We at Basic American Comfort would like to bring to you the most interesting news in long-term care this week.

Obama: Doctor-Choice Is Vital to Health Care Plan

By The Associated Press. New York Times. Jun 24, 2009 3:57 PM ET

President Barack Obama yesterday met with five governors to get their ideas on revamping the health care system. There was agreement that priorities include controlling costs, assuring the choice of doctors and providing high-quality care. Obama said it is essential to enact wide-ranging health care changes this year.

Obama Leaves Door Open to Tax on Health Benefits

Baucus will ask nursing homes to make concessions

By The Associated Press. New York Times. Jun 24, 2009 8:23 PM ET

Officials report that hospitals were being asked to help the health reform effort by accepting  $155 billion less in Medicare and Medicaid fees over the next decade.

Senator Baucus will ask nursing homes, insurance companies and medical device makers to make the same concessions.

Senators Worry That Health Overhaul Could Erode Employer Insurance Plans

By Robert Pear and Jeff Zeleny, New York Times. Jun 25, 2009

The budget office said: “The availability of subsidized coverage in the new insurance exchange would be an attractive option for many lower-income workers. As a result, some employers would decide not to offer their employees health insurance coverage, opting instead to provide other forms of compensation.” Mr. Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, said senators are looking into “the ramifications and implications” of a ‘play-or-pay’ requirement.

$285B switch might remove health hurdle

By Jeffrey Young, The Hill. Jun 25, 2009

House Democrats are considering permanently raising Medicare payments to doctors and creating a new formula to give doctors yearly raises. Budgetary maneuvers would bypass pay-as-you-go rules, making up for the added cost of the raises.

Administration: Hospitals unwilling to share electronic records will miss out on billions in stimulus funds

By Jim Landers. The Dallas Morning News. Jun 24, 2009

“There’s a fair amount of money in the law for hospitals that adopt interoperability,” or means to share records, said David Blumenthal, national coordinator for Health Information Technology. “If they don’t, they’re not likely to be eligible for payment.”

Nursing Homes: Consumer and workforce satisfaction reaches new highs

The InnerView: A look at nationwide satisfaction and using your data

Jun 24, 2009

The 2008 National Survey of Consumer and Workforce Satisfaction in Nursing Homes, by My InnerView has found that resident, family and employee satisfaction is at its highest level since the report started publishing results in 2005.

Database Takes Patients for Billions, Study Finds

By The Associated Press. New York Times. Jun 24, 2009

The Senate Commerce Committee’s investigative staff  reported Wednesday that “American consumers have paid billions of dollars for health care services that their insurance companies should have paid.” The investigation found that two-thirds of insurance companies deliberately skewed data on out-of-network medical care when they submitted it to an Ingenix database, causing patients to erroneously pay greater parts of the bill.

Agents arrest dozens of Medicare fraud suspects in Miami, Detroit, and Denver

By Jay Weaver, Miami Herald. Jun 24, 2009

The 53 arrested yesterday on charges of Medicare fraud included doctors, clinic owners, assistants and patients.

Senate aging committee hearing focuses on hurricane, disaster preparedness in nursing homes

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving. Jun 25, 2009