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

Senators Pitch to Women and Elderly on Health Bill

New York Times

Author: By Robert Pear and David M. Herszenhorn

Article Date: 12/1/2009

As Senators debated health care legislation, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) spoke out against a proposal within the bill that would find $450 billion in savings by curbing the growth of Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities and other care providers. “The cuts are not attainable,” said McCain. “And if they were, it would mean a direct curtailment and reduction in the benefits we have promised to senior citizens.” Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) also offered an amendment to the bill, asking for a requirement that health insurance companies fully-cover more preventative screenings for women. “Women often forgo those critical preventive screenings because they simply cannot afford it, or their insurance company won’t pay for it unless it is mandated by state law,” said Mikulski. 

 

Reid to unveil new public option, breaking impasse on healthcare

The Hill

Author: By J. Taylor Rushing and Bob Cusack

Article Date: 12/2/2009

A variation of the public option that may prove more palatable to centrists, yet still address public need, will be unveiled by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) next week. Carper will propose establishment of an opt-in national public insurance program, managed by a non-governmental board, which would start the first year the bill goes into effect. Beyond initial seed money, no taxpayer dollars would be used in funding this public option.  start the first year the bill goes into effect.

 

HHS to review policies for developing public health defenses

Washington Post

Author: By Rob Stein

Article Date: 12/1/2009

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday that she has ordered a review of the federal government’s policies for developing public health defenses. “Under the review I’ve announced today, we’ll look for the fastest ways to move to new technologies that will let us quickly produce countermeasures that are more dependable and more robust,” said Sebelius. “Not just for flu and not just for infectious diseases, but for all the public health threats we face today.” 

 

Proposed Medicare cuts still trouble healthcare providers

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News &  Assisted Living

Author: By Liza Berger

Article Date: 12/1/2009

The long-term care industry is concerned over the proposed elimination of the skilled nursing sector market basket update for 3 out of the 4 quarters of 2010 as requested in the House health care bill. This paired with a “productivity adjustment” would result in a projected $23.9 billion reduction to Medicare outlays to skilled nursing homes over a decade, according to the American Health Care Association. 

 

NC Medicaid dealing with cost-control delays

Associated Press

Author: By Gary D. Robertson

Article Date: 12/2/2009

With an increase in the numbers of unemployed, North Carolina’s health insurance program for low-income families, the disabled and the elderly is already $160 million over budget. Gov. Beverly Purdue says she will push Washington for increased federal funding. “We have consistently asked them to continue to help hold the states harmless for Medicaid and to help us as we get through this time when our budget is stressed and the budgets of all the states around in the country are stressed,” said Gov. Beverly Perdue. 

 

Medicaid Funding Subject Of Lawsuits In Massachusetts, Idaho

Kaiser Health News

Article Date: 12/1/2009

Health agencies or hospitals in both Idaho and Massachusetts are filing lawsuits over Medicaid’s payment rules. Low reimbursement rates have threatened the ability of some Massachusetts hospitals to stay in business. In Idaho, cuts to Medicaid reimbursements for private agencies serving the developmentally delayed may have been illegal, as the payment plan had never been approved by the state’s legislature. 

 

Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek more state money for Medicaid program

KFSM, channel 5 News, Fayetteville, AR

Author: By The Associated Press

Article Date: 12/2/2009

In order to continue providing adequate health care services to the state’s elderly and poor, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority will request an additional $264 million in state tax dollars. Today the OHCA will appear before members of a state House subcommittee to make a budget request. 

 

Violence overstated, role of staff downplayed

Boston Globe

Author: Abraham E. Morse, President, Massachusetts Senior Care Association

Article Date: 12/2/2009

The President of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Abraham E. Morse explains in this letter to the editor of the Boston Globe that the Nov. 27 front-page story on nursing home resident-on-resident violence presented an unbalanced perspective on the problem. Morse points out that though there are occasionally issues between roommates, skilled nursing facility staff works hard to identify and resolve these issues quickly. A recent Department of Public Health survey found that 90 percent of skilled nursing resident family members would recommend the facility to others - a clear indication of the quality and diligence of the facility staff. 

 

Panel Finds Regional Differences in Use of Medical Care

New York Times

Author: By Robert Pear

Article Date: 12/1/2009

On Tuesday, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission said that though there are sizable differences in the use of medical services by Medicare beneficiaries from region to region, these differences are not as large as many experts had initially indicated. Contributing to the variations in regional use of services is the fact that doctors in some areas seek more aggressive treatment routes, performing a higher number of procedures and tests than doctors in other regions. 

 

Nursing home helps Lexington food pantry

Lexington Minuteman

Article Date: 12/2/2009

For the second year in a row, the Golden Living Center-Lexington teamed with community, families of residents, and employees of the center to collect food items for a Thanksgiving food drive. “Like nursing homes, our food banks continue to face budget cuts and shortages,” explains executive director of Golden Living Center-Lexington, Clyde Tyler. “Community organizations and businesses alike work hard to make sure families in Lexington have meal options available, and we’d like to help too.” The facility donated the food items to the Lexington food pantry. 

 

Capital Source sells 37 nursing homes for $100M

By The Associated Press

Article Date: 12/1/2009

The sale of 37 skilled nursing facilities has been finalized, according to Capital Source Inc. Though the company will continue to finance the skilled nursing industry, it will no longer take an ownership role for any facilities.