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

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.

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging is hosting a congressional call-in day today to encourage members to call Washington and tell Congress to keep a number of pro-long-term care provisions in the reform bill. These provisions include the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, Medicare payment updates for nursing homes and home health, improvements in Medicaid for nursing homes and home- and community-based services, and improvements in prescription medication coverage.

Since Democrats’ loss last Tuesday of the crucial 60th vote in the Senate, many have speculated about the future of healthcare reform. Over the weekend, top White House advisers made the rounds of the morning talk show circuit, discussing possible provisions that could be dropped from the reform bill. David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Barack Obama, has indicated that any revised bill would likely still contain measures that would close the Medicare Part D doughnut hole and extend the life of Medicare as a whole. He spoke Sunday on “This Week” on ABC.