A Message from the Executive Director Since I wrote you last month, the Center for Medicare Advocacy hosted our 1st Annual National Voices of Medicare Summit in Washington, DC. This all-day conference brought together advocates, policy-makers, economists, and scholars who work to improve Medicare and access to quality health care. We heard directly from and about the people who rely on Medicare. We also considered the needs of the direct care workers who provide services and support to maximize the independence of older people and people with disabilities. Judith Stein
![]() Executive Director
News You Can Use
If you don’t enroll by March 31st, you won’t be able to buy a plan on the Marketplace until the next open enrollment season unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Remember, if you go uninsured in 2014 for any period of time, you may be required to pay a penalty when you file your 2014 taxes. We all need health insurance! For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.
It seems like every day there is a new article about the “cuts” to Medicare Advantage… but they aren’t new, and they are good for Medicare and the economy. Check out this LA Times article – they don’t mince words at all! And see our recent articles on the issue.
An analysis by the Center for Medicare Advocacy (Center) finds that the federal enforcement system cites very few facilities with staffing deficiencies and often does not impose any financial penalties, even when it finds that facilities do not have sufficient staff. Read more. – Back – For a more in-depth weekly look at Medicare and healthcare issues,
Last week, the Senate Finance and Ways & Means Committees released bipartisan draft legislation that would standardized Post-Acute Care (PAC) assessment and data collection. PAC typically refers to nursing facilities, home health, and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. See, 3/18/14 Ways & Means press release: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=373213. – Back – CMA In the Community Thank you to all of our sponsors for making the 2014 National Voices of Medicare Summit and Sen. Jay Rockefeller Lecture a great success! We appreciate the support of Atlantic Philanthropies, Service Employees International Union, AARP, Service Employees International Union – Union of Long Term Care Workers, and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. The Summit, held in the fantastic Barbara Jordan conference center at Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, DC, drew a varied, energized crowd, and generated some really thought-provoking discussion. A message from Senator Jay Rockefeller set the tone nicely. Congressman Joe Courtney (D. Conn) discusses Successful Advocacy in Challenging Times
Stephen McConnell, Director, U.S. Programs, Atlantic Philanthropies, introduces one of the “Voices of Medicare,” A Room of Her Own, a StoryCorps video featuring one of the Center’s long-time clients. |