One goal of President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget proposal, submitted last week to Congress, is to reduce the nation’s debt deficit, but the home health care industry may suffer as a result, according to two Forbes columnists. In order to achieve deficit reduction while simultaneously increasing discretionary spending by about $1.4 billion, the budget has […]
Category: Legislation
On December 15, 2011, as part of his “We Can’t Wait” program, President Obama pledged to end federal regulations excluding home care workers from minimum wage and overtime protections, according to the Paraprofessional Health Institute (PHI). Sixteen months later, millions of home care workers across the U.S. are still waiting, according to a Thursday press […]
The home health care industry could experience some changes in 2014 such as Medicare copayments for new beneficiaries or increased fraud prevention measures for agencies receiving federal reimbursements. Some aspects of President Obama’s 2013 budget pertaining to home health care will likely remain for next year’s budget, expected to be released on April 10, according […]
As Illinois legislators wrestle with the state’s budget, cuts to home health services could force thousands of Illinois seniors to seek costly alternatives. In early March, the Illinois Department on Aging (DOA) notified home health providers that funding for the state’s Community Care Program (CCP) would be exhausted by March 15. A backlog of overdue […]
U.S. Senators re-introduced a bill that would expand the use of telehealth technology under Medicare, also enabling more adults to receive care within the comforts of home, reports the Echo Press of Alexandria, Minnesota. Introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), the Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act aims to create a pilot […]
AARP and the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging is sending a busload of 40 seniors to rally at the Statehouse on March 26, the News-Sentinel reports. Reasons for the rally stem from proposed budget cuts to the CHOICE Home Care Program, which provides in-home services that allow older adults to stay in their […]
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has made legislation giving seniors the option to convert their life insurance policies to pay for home care or skilled nursing care a top long-term care legislative priority for 2013. Senate Bill 794, sponsored by state Senator Jeff Brandes, and House Bill 535, sponsored by state Representative Jimmy Patronis, […]
A recently proposed bill will grant health care providers in Washington state legal immunity to honor the last wishes of elderly patients. If approved by the full legislature, the “do not resuscitate” bill will close a loophole for senior care providers, according to the Seattle Times. In states like Washington, facilities that care for seniors—such […]
President Obama advocated for higher federal minimum wages in last night’s State of the Union address, but proposed rules for the Fair Labor Standards Act to extend to home care workers must first be implemented for higher wage requirements to have a direct impact on personal care aides and home health aides. “Tonight, let’s declare that, in […]
Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) says he will make good on his promise to reverse the competitive Medicare bidding system for home health care equipment. Price says he will do this through the reintroduction of the Market Pricing Program for durable medical equipment to counter the competitive bidding system that has since gone into effect. The […]
Subscribe
Receive industry updates and breaking news from HHCN