Amid calls to extend the temporary federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase, the Congressional Research Service has released a report examining the various proposals that would affect the FMAP.

Medicare physician pay fix not bound by new 'pay-as-you-go' rules

February 08, 2010

Newly approved "pay-as-you-go" budget rules contain an important exception: They allow Congress to delay a pay cut for Medicare physicians for a number of years without necessarily taking money away from other areas of spending.

Obama's FY 2011 budget to extend FMAP increase, ramp up anti-fraud efforts

February 01, 2010

President Obama is scheduled to unveil his FY 2011 federal budget proposal today. The blueprint would provide states with some additional Medicaid funding and crack down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Group suggests slashing nursing home spending to help fix New York's budget problems

January 06, 2010

One Albany-based group is recommending significant cuts to nursing homes and home care as a way to pare down New York's $3.2 billion deficit.

State budgets unlikely to recover until 'late in the next decade,' governors say

November 16, 2009

The recession has seriously bruised states over the last year and they will continue to face fiscal difficulties, according to reports released last week by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers.

Vote on California budget compromise looms

July 22, 2009

The California state budget drama continued to play out this week as lawmakers prepare to vote Thursday on an agreement that would close a $26 billion shortfall. The compromise would be one that includes billions of dollars in healthcare and education cuts.

Several states miss budget deadline, putting Medicaid services at risk

July 02, 2009

Tuesday at midnight was the deadline for most states to have completed their budget proposals for the coming fiscal year. Many didn't make it, placing state services, including Medicaid programs, at risk of significant cuts.