A bipartisan bill introduced by two U.S. Senators would create a new project that would increase home care access for more older Americans, in turn keeping them out of costlier and more institutionalized care settings like nursing homes. The proposed legislation, introduced last week by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), is […]
Category: Legislation
In case you missed it, here are the most popular stories grabbing Home Health Care News’ readers attention this past week: Home Health Focus Starts Paying Off for Kindred — A month following the finalization of its acquisition of home health provider Gentiva Health Services, Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) reported that its strategy to focus on […]
A federal judge today completed a ruling that the Department of Labor cannot grant overtime and wage protections to home care workers by redefining the term “companionship services,” which many home care workers provide. The ruling concludes a temporary stay granted following a court decision on December 22 to the same effect, prompting both celebration […]
Reversing a hotly contested wage rule decided earlier this year, a U.S. District Court ruling prior to the holiday Christmas that overturned certain minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers has spurred mixed reactions between advocacy groups and industry stakeholders. Considered a major victory by home care trade associations, the ruling in the […]
The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, a coalition of home health providers, has commended Congress for passing a budget package that calls for further analysis of face-to-face regulations and broad funding cuts to the Medicare home health benefit. Included in the legislation is language that requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to […]
As the elderly population grows in the coming years, so too will the home care industry — but not without facing significant threats, industry experts say. The baby boom population will push the demand for home health care, with more than 10,000 boomers turning 65 every day. In addition to the sheer demographics, home health […]
A law that exists in three states today to allow terminally ill patents the right to try investigational medicines was adopted in Michigan this week, making it the fourth state to allow this right. The “Right To Try Act,” was passed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder late last week. It allows terminally ill patients to […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued proposed regulation to modernize home health regulations for the first time since 1989 with a focus on patient-centered, well-coordinated care. The revision of the Home Health Conditions of Participation (HH CoPs) has been long-awaited, industry players say. Although CMS has made several significant revisions to the HH […]
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Monday that it will uphold its Jan. 1, 2015 timeline for extending federal minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers, despite calls for a delay in implementation, but it will temporarily delay its enforcement of the new rule. National workers’ advocacy, civil rights and women’s groups recently […]
President Obama signed into law a bill to create greater oversight within the hospice community. The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act, or IMPACT Act (H.R. 4994), received support from both Democrats and Republicans, and received praise from multiple health care and senior living organizations. The IMPACT Act also requires more frequent surveys of hospice […]
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