AARP Praises Bipartisan Bill Extending Unemployment Insurance, Blocking Harmful New Medicaid Rules, USA
Elaine Ryan, AARP's Vice President for Government Relations, issued the following statement on the bipartisan support to include and pass enhanced unemployment insurance benefits and block harmful Medicaid measures in a supplemental funding bill. "Congressional leaders deserve credit for working across the aisle to develop a bipartisan compromise.
Medicare Decision Improves Quality Of Life, Gives ALL Patients Access To Single Use Catheters
A sweeping change in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy now allows patients on intermittent catheterization up to 200 single-use, disposable catheters per month, including the industry-leading LoFric, manufactured by Astra Tech.
Long Term Care Facilities Across America To Protect Residents With Full Sprinkler Systems
Long term care facilities such as nursing homes across America will, for the first time, have to protect their residents by installing sprinkler systems throughout their buildings if they wish to continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, under a new regulation to be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Third Year Of Groundbreaking Medicare Value-Based Purchasing Demonstration Shows Substantial And Continual Improvement In Hospital Inpatient Care
Latest results of the Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) show dramatic across-the-board improvement in the performance of participating hospitals. Launched in October 2003 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Premier Inc.
ASHP Urges CMS To Use Caution In Determining Payment For Hospital Acquired Conditions
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should only refuse payment for hospital acquired conditions that are reasonably preventable, ASHP told the agency in comments on its proposed changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems.
HHS Takes Action To Help Medicare Beneficiaries And Providers In Iowa And Indiana
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana. The action gives HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.
Coalition Calls For End Of Redesigned Medicaid Program In West Virginia
A coalition of religious, labor and health care activists, on Wednesday said West Virginia should suspend its redesigned Medicaid program because it penalizes low-income children and adults, the Charleston Gazette reports. The "cornerstone" of the program, called.
CQ's Carey Discusses Senate Medicare Package, Veterans' Care Legislation, Small-Business Health Insurance Bill
Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses Senate Republicans' efforts to block a Democratic Medicare package, legislation to help veterans better navigate the Veterans Affairs health care system and a measure that is intended to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses in this week's ".
AARP Urgers Lawmakers To Act Quickly To Enact Moratorium On All 7 Regulations Proposed By The Center For Medicare Medicaid Services
AARP today sent a letter to Congressional leaders and all House and Senate offices encouraging lawmakers to enact moratoria on all seven of the proposed regulations. Here is the letter: Dear Leaders: On behalf of AARP's nearly 40 million members, we urge you to act quickly to enact a moratorium on all seven regulations proposed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) which would severely cut federal Medicaid funding.
APA Continues Fight For Fair Coverage For Mental Health Care
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) will continue to fight for legislation to end discrimination against Medicare patients seeking mental health care, said APA President Nada Stotland, MD, MPH., after the Senate failed to get enough votes to consider S.