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 […]
Category: Legislation
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 […]
Home health care escaped the fiscal cliff unscathed with President Obama’s signing of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, prompting a sigh of relief among many fearing across-the-board spending cuts. Upon Obama’s passing of the bill, President of the National Association of Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) Val J. Halamandaris expressed his praise for […]
After months of back and forth debate between House Republicans and the Democratic Senate, a fiscal cliff deal has finally been settled to solve the nation’s budget crisis through the American Tax Relief Act of 2012 signed into law Wednesday by President Obama. The newly signed bill averted the fiscal cliff and left home health […]
In early November, Michigan voters turned down a proposed amendment to their state’s constitution, in turn protecting available home health care market options—at least for the time being. Proposal 4—the amendment that would require the unionization of home health care workers—was shut down with a 57% to 43% split in the polls. Under the proposal, […]
A New Jersey bill supports seniors who, by remaining in their homes in large amounts in certain areas, have created Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) rather than move into a specific senior living community, reports WNYC.org. The state’s Senate Health and Senior Services Committee has approved the legislation, which provides $250,000 to create a pilot […]
Subscribe
Receive industry updates and breaking news from HHCN