We at Basic American Medical would like to bring to you a round up of some of the most interesting news in long term care this week from AHCA/NCAL Gazette.

Health gavel a tough call for Dodd
The Hill
Author: By Alexander Bolton
Article Date: 8/26/2009
The vacancy left in the health reform chairman’s seat by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy could be filled by next-in-line Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), but Dodd has yet to decide if he wishes to step down as the chairman of the Banking Committee to take Kennedy’s place. Dodd has filled in as the point person for the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in the past when Kennedy’s illness kept him from the post, but a final decision has yet to be made.
A Timeline of Kennedy’s Health Care Achievements And Disappointments
Kaiser Health News
Author: By Jennifer Evans and Jaclyn Schiff
Article Date: 8/26/2009
In an article appearing in Newsweek last month, Sen. Edward Kennedy wrote, “Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to. This is the cause of my life.” Please refer to the article to see a timeline of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s major health policy milestones.
Ohio Seniors Hard Hit by Proposed Cut
Business Journal daily
According to study done by the American Health Care Association, Ohio seniors will be the 5th hardest hit by the proposed House health care reform bills’ Medicare budget cuts, in the country. Peter Van Runkle, executive director of the Ohio Health Care Association said of the findings, “We are greatly concerned about the impact proposed cuts will have on Ohio seniors’ Medicare-funded nursing care. We urge lawmakers to consider how cuts of this size will affect senior care and ask that Congress revise its plan to ensure seniors are helped by reform measures.” Van Runkle went on to say, “Arguments being made that seniors’ benefits will not be reduced by the House bill do not recognize that cuts would force providers to cut staff because labor expenses make up 70% of facility costs. Cutting staff within a facility has a direct impact on patients and their care.”
State/Province: Ohio
Regional to sell nursing homes
Rapid City Journal
Author: By Milo Dailey, Butte County Post
Article Date: 8/27/2009
The Fox Family Trust is making arrangements to purchase several long-term care facilities in South Dakota, and reportedly will be leasing the property back to Mission HealthCare, LLC.
State/Province: South Dakota
Md. Approves $454 Million Cut to Fill Latest Gap
Washington Post
Author: By Aaron C. Davis
Article Date: 8/27/2009
To close a $454 million spending gap, Maryland lawmakers have agreed to cut funding for cancer research, slash reimbursements to facilities that care for Medicaid patients and to health-care workers, shut down a state-run psychiatric hospital, close a prison and almost do away completely with a fund for country road projects.
State/Province: Maryland
As ‘Reverse’ Loans Grow More Popular, Scams Put Older Adults at Risk
Wall Street Journal
Author: By Anne Tergesen
Article Date: 8/27/2009
People aged 62 and older have the opportunity to turn the equity in their homes back into cash through a reverse-mortgage. In the bad economy, these reverse mortgages are becoming even more popular, but seniors must be cautious of scam artists. A number of scams have been reported around the U.S. Scammers prey on seniors and pocket the money.
Dennis Rivera Leads Labor Charge for Health Reform
New York Times
Author: By Steven Greenhouse
Article Date: 8/26/2009
The S.E.I.U.’s Dennis Rivera is credited with constructing a coalition including health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association which has pledged to help cut costs by hundreds of billions of dollars. Mr. Rivera was noted as saying, “We’re running this campaign like this was a presidential campaign, and our candidate is health care reform.”