Obama deficit-cutting speech cites nursing home care
Apr 14, 2011
President Obama outlined his plan Wednesday to cut the nation’s deficit by $4 trillion in 12 years but also vowed to preserve entitlement programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Analysis: Focus on quality of care, not geographic variances to justify Medicare reforms
Apr 14, 2011
Policy makers should focus less on geographic variances and more on the quality of care when working on Medicare payment reform, a new analysis finds.
House Budget leader Ryan touts Medicare reform in 2012 proposal
Apr 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...
GOP targets Medicaid, CLASS Act
Apr 01, 2011
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) says the Republican version of the fiscal 2012 budget—which will be released next month—will call for $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid funding over 10...
Critics of nursing-home hospices suspicious of revenue
Jan 31, 2011
When a major lobbying group trumpeted the long-term care industry’s status as an economic and job-creating powerhouse last week, critics took the opportunity to press for further inquiries into how...
Republicans in the House
By
Liza Berger
Jan 06, 2011
A new party has taken control of the House of Representatives. What does that mean for healthcare and specifically long-term care? We soon shall see.
End-of-life care planning regulation to go into effect
Dec 30, 2010
Starting Jan. 1, Medicare will pay doctors who advise patients on options for end-of-life care. Under this new rule, doctors can offer information to patients on how to prepare an “advance directive,”...
What a year it was for nursing homes!
By
Liza Berger
Dec 29, 2010
It’s too bad that 2010 should end with a damning report about Medicare overbilling. It’s not exactly the best way for nursing home providers to greet the new year.
Deficit commission votes not to send proposals to Congress
Dec 06, 2010
A commission charged with finding ways to reduce the deficit last week voted against proposals that recommend killing the CLASS Act and increasing the Social Security retirement age.
Berwick’s remarks offer insight into his healthcare worldview
By
Liza Berger
Nov 19, 2010
Dr. Donald Berwick of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may not have said enough to satisfy some members of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, but he arguably presented some pretty defined...