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Market Basket

Hospices to receive 2.5% bump for Medicare patients

August 01, 2011

Hospices treating Medicare beneficiaries will see a 2.5% increase in payments for fiscal year 2012, according to a final rule released Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. They must also begin reporting on the quality of care.

Provider group: Cut Medicare pay rate by 3.0%, save 100,000 jobs

June 29, 2011

The leader of the nation's largest nursing home association has suggested the federal government cut Medicare reimbursement rates by 3.0% in fiscal 2012, not a threatened 11.3%. Such a move, along with more possible phased-in cuts, could take more than 100,000 caregiving jobs out of harm's way, he said.

'Tis nursing home conference season

Liza Berger October 22, 2010

It's hard to believe we're in the midst of another conference season. The American Health Care Association's annual meeting already has passed and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging's is about a week away.

Market basket increase for 2011 'more than adequate,' MedPAC says

August 12, 2010

The proposed fiscal year 2011 market basket update of 1.7% for skilled nursing facilities is "more than adequate," the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) said in a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

CMS: Nursing homes to get 1.7% Medicare payment increase

July 19, 2010

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late Friday posted payment updates for skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation facilities' prospective payment systems for fiscal 2011. Nursing homes will realize a 1.7% increase in its market basket rate, while IRFs' will rise by 2.5%.

A big night for healthcare reform

Liza Berger March 22, 2010

Sunday evening marked the turning point for the passage of healthcare reform. After the turmoil of the past year, you almost have to pinch yourself to believe it.

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.

MedPAC recommends freeze on skilled nursing facility payments for fiscal year 2011

January 15, 2010

As expected, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) on Thursday recommended that skilled nursing facilities not receive a payment increase for fiscal year 2011.

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.

House passes massive healthcare reform bill with CLASS Act in it

November 09, 2009

The House late Saturday passed its comprehensive healthcare reform bill by a vote of 220-215.

House bill would offer some Medicaid funding to nursing homes, reduce Medicare market basket

November 02, 2009

The House healthcare reform bill would offer a temporary Medicaid payment program that would provide $6 billion to certain nursing homes for four years. It also would trim the Medicare market basket.

Senate Finance Committee set to vote on healthcare reform bill

October 09, 2009

The Senate Finance Committee is planning to vote on its healthcare reform measure Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. He made the announcement after the Congressional Budget Office released findings that the proposal is estimated to cost $829 billion over 10 years.

Senate Finance Committee bill 'a step in the right direction,' AHCA says

September 18, 2009

The American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care on Thursday gave their support to the recently released healthcare reform bill from the Senate Finance Committee. They noted that a final bill should avoid significant cuts to Medicare in nursing homes.

Senate Finance Committee bill preserves market-basket update for nursing homes

September 17, 2009

The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday released its long-awaited version of healthcare reform. This $856 billion, 10-year version doesn't contain some of the harmful provisions many in the long-term care community had feared.

Providers praise Senate Finance Committee for retaining market-basket update in bill

September 17, 2009

Nursing home providers reacted positively to the release of the Senate Finance Committee's healthcare reform bill Wednesday. They were particularly pleased that the bill would not lower the market-basket update for nursing homes.

Finance Committee chairman works to gather bipartisan support for reform bill

September 15, 2009

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) is pushing this week to gain support for a healthcare reform bill. One of the legislation's provisions is to trim the market-basket update for nursing homes.

CMS increases Medicare rates for hospices for fiscal year 2010

August 03, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a regulation increasing Medicare payments to hospices by 1.4% for fiscal year 2010.

CBO: market-basket freeze for skilled nursing could add up to billions in savings

July 10, 2009

The federal government can expect to save roughly $26 billion in Medicare costs over 10 years in part by freezing the market-basket update for skilled nursing facilities in fiscal year 2010, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.