As recess ends, work begins for Senate on Medicare bill
Jul 07, 2008
Democratic senators return from their holiday recess this week with a clear objective: to vote on the now-familiar H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.
Healthcare groups use ads to lobby lawmakers on Medicare bill
Jul 03, 2008
Congress may be on break this week, but two industry groups launched ads spurring the Senate to take action on a Medicare bill that affects nursing home residents and other older adults when it returns...
Senator asks for temporary extension of Part B therapy caps exceptions process
Jul 03, 2008
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter Wednesday urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to maintain the exceptions process for Medicare Part B therapy...
Nursing homes challenge regulators’ authority to cut Medicare payments
Jul 02, 2008
Leaders of the largest nursing home association in America are openly questioning the legality of federal regulators’ proposal to reduce Medicare reimbursement levels by 3.3% in fiscal year 2009.
Report: States expect Medicaid, budget hardships next year
Jul 02, 2008
The national economic downturn, combined with lower tax revenues and inflationary pressures, are painting a bleak picture for state budgets next year, according to a published report.
Bush signs bill delaying six of seven Medicaid rules
Jul 01, 2008
President Bush on Monday signed a war-spending bill that delays six of seven Medicaid regulations until April of 2009. The move represents a so-called “win” for nursing-home providers.
CMS decides not to extend therapy caps exemptions process
Jul 01, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday told the long-term care community it will not extend the therapy caps exceptions process, which expired Monday. As a result, many residents now will...
Senate delays six of seven controversial Medicaid rules
Jun 30, 2008
Nursing homes claimed a victory late last week after the Senate approved a war appropriations bill that contains a moratorium on six of seven unpopular Medicaid provisions.
Senate fails to pass Medicare bill so full wrath of therapy caps to be felt again
Jun 30, 2008
Medicare therapy caps for Part B therapy are scheduled to take full effect again on Tuesday after the Senate failed to pass a crucial Medicare bill before it recessed for the Fourth of July holiday late...
Senate under pressure to pass Medicare bill by Independence Day
Jun 27, 2008
Suspense has been building around passage of a critical Medicare bill and whether the Senate can take such action before the July 4th recess.