CBO: market-basket freeze for skilled nursing could add up to billions in savings
Jul 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...
Letter asks House chairmen to remove proposed skilled nursing cuts from healthcare reform bill
Jul 09, 2009
A draft of House healthcare reform legislation is set to slice $44.9 billion in nursing home funding over the next decade, according to a group of senior care advocates. The coalition sent a letter to...
CMS proposes physician Medicare payment rate cut in 2010
Jul 02, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday proposed reducing Medicare payment rates for physicians by 21.5% in calendar year 2010. It also disclosed other physician payment reforms as part...
Obama opens the door for drastic new Medicare, Medicaid cuts for nursing homes
Jun 16, 2009
Frayed nerves were showing in the provider community Monday after President Obama announced his intentions Saturday to cut $313 billion more from Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years. The proposed...
Obama endorses letting Medicare Payment Advisory Commission set payment rates
Jun 08, 2009
The move to empower the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee to enact its own policy proposals gained significant traction last week when President Obama said in a letter to lawmakers that he would be open...
Nursing home lobbyists urge lawmakers for change but don’t expect long-term care reform
Jun 05, 2009
Hundreds of nursing home owners and operators blitzed congressional buildings in Washington on Thursday, pressing lawmakers for better Medicare payments, a halt to post-acute payment bundling system talk...
Rockefeller introduces bill making MedPAC independent executive branch agency
May 27, 2009
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is a legislative entity whose purpose is to advise Congress on matters of Medicare reimbursement rates and coverage policies. Now, one senator has introduced...
Daschle still playing part in healthcare reform effort
May 22, 2009
Although he failed in his bid to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle is by no measure out of the game. The former Senate Majority Leader is still taking an active...
Senators say Medicare, Medicaid changes could help pay for healthcare reform
May 20, 2009
To pay for healthcare reform, lawmakers must consider a number of different options. Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) on Monday released a 41-page outline of financing options, which...
Baucus, Grassley propose ‘bundling’ of post-acute payments; nursing home groups object
Apr 30, 2009
Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) this week released several policy ideas for revamping America’s healthcare delivery system. Many of these would affect the long-term care and post-acute...