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Congress

CBO: Federal healthcare spending could double by 2022

February 01, 2012

Federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid is expected to double by 2022, reaching $1.8 trillion or 7% of the entire economy, according to a new Congressional Budget Office report.

Congress returns to full action; focus turns back to therapy cap process, docs and State of the Union

January 20, 2012

The U.S. Senate ends its recess Monday, six days after the House reconvened. That sets the stage for more intense lobbying over healthcare spending and other measures, including the Medicare Part B therapy caps exceptions process and how to fund Medicare doctors. Both were part of a two-month reprieve Congress approved shortly before Christmas. Long-term care providers and numerous other special interest groups will continue their blitz of lawmakers and their staff members in attempts to curry favor for what should be a much longer legislative solution this time. Also on tap: Watching intently Tuesday to see whether long-term care is mentioned in President Obama's State of the Union address.

Long-term care operators join the rest of the nation in wondering: Will Congress pull a rabbit out of its hat?

December 22, 2011

Long-term care providers and other caregivers — as well as significant other groups of people around the country — will be anxiously watching to see if the Senate and the House can get together on compromise funding legislation before the end of the year. At risk with the dawning of 2012 will be major funding cutbacks to Medicare doctors, expiration of the Medicare therapy exceptions process, among other items. An impasse was created after the Senate overwhelmingly passed a package that included a two-month extension to payroll tax cuts last weekend, but then the Republican-led House voted down the same measure. Millions of people will be affected one way or another.

Skilled nursing facilities are at risk for falling into negative revenue margins, analysis reveals

December 07, 2011

Nursing homes could be pushed into negative margins if Congress passes proposed end-of-the-year legislation, a new analysis finds. Skilled nursing facilities, many of which are already struggling to stay in the black, were operating at margin of 0.75% of aggregate overall revenues in 2009, according to an analysis completed by The Moran Company, on behalf of the American Health Care Association.

Because We The People demand it!

Jacqueline Vance October 07, 2011

Patrick Henry once said, "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." Wow, how timely.

Nursing homes merit greater attention in debate about deficit reduction

Mark Gloth, D.O. August 01, 2011

As President Obama and Congress continue to evaluate a multitude of different ways to reduce Medicare spending, it is more important than ever for lawmakers to understand the critical role nursing homes play in providing the specialized care and therapy vital to patient rehabilitation, and central to avoiding costly rehospitalizations.

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 passes 2011 budget proposal

April 15, 2011

In a 260-167 vote Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the FY 2011 budget, which President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) brokered last week. The budget passed with bipartisan support.

Congressional impasse could lead to government shutdown in less than two weeks

March 31, 2011

With Congressional Democrats and Republicans failing to reach an agreement on proposed federal funding cuts—including possible reductions to healthcare reform and entitlements—analysts are predicting a government shutdown by April 9 unless a deal is reached.

State Medicaid funding reduction looms; nursing home advocates urge caution on Medicaid reforms

March 29, 2011

The federal government on Friday will scale back the amount of Medicaid money it sends to states as one phase of a temporary increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) comes to an end.

Congressman to introduce bill to repeal CLASS Act after hearing discussion of strengths, flaws of long-term care insurance program

March 18, 2011

The Community Living Assistance and Services and Supports (CLASS) Act will be repealed if physician-congressman Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) has his way. Gingrey said Thursday that he intended to unveil a bill later that day that would negate the CLASS Act, a tenet of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

MedPAC recommendation of 0% pay increase for 2012 leaves long-term care providers fuming

March 16, 2011

Long-term care groups on Tuesday strongly criticized the latest round of recommendations to Congress from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

Assisted living advocate calls for more public financing, less federal regulation of industry

March 16, 2011

The issues facing Medicaid coverage in assisted living are fundamentally economic, not regulatory, according to at least one participant in Tuesday's roundtable discussion on assisted living held by the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

Community pharmacists, congressmen question CMS plan to shorten long-term care drug-dispensing cycles

March 15, 2011

There is "scant evidence" that implementing shorter prescription drug dispensing cycles in long-term care will actually reduce costs, according to a statement issues Monday from the National Community Pharmacists Association.

Congress improves its writing skills

Liza Berger September 29, 2010

It sounds like a set-up for a punch line. The Senate this week passed the Plain Writing Act of 2010. Plain Writing Act? So what do we have now? Inscrutable, government-speak?

The question becomes: How much will Congress boost physicians' pay?

April 02, 2010

With Congress out on the last half of its two-week spring break, eyes in the provider community will be looking to see what type of fix lawmakers might float regarding Medicare physician pay levels. Based on regulators' calls to hold off paying claims until at least April 10, it can be assumed that something other than the scheduled 21% cutback is in the offing.

Some healthcare groups, lawmakers slam proposal for new agency governing Medicare rates

July 28, 2009

President Obama has proposed creating a new executive agency, the Independent Medicare Advisory Council, to set Medicare payment updates. So far, that idea is meeting strong resistance from the healthcare community, according to recent reports.

Daschle: Nursing home administrators should organize politically to boost awareness of long-term care

July 23, 2009

Congress needs to better understand the role of long-term care in healthcare reform, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said at a healthcare quality summit in Washington on Monday.

Congress to hold off on long-term care reform, financial Web site reports

June 24, 2009

Congress continues to wrestle with healthcare reform. Meanwhile, a Web site for financial advisers reports that legislators are likely to steer clear of long-term care reform because of the potential cost of universal healthcare and other general healthcare reform challenges.