House surprises with veto-proof vote on Medicare relief legislation; Senate next today?
Jun 25, 2008
In a vote that surprised many veteran observers, the House overwhelmingly passed Medicare relief legislation Tuesday by a veto-proof vote of 355-59. Political leaders had expected a vote closer to a 50-50...
Report: Brain injuries caused by falls killed 8,000 seniors
Jun 25, 2008
Falls should be a leading concern for the elderly, but not necessarily for the reason many think. The damage can go far beyond a demobilizing broken hip or other bone, researchers said this week.
CMS to hold conference call on new nursing home five-star rating system
Jun 23, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be hosting an “Open Door Forum” on Tuesday (tomorrow) to discuss, among other issues, the new five-star rating system for nursing homes.
GAO: Some healthcare providers don’t pay taxes but still collect Medicare
Jun 23, 2008
A total of 6%, or roughly 27,000 of all Medicare providers—including nursing homes—collected Medicare reimbursements in 2006 while owing a collective total of more than $2 billion in back-taxes, the...
Yet another bill would delay physician payment cut
Jun 20, 2008
A new, slimmed down version of a bill to delay physician pay cuts and extend expiring Medicare provisions is expected to hit the Senate floor soon. It is the third bill that would put off the cuts.
Nursing homes lukewarm to government’s new five-star rating system
Jun 19, 2008
Nursing home operators wasted little time Wednesday issuing rebuttals to the federal government’s announcement that it would create and publish individual facility rankings on its Web site by the...
New MedPAC recommendations ‘right on target,’ Minnix says
Jun 17, 2008
MedPAC’s recent recommendations to revise the payment system for skilled nursing facilities drew praise Monday from the head of the largest nonprofit association for long-term care providers.
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.
Medicare physician payment bill on hold in Senate until next week
Jun 12, 2008
Legislation to delay the implementation of a 10.6% cut in Medicare physician payments may not be considered by the Senate until next Monday at the earliest, according to the bill’s author, Sen. Max...