Republicans hammer away at HELP plan, introduce reform measure
Jun 18, 2009
Republicans have offered their own version of healthcare reform as they continue to criticize legislation from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP).
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...
Kohl introduces bill to increase long-term care insurance use but cautions about over-reliance
Jun 05, 2009
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) has introduced legislation that would encourage the purchase of long-term care insurance. But he also emphasized during a Wednesday hearing of the Special Committee on Aging, which...
Proposed bill could eliminate nursing home fines in Illinois
May 07, 2009
The Illinois state Legislature convened Wednesday to consider a controversial, first-of-its-kind proposal that would allow for the reduction, or in some cases, elimination of fines against nursing homes.
States using Medicaid stimulus funding to fill budget gaps, report finds
Apr 16, 2009
A draft report released from a House committee minority Wednesday finds that eight states likely are diverting Medicaid stimulus funding away from healthcare providers, such as nursing homes. Instead,...
Lincoln’s opposition to card check further imperils legislation
Apr 08, 2009
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) added her dissenting voice to the card-check debate this week, saying she would not support the Employee Free Choice Act in its current form. It is a move some say could spell...
Obama, Congress hammer away at economic stimulus package
Jan 27, 2009
President Barack Obama and Congress have been making headway on a major economic stimulus package. They aim to pass it during the first 100 days of the new administration.
Baucus’s healthcare plan would direct funds away from nursing homes
Nov 13, 2008
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) on Wednesday unveiled his plan for universal healthcare coverage. The plan emphasizes restructuring long-term care.
California ends longest budget stalemate in history; much-needed Medicaid funding to arrive
Sep 24, 2008
After a record 85-day lawmaker impasse, California finally has a new budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed the $143 billion spending bill Tuesday, nearly one-fourth of the way through the fiscal...
Senate committee passes nursing home arbitration bill
Sep 15, 2008
The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act of 2008, a bill that would eliminate arbitration agreements as a requirement for admission into a nursing home, is one step closer to becoming a law.