Medicaid reform pilot to enhance choices confuses beneficiaries
Oct 17, 2008
A Florida pilot program designed to give Medicare beneficiaries more choice and control concerning their healthcare plans has led to more confusion than anything else, according to a recent review by the...
McCain, Obama advisers discuss long-term care at symposium
Sep 12, 2008
Surrogates for presidential hopefuls John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D) spelled out their respective nominees’ views on the future of long-term care in the United States at the third annual Long-Term...
Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease sparks health reform recommendations
Aug 25, 2008
The U.S. healthcare delivery system may not be equipped to handle the expected growth in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report by Avalere Health.
Democrats include long-term care reform in policy platform
Aug 21, 2008
The Democratic Party has included long-term care reform as a plank in its policy platform.
Experts: Preventing re-hospitalizations key to Medicare solvency
Aug 18, 2008
Medicare could save up to $12 billion per year if it would reduce the number of Medicare patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of a previous stay. Those savings, in turn, could help fund physician...
Nursing-home study: Inspection system ‘broken and can’t be fixed’
Aug 13, 2008
A leading nursing-home association is calling for an independent panel to come up with new methods for overseeing nursing facilities. The association’s task force issued 31 recommendations Tuesday,...
Brookings briefing addresses long-term care survey process, job training
Jul 15, 2008
Redesigning the regulatory survey of nursing homes would help determine how far current resources can be stretched to improve quality, according to a panelist who participated in a long-term care reform...
MedPAC recommends reforming Medicare payment system for skilled nursing facilities
Jun 16, 2008
The Medicare advisory arm of Congress has issued recommendations for reforming the Medicare payment system, including the payment system for skilled nursing facilities.
Debate to continue for Baucus’ physician payment cut bill
Jun 13, 2008
The Senate yesterday rejected a motion that would have brought a bill stopping a pending 10.6% physician Medicare physician payment cut up for an immediate vote.
CMS issues final rule on hospice care
May 30, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released its final rule concerning hospice care, despite a recent notice saying it would delay issuing such a rule until 2009.