A new report by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice) identifies 38 states, as of June 1, 2021, that since the coronavirus pandemic have either issued executive orders or passed legislation giving long-term care … [Read more...] about Immunity for Long-Term Care Facilities During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Article
Appeals Court Temporarily Pauses Implementation of Observation Status Decision While Considering Government’s Request for a Stay
In March 2020, a nationwide class of hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries who were reclassified from inpatients to “outpatients,” receiving “observation services,” won the right to appeal their designation, which can have severe ramifications for … [Read more...] about Appeals Court Temporarily Pauses Implementation of Observation Status Decision While Considering Government’s Request for a Stay
Advocates Call on Congress to Improve Medicare
On July 20, 2021, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and nine other organizations sent a letter to Congress and the Biden Administration, urging them to move forward with improvements to the Medicare program as part of creating a more equitable and … [Read more...] about Advocates Call on Congress to Improve Medicare
Reports Call for Changes for the Direct Care Workforce
The coronavirus pandemic has brought to greater public attention the workers who provide care to older people and people with disabilities and the challenges they face. Two new reports, one by PHI, a national nonprofit organization focused on the … [Read more...] about Reports Call for Changes for the Direct Care Workforce
Remembering John Lewis
As Congress discusses historic legislation to improve Medicare and access to health care for all, we remember a titan of health care and equity, Rep. John Lewis, as this weekend marks the anniversary of his passing. Often called “one of the most … [Read more...] about Remembering John Lewis
Honoring Disability Pride Month
On July 26th, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. In the thirty-one years since, that day has come to mark a recognition of “disability pride”, defined by the publication AmeriDisability as “accepting and honoring each … [Read more...] about Honoring Disability Pride Month
Guest Alert | Legal Action Center Issues Report Highlighting Medicare’s Discriminatory Coverage Gaps for Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Deborah Steinberg and Ellen WeberJuly 15, 2021The Legal Action Center (LAC) recently issued a report, Medicare Coverage of Substance Use Disorder Care: A Landscape Review of Benefit Coverage, Service Gaps and a Path to Reform (Feb. 2021), which … [Read more...] about Guest Alert | Legal Action Center Issues Report Highlighting Medicare’s Discriminatory Coverage Gaps for Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Special Report | Nursing Home Industry is Heavily Taxpayer-Subsidized
It is well-known that Government health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid, are the primary payers for nursing home care. The two federal programs paid facilities tens of billions of dollars for providing care to residents and were the primary … [Read more...] about Special Report | Nursing Home Industry is Heavily Taxpayer-Subsidized
Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently compared costs faced by Medicare Advantage (MA) plan enrollees to those in traditional Medicare in a report entitled “Cost-Related Problems Are Less Common Among Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare Than … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
Medicare Team Now Complete – Time to Improve the Program for Beneficiaries
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Dr. Meena Seshamani’s appointment as Deputy Administrator and Director of Center for Medicare. Dr. Seshamani joins CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and Health & … [Read more...] about Medicare Team Now Complete – Time to Improve the Program for Beneficiaries