Providers tense, as House leaders vow to vote around Senate-approved measure with ‘doc fix’...
Dec 19, 2011
Provider groups were anxiously awaiting a vote that is expected to be held Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives. The balloting could determine the short-term fate of Medicare spending for the “doc...
Providers ‘working very hard’ to ensure Senate doesn’t vote for CLASS Act repeal
Dec 01, 2011
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to repeal the CLASS Act on Wednesday, making a full House vote possible by the end of the year. Meanwhile, providers in favor of the law have intensified efforts...
Repeal excise tax on medical devices, letters state
Jul 20, 2011
More than 400 organizations and companies have sent letters to House and Senate leaders asking for the repeal of a 2.3% medical device excise tax. The tax is scheduled to begin in 2013. If enacted, it...
Bill would correct post-hospitalization Medicare loophole
Apr 15, 2011
A bipartisan group of House and Senate members have proposed legislation that would ensure that seniors have access to skilled nursing care after being hospitalized for observation.
Berwick supporters urge Obama, Senate to hold confirmation hearings
Mar 22, 2011
Embattled Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick received a shot of support recently from a number of high-profile colleagues in the medical field, according to news sources.
Consumer advocates to ask for more regulation of assisted living at Senate roundtable today
Mar 15, 2011
Assisted living should be subject to more government oversight and regulation, at least one consumer group is expected to recommend this afternoon at a Senate Special Committee on Aging roundtable.
Pssssst! Have we got a deal for you!
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 10, 2011
We might have just been subjected to the biggest dose of chutzpah seen in a long, long while. It smacked of the old image of the leering used-car salesman (sorry, used car sales people) rubbing his thumb...
What we have here is a failure to capitulate
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 08, 2011
The saga of Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services took an interesting, if not sadly predictable, turn last week. Opponents of his patron, President Obama, called...
Lawmakers fail to repeal provision designed to help finance healthcare reform
Dec 01, 2010
The Senate failed to muster the votes Monday to repeal an unpopular tax reporting mandate that was passed to help finance the healthcare reform law.
Democrats prevent filibuster in health reform vote, Christmas Eve passage likely
Dec 22, 2009
The U.S. Senate could be just two days away from passing a massive healthcare reform package, based on reports out of the nation’s capital that the Democrats have attained a 60-vote, filibuster-proof...