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Healthcare Reform

Obama: Healthcare bill would help seniors on Medicare

March 16, 2010

The healthcare reform package, if passed, will add almost a decade of solvency to the Medicare program, President Obama told seniors Monday during a stop in Ohio.

The healthcare reform roller coaster

Liza Berger March 16, 2010

This week and next will largely determine the fate of healthcare reform. Of course, we in the media have been offering variations on that theme a lot during the past year.

Future of healthcare reform still remains cloudy for Democrats

March 15, 2010

After narrowly passing a healthcare stopgap bill that included a therapy caps extension package, Democrats in Congress are finding it difficult to bring their major reform proposal across the finish line, according to recent reports.

White House to release its version of healthcare reform

February 22, 2010

The White House today is expected to release its own version of a healthcare reform bill in advance of a healthcare summit to be held Thursday.

Healthcare reform is still alive

Liza Berger February 22, 2010

The release of President Obama's healthcare reform proposal couldn't have come at a better time. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging is holding its advocacy conference in the capital this week.

Lawmakers have a lot to answer for when providers make Hill visits Tuesday

Liza Berger February 19, 2010

When long-term care providers hit Capitol Hill Tuesday their congressmen better be prepared.

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.

Republicans set to debate healthcare ideas with Obama; Medicaid, malpractice caps may be on agenda

February 10, 2010

Republicans are scheduled to participate in a televised showdown with President Obama on healthcare reform on Feb. 25.

Opting out of Medicaid could hurt tens of thousands of seniors in Nevada

February 01, 2010

Some states have considered opting out of Medicaid in response to healthcare reform proposals to expand the Medicaid program. A new report from Nevada reveals that such a move would be disastrous for the state's elderly and vulnerable residents.

Impact of proposed spending freeze on healthcare could be smaller than expected

January 27, 2010

President Obama is expected to call for a three-year, $250 billion discretionary spending freeze during his State of the Union address tonight. Its effect on healthcare might not be as bad as many think, according to recent analyses.

AAHSA members to call lawmakers today, urging them to pass healthcare reform

January 26, 2010

The White House has signaled that it may be scaling back the healthcare reform bill, and one long-term care group is speaking out about it.

While respected, nurses are not seen as influential over reform, survey finds

January 22, 2010

Despite being highly respected and well-trusted sources of healthcare information, nurses are not viewed as having much influence over healthcare reform, according to a recent Gallup survey.

CLASS Act to survive, even if healthcare reform doesn't

Liza Berger January 21, 2010

Larry Minnix sounded weary but determined. The CLASS Act may become a casualty of healthcare reform, but it is not going away, the head of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging assured me Wednesday.

Senate bill would delay start date of RUG-IV by one year

January 15, 2010

A provision in the Senate healthcare reform proposal would delay by one year implementation of version four of the Resource Utilization Group (RUG-IV).

Nurses highlight pro-nursing healthcare reform provisions in letter to Congress

January 13, 2010

Members of the American Organization of Nurse Executives recently expressed their support for certain pro-nursing provisions in the healthcare reform bills.

Nelson calls for all states to receive Medicaid exemption

January 11, 2010

During last month's Senate healthcare debate, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) negotiated a deal that would exempt his state from having to pay its share of a proposed Medicaid expansion plan. Now he's calling for a similar deal for the other 49 states.

Extension of therapy caps exceptions process hinges on healthcare reform passage

Liza Berger January 08, 2010

Whether or not you are a fan of healthcare reform, here's one reason Congress should pass it: It would extend the therapy caps exceptions process.

Action-packed 2010 awaits nursing homes

Liza Berger December 31, 2009

Ah, the New Year. As much as many of us try to downplay it, the holiday carries an undeniable host of expectations. While I can't pretend I know how to read tea leaves, my prediction is that the coming year for nursing homes will not be a dull one.

Big hurdle cleared so let the REAL bickering over healthcare reform begin

December 23, 2009

After clearing key procedural votes already this week, the Senate is expected to pass its healthcare reform bill by a filibuster-proof margin early tomorrow morning. But there won't be much reason for reformers to catch their breath. Major differences exist between the Senate and House proposals, and they will need to be ironed out before reformers can claim victory.

Democrats prevent filibuster in health reform vote, Christmas Eve passage likely

December 22, 2009

The U.S. Senate could be just two days away from passing a massive healthcare reform package, based on reports out of the nation's capital that the Democrats have attained a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority.

SEIU rails against Senate healthcare reform blockers

December 18, 2009

The Service Employees International Union, the largest single representative of healthcare workers in the U.S., Thursday lashed out against the current direction of the healthcare reform debates.

Medicare plan collapses as Senate struggles for compromise on reform

December 16, 2009

A proposal to expand Medicare enrollment to adults aged 55 and older fell apart barely a week after it was first introduced in the Senate healthcare reform debate. That has been one compromise as Democrats work to pass the bill before the Christmas deadline.

Report: Medicare cuts in Senate bill could lead to earnings losses at some nursing homes

December 14, 2009

About one in five nursing homes, hospitals and home care agencies could fall into the red as a result of Medicare cuts in the Senate healthcare reform bill, a new government study finds.

CLASS ACT clears hurdle in Senate healthcare bill debate

December 07, 2009

An attempt to kill off the Community Living Assistance Supports and Services (CLASS) Act was thwarted Friday.

Senators focus on Medicare spending, seniors services early in debate over healthcare reform bill

December 03, 2009

As Senate Democrats and Republicans began debating their healthcare bill this week, Medicare spending reductions and their effect on seniors emerged as major topics.

Senate set to begin debate this week on healthcare reform bill

November 30, 2009

Fresh from its Thanksgiving break, the Senate is scheduled to pick up its debate over healthcare reform on Tuesday. Some provisions affecting senior care providers are similar to those in the House bill and some are different.

Senate to debate healthcare bill, elder abuse gains attention

November 24, 2009

The U.S. Senate over the weekend narrowly approved a motion to begin debate on its version of healthcare reform. The legislation includes a significant expansion of the Elder Justice Act and other provisions affecting seniors and long-term care.

Long-term care advocates applaud provisions in Senate healthcare reform bill

November 20, 2009

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging gave kudos to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others for including the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act in the newly introduced Senate healthcare reform bill.

A date with C-SPAN

Liza Berger November 20, 2009

I guess I know what I'll be doing Saturday night—pretty much what I did two Saturday nights ago. Channel surfing. I'll be watching to see if Congress acts on its healthcare reform legislation.

Long-term care providers can influence healthcare reform, Edward Kennedy Jr. tells association

November 19, 2009

"Legislators really need to hear from people working in the [long-term care] industry," Edward M. Kennedy Jr., son of the late senator, told a crowd at the 60th annual meeting of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association on Tuesday.