Topics Part I (2)

Financial News	Funding Opportunity	*CMS (HCFA)	Health Care Fraud
Home and Community	*Long Term Care	Medicaid	Medicare
Go to Part Two	Go to Page 1

Financial News

Beverly leaves FL (7/20/2001) Iowa fraud cases on divestment (9/7/2001) Marriott AL announces profits (7/20/2001) Medicare payments increase 10.3% (8/3/2001) Nursing home associations challenge Medicare rate calculations (7/20/2001) Nursing home expenses increase 150 percent from 1987-1996 (9/7/2001) BACK TO TOPICS

Funding Opportunity

CMS & AOA to Offer Money for Medicare Prescription Rx Card Education (6/11/2004) Community Partnerships for Older Adults Grant Opportunity (11/14/2003) Local grants available to support legal awareness of seniors (9/26/2003) Older Driver Safe Mobility grants available (2/19/2003) Pro Bono/Legal Services Dispute Resolution Project Requests Mini Grant Proposals     (11/14/2003) Reminder: Grants for Partnerships to Improve Services for Older Adults (12/9/2003) Training Grants Deadline Extended (11/6/2003) BACK TO TOPICS

CMS (HCFA)

HCFA to release new draft MDS (5/25/2001) Satellite broadcasts announced (5/25/2001) (CMS Articles are now typically placed in DC Doin's or Medicare/Medicaid) BACK TO TOPICS

Health Care Fraud

HHS OIG reports duplicate Part B claims n SNFs (7/13/2001) HHS OIG warning on “pressure wound management program” (7/20/2001) BACK TO TOPICS

Home and Community

2003 Systems Change conference to be held (2/7/2003) Activist says Nevada has “long way to go” to comply with Olmstead (2/11/2002) Aged, disabled can sue states if nursing is cut (02/10/06) AoA solicits Alzheimer’s grant applications (3/13/2002) AoA to hold town hall meetings (1/9/2003) AARP fights for home care in Louisiana (8/22/2003) AARP KY proposes direct Medicaid LTC payment to seniors (10/23/2002) AARP report calls for more community-based long-term care (5/8/2003) ADAPT organizes march for nursing home alternatives (9/19/2003) ADAPT, TX group push for support of nursing home alternatives (5/29/2002) ADAPT urges creation of panel to study home care access in NY (9/3/2002) ADAPT urges creation of panel to study home care access in NY (9/9/2002) Arkansas to toughen Medicaid personal care guidelines (3/18/2002) AR waiver allows people with disabilities to direct, pay for own care (10/17/2002) Article says assistive technology reduces need for personal assistance (3/6/2003) AL Medicaid Waiver extends coverage to disabled over age 21 (2/19/2003) At-home hospital care may be next (01/09/06) Atlanta-Constitution takes in-depth look at nursing homes (7/31/2002) Audit finds Florida elder care program lacking (1/31/2002) CA and MA look at issue of sex offenders living in nursing homes (2/18/2005) CA elderly, disabled protest cuts, want to stay at home (5/3/2005) Carbonell speaks at first AoA Town Hall Listening Session (2/24/2003) Care managers support regulation of their work (4/1/2003) Cash & Counseling program expands to 11 new states (11/19/2004) CMS Clarifies Agency Responsibilities Following a Nursing Home Fire (4/16/2004) CMS funds community living projects (10/10/2003) CMS Introduces Home Health Quality Initiative (11/6/2003) CMS modifies rules to provide greater flexibility for PACE program (9/30/2002) CMS pushes home- and community-based services in Medicaid letter (9/1/2004) CMS releases home health quality data (5/8/2003) CMS Systems Change conference to be held in Baltimore (2/4/2005) CMS to hold conference on community living (2/11/2002) CMS to offer training broadcast on the Home Health Quality Initiative (9/19/2003) CMS will publicize information on hospital referrals to home care (12/11/2002) Community-based respite programs found to be effective (5/30/2003) Community-based services boosted in Louisiana (7/8/2002) Conference on quality in community-based care to be held (2/19/2002) CT Medicaid beneficiaries sue state (11/12/2002) Consumers satisfied with Medicaid “Cash and Counseling” project (4/23/2003) Council on Disability releases new Olmstead report (9/19/2003) Court dismisses community integration suit for budgetary reasons (10/17/2002) Day care association joins forces with AAHSA (2/18/2005) Delaware begins new Saturday respite program (2/24/2003) Dementia options needed, advocates warn (1/4/2002) Disability advocates in Mississippi sue state (5/29/2002) D.C. task force urges changes in care of the elderly (12/21/05) Doctor house calls making a come back (01/09/06) Eight states to participate in PACE market assessment (3/4/2004) Eleven communities receive grants to improve community LTC systems (12/03/2004) Exhibit displays artwork by Olmstead plaintiff (10/31/2005) Expansion of adult day services proposed (9/23/2002) FCA publications on caregiver training/workplace programs available (9/5/2003) Federal agencies report on new freedom initiative (4/1/2002) Federal bills will support home/community long term care services (5/7/2002) Federal Study Highlights Arkansas Nursing Home Failures (11/14/2003) Feds to adjust PACE payments (4/8/2003) Final rule expands veterans’ community long term care services (6/10/2002) First AoA town hall meeting to be held in Florida (1/15/2003) Florida respite group to build statewide network (4/1/2002) Florida to expand consumer-directed care program (2/19/2003) Florida to launch PACE program (1/11/2002) FL Working to Expand Nursing Home Diversion Project (5/14/2004) Free Toolkit on Mental Health Resources for Older Adults (2/6/2004) Freeze on NC Medicaid adult care program lifted (7/8/2002) Funding for home services in IL and AZ may be cut (4/22/2002) Funding in CA allows consumers to hire their own caregivers (9/1/2004) GAO compiles statistics on Medicare home health utilization (7/1/2002) GAO finds disparities in Medicaid home/community-based services (9/30/2002) GAO report criticizes Medicaid HCBS waivers (8/11/2003) Giving retirement the old college try (4/1/2005) Governors focus on home care (2/23/2004) Group lists 10 worst states for community-based services (10/23/2002) Guide to chronic care in California available (8/22/2003) HHS awards $7 million in grants for family caregiver programs (10/7/2002) HHS awards grants to improve aging services (9/26/2003) HHS urges states to expand home and community-based services (9/17/2002) Home and community-based care conference to be held in Milwaukee (4/16/2003) “Homebound” Medicare beneficiaries given greater freedom (8/8/2002) Home care and nursing home care needs clash in WA state (2/25/2002) Home care funding faces different fates in MA, MI (12/16/2002) Home Care Quality Initiative launched (3/6/2003) HCBS waiver conference to be held (3/4/2005) Home health agencies must give advance notice of adverse action (1/7/2005) Home health agencies must provide more information to patients (11/19/2002) Home health agencies rated; quality measures on the horizon (10/7/2002) Home health care performance standards released (11/14/2005) Home Health Quality Initiative Update (8/22/2003) Home Health Quality Initiative (HHQI) Update (11/14/2003) Home specially designed for aging in place (3/24/2003) “I want my freedom,” says young NY woman seeking home care (7/22/2002) ID, OR trying to restrict long-term care eligibility (1/9/2003) IL bill would give more care options (3/4/2005) IL court finds nursing home resident eligible for community services (3/19/2004) IL Disability Groups Join Forces to Promote Olmstead Compliance (6/25/2004) IHS report finds tribe elders want to stay at home (8/26/2002) Indiana Senate passes major long-term care reform bill (3/12/2003) IN seniors, advocates rally for long-term care reform (2/7/2003) IN settlement would provide nursing home alternative (8/20/2004) Information available to assist in reviewing state Medicaid waivers (1/21/2002) Information from national conference on quality available (6/24/2002) Information on state caregiver legislation available (3/12/2003) IA agencies clash over adult day centers (1/15/2003) IA department to cut rules on day care (5/21/2002) LA preserves in-home care for Medicaid beneficiaries (9/12/2003) Major health associations join to propose Olmstead strategy (7/31/2002) MD considering requiring public notice, comment for Medicaid Waivers (3/4/2002) Maryland plans to shift nursing home residents to community settings (1/23/2004) MA in-home services expanded (3/8/2004) MA looks at in-home mental health care (01/30/06) MA looks at nursing home alternatives (12/02/05) Michigan advocates for elderly sue state (3/25/2002) MI advocates protest, then praise proposal for home care services (3/12/2003) MI advocates seek alternatives to nursing homes (6/18/2002) MI guide assists in hiring in-home help (2/23/2004) Michigan lawsuit seeks better funding of disabled man’s care (4/8/2002) MI Moves Towards Increased Home-Care Access for Medicaid Recipients (4/30/2004) MN case involving forced nursing home placement to be heard (12/16/2002) Minnesota grants $1.7 million to 21 agencies for elder care (1/11/2002) MO Governor seeks changes in new laws affecting home care workers (9/12/2003) Missouri in-home services program facing cuts (6/10/2002) Modern senior centers: A new wave (9/5/2003) More choices for Florida seniors (3/25/2002) More information for caregivers available through NC website (8/8/2002) NASUA report on consumer direction published (2/4/2005) NCOA/NASUA “Consumer Choice News” publication available (11/12/2002) NCOA/NASUA project promotes consumer direction in long term care (9/3/2002) NCOA/NASUA project promotes consumer direction in long term care (9/9/2002) NCSL releases study on Olmstead planning (3/13/2002) National Family Caregiver Support Program called a success (5/21/2002) NFPA President Calls for Fire Sprinklers in All Nursing Homes (11/14/2003) NGA looks at results of long term care initiative (8/6/2004) National Governors' Association speaks out on Olmstead (8/8/2002) National HCBS conference scheduled for 2005 (11/19/2004) “NORCs” allow seniors to age in place (8/20/2004) NV, PA Medicaid waiver programs to expand (12/11/2002) New CMS Web Resource for LTC Surveyors and Providers (5/28/2004) New GAO Report on Weaknesses in Home Care oversight (7/22/2002) New Hampshire gets first HHS Independence Plus waiver (12/23/2002) NH home care association sues state over reimbursement (5/3/2005) New home health beneficiary notice developed (6/24/2002) NJ adult day care centers accused of rampant fraud (8/2/2003) NJ expands home services for the developmentally disabled (10/7/2002) New LA waiver will expand home- and community-based services (4/30/2003) New on-line magazine focuses on home care (4/8/2002) New paper looks at “reasonable pace” in Olmstead (4/22/2002) New papers available from CHCS (5/7/2002) New reports on Olmstead now available (1/4/2002) New website for people with disabilities now available (12/2/2002) New York City explores at-home medical exams and care (1/7/2005) NYC Medicaid recipients not receiving full range of home services (3/18/2002) NY home care workers push for better wages, threaten strike (6/3/2002) NY Times columnist condemns exploitation of home care workers (9/23/2002) NC program to provide in-home psychiatric services (3/18/2005) NC Study Commission on Aging Recommends $1 Million for HCBS (6/25/2004) November is National Family Caregivers Month (11/6/2002) NH Medicaid waiver need not serve minimum of 200 clients (11/6/2002) OSHA Announces 2004 Targeted Inspection Plan to Include Nursing Homes (4/16/2004) OH funds 2,000 community placements (11/30/2001) Ohio legislature restores funding to home health program (6/10/2002) Ohio starts call system for older persons (1/24/2003) OAA Nutrition Program celebrates 30 year anniversary (3/4/2002) The Olmstead Decision and Long-Term Care in California (12/30/2003) The Olmstead Decision Five Years Later: A Briefing (6/25/2004) Open Door Forums on community alternatives offered by CMS (4/23/2003) OR budget crisis impacts home care services (12/03/2004) Panel studying how to reduce size of NY nursing home system (01/30/06) Paper examines CA system of “home care public authorities” (7/1/2002) Patients’ health improves when doctors make house calls (11/19/2002) PA to expand long term care services (3/4/2002) Persons with disabilities rally for independence in Pennsylvania (4/22/2002) Placement of the mentally ill in the community looked at in CT, VA (12/21/05) Policy brief on consumer-directed care released (1/21/2005) Preliminary report released on federal actions to implement Olmstead (1/4/2002) President’s brother proposes money for community services in Florida (1/30/2003) President proposes $2.1 billion to support community living (1/30/2003) Priorities and protestors clash in Louisiana (5/22/2003) PACE launches new website (3/25/2002) Progress report on administration’s “New Freedom Initiative” released (5/29/2002) Protesters seeks choices beyond nursing homes (5/21/2002) PBS Special on Caregiving to air Oct. 9th (9/30/2002) PBS to broadcast program on care giving (9/17/2002) Real Choice Systems Change Grant Program Issues First Year Report (11/21/2003) Report examines caregiver support programs in all 50 states (12/17/2004) Report examines nursing facility “diversion” strategies (02/10/06) Report finds community LTC services not equally available to all (5/30/2003) Report finds older Americans unnecessarily segregated in institutions (3/20/2003) Report looks at consumer-directed long-term care (11/05/2004) Report looks at strategies to keep consumers at home (11/14/2005) Report on caregiving in western states released (4/30/2003) Report on consumer-directed services released (1/24/2003) Report on Olmstead Planning Grant (11/6/2003) Report presents state long term care developments (9/23/2002) Report says greater coordination needed for long-term care changes (8/15/2003) Reports discuss WI, MI nursing home transition efforts (8/8/2002) Reports on Olmstead implementation released by federal agencies (4/8/2002) Resources for persons with disabilities available on the internet (2/24/2003) Respite bill approved by U.S. Senate committee (3/24/2003) Seattle program approved for PACE status (8/26/2002) Seniors Commission holds hearing in Miami (1/11/2002) “Smart House” designed to monitor seniors (1/21/2002) Spouses, beware! (3/18/2005) State takeover of home health care industry proposed in New Jersey (5/22/2003) Study finds gaps in MN long term care system (3/25/2002) Study finds shortage of adult day care centers (12/23/2002) Study finds WI HCBS program pilot a success (8/2/2003) Study looks at rural access to PACE (3/6/2003) Summit, legislation focus on changing IN long-term care system (12/2/2002) Survey finds elder abuse occurs most often at home (12/16/2002) Telemonitoring system in one NM home care program highlighted (12/17/2004) TN AARP Launches Campaign to Support Nursing Home Alternatives (6/25/2004) Tennessee House Unanimously Approves Nursing Home Smoke Alarms (4/16/2004) TN moves towards increased at-home care (9/5/2003) TN “no tax” budget proposal would force more elderly into facilities (6/18/2002) TN Nursing Home Fire Spurs Lawsuit (11/14/2003) TX elderly, disabled to direct their own Medicaid waiver home care (11/6/2002) Training about home modification, assistive devices available online (8/15/2003) Training resource available for home- and community-based workers (3/4/2004) U.S. Congressmen Urge HHS to Research Feeding Assistants (4/16/2004) USDA Announces Grants to Support Rural Home Health Care Cooperatives (1/12/2004) Update on Medicaid HCBS programs available (10/31/2005) Use Your Home to Stay at Home™ Program Begins (11/21/2003) VT moves toward increases in community-based services (9/12/2003) VT report emphasizes community-based aging services (10/3/2003) Virginia home care program impacted by shortage of aides (6/3/2002) VA publishes final rule governing adult day care for veterans (1/31/2002) Waiver for consumer-directed care approved in SC (3/20/2003) Washington updates caregiver kit (12/17/2004) WI board calls for phasing out nursing homes (8/11/2003) WI brief on respite care now available (11/19/2004) WI Governor proposes moving nursing home residents into community (4/15/2005) Wisconsin Group Develops Program to Help Individuals Stay at Home (7/20/2004) WI seeks to shift to home care (4/8/2003) WI Supreme Court decision promotes community placements (7/31/2002)  BACK TO TOPICS 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Long-Term Care

Ample Flu Vaccine Supply Available(12/19/2001) True cost of long term care is still a mystery to most boomers (12/19/2001) BACK TO TOPICS

Medicaid

AL Medicaid cuts will change nursing home care (9/19/2003) AL receives payment through Medicaid loophole (9/3/2002) AL receives payment through Medicaid loophole (9/9/2002) AAHSA claims Medicaid is not paying its fair share (3/18/2002) AARP says CO eligibility changes could force residents into shelters (2/19/2003) AARP will oppose federal Medicaid cuts (4/15/2005) Asset transfers do not contribute significantly to Medicaid costs (5/21/2005) Battle raging in Massachusetts over Medicaid (8/6/2004) Bill would increase Medicaid matching funds (6/10/2002) Billing for the dead in Oklahoma (4/1/2002) Bush Administration process of granting Medicaid Waivers examined (4/23/2003) CA governor proposes major Medi-Cal cuts (12/16/2002) CA withdraws emergency Medi-Cal recovery regulations (5/03/2005) CMS to combat improper Medicaid payments (7/1/2002) CO Medicaid cuts blocked by judge (4/8/2003) Congress votes for at least $10 billion in Medicaid cuts (5/03/2005) CT considers bidding for nursing home residents on Medicaid (3/20/2003) CT, MO, CO face Medicaid cuts; nursing home providers react (6/24/2002) CT targets Medicaid transfer penalty (3/24/2003) Deficit Reduction Act changes Medicaid (02/10/06) Emergency stay allows CO legal immigrants to retain benefits (4/30/2003) Federal Medicaid cuts on the horizon? (3/19/2004) Federal Medicaid matching funds adjusted in most states (4/16/2003) FL cracks down on Medicaid fraud (9/19/2003) FL governor proposing unprecedented change in Medicaid (2/4/2005) Florida to pilot Medicaid Managed Care Program in Two Counties (8/05/2005) GAO finds flaws in Medicaid funding formula (8/15/2003) GAO Report Finds Medicaid Nursing Home Rates Stable (12/9/2003) GAO report finds Medicaid overpaid for prescription drugs (3/18/2005) GAO report finds weaknesses in CMS oversight of Medicaid (5/7/2002) GAO says CMS should do more to stop waste and fraud (7/01/2005) GA lawsuit seeks to stop Medicaid cuts (9/21/2004) GA nursing homes face reduction of at least $27.8 million (1/30/2003) GA to pilot online Medicaid application (7/13/2001) Governors ask for help with growing Medicaid costs (3/4/2002) Governors, Bush continue to disagree over Medicaid reform (5/30/2003) Governors express concern about Medicaid at association meeting (7/22/2002) Governors form Medicaid task force (4/1/2003) Governors form task force to negotiate Medicaid reform (3/6/2003) Governors say Medicaid costs “unsustainable” (5/29/2002) Governors unite to fight Medicaid cuts (1/7/2005) House and Senate focus on Medicaid cuts (10/31/2005) House budget bill passes (12/02/06) House passes harmful Medicaid provisions reconciliation bill (12/21/05) Hundreds of GA Nursing Home Patients Face Loss of Medicaid Benefits (6/11/2004) Idaho nursing home residents face lack of most dental care (4/22/2002) IL nursing home residents sue over Medicaid wheelchair policy (9/1/2004) IL to borrow $1 billion to pay Medicaid bills (7/1/2002) In-depth guidebook on Medicaid now available (2/7/2003) IN nursing home association sues Governor (5/21/2002) IA considering cigarette tax to help Medicaid (12/03/2004) Judge backs Medicaid cutoff to legal immigrants in Colorado (4/23/2003) Kentucky Announces Medicaid Modernization Plan (2/6/2004) KY decertifies hundreds of Medicaid recipients receiving LTC services (8/22/2003) Kentucky Governor Signs Emergency Change to Medicaid Regulations (2/6/2004) KY lawsuit attacks Medicaid cutbacks (10/10/2003) KY Medicaid announces cost containment efforts (7/18/2005) KY Medicaid cuts putting people out of nursing homes (9/5/2003) Kentucky Nursing Homes Gets Additional Medicaid Dollars (7/20/2004) KY to cut Medicaid to nursing home residents (1/30/2003) KY to require Medicaid trusts for nursing home Medicaid recipients (9/26/2003) Lawsuit filed to stop Medicaid cuts in Mississippi (10/8/2004) LA nursing homes get funding reprieve ... for now (4/1/2003) MD Court Supports Nursing Home Residents in Involuntary Discharge Case (4/16/2004) MA could lose $538 million in Medicaid funding (11/19/2004) Massachusetts reconsiders Medicaid home-seizure law (9/5/2003) McClellan speaks to Medicaid directors about dual eligibles (11/14/2005) Medicaid commission proposed (2/18/2005) Medicaid costs continue to be a problem nationwide (12/17/2004) Medicaid enrollment grew in 2003 (3/8/2004) Medicaid payments to Louisiana nursing homes cut (3/12/2003) Medicaid putting states in “dire fiscal situation” (12/11/2002) Medicaid reform efforts not likely to pass this year (9/12/2003) Medicaid spending on the rise (11/05/2004) Medicaid still on states’ budget chopping block (9/26/2003) MI eliminates non-emergency dental coverage for adults (9/12/2003) MN, CT seek CMS approval to limit asset transfers (4/30/2003) Mississippi legislature overrides governor's veto of Medicaid budget (4/22/2002) MS nursing home lists dog food and golf balls on cost reports (7/31/2002) MO judge blocks Medicaid dental cuts (9/17/2002) MO Nursing Homes to Receive Higher Medicaid Reimbursements (6/25/2004) NGA, Bush Administration disagree on Medicaid changes (3/4/2005) NIRT is here! (6/18/2002) NJ court rules on transfer of assets of incapacitated parents (8/20/2004) New reports on state Medicaid funding now available (2/23/2004) Oregon nursing home residents facing eviction under Medicaid cuts (2/7/2003) Over 1.7 million Medicaid recipients could lose coverage (5/8/2003) Pharmacy management programs can cut Medicaid costs (5/8/2003) Possibility of cuts raised in AL, opposed in KY (3/6/2003) President’s budget request puts nursing home residents at risk (2/18/2005) Proposal may set Medicaid precedent (12/14/2001) Recent court rulings on Medicaid uphold beneficiaries’ right to sue (6/3/2002) Report finds cuts threaten Medicaid care and services to seniors (9/30/2002) Report offers more bad news about Medicaid (2/24/2003) Report says Medicaid cuts would hurt the economy (1/30/2003) Reports on asset transfers available (01/30/06) Resources feature 40 year retrospective of Medicare and Medicaid (8/05/2005) Senate approves Medicaid cuts (01/09/06) Senate Budget Chair says Medicaid reductions are likely (1/21/2005) Senate votes to stop Medicaid cuts and create a Medicaid Commission (3/18/2005) SC governor vetoes bill creating Medicaid committee (6/10/2002) South Carolina warns of Medicaid cutbacks (4/8/2002) States dealing with widespread Medicaid cuts (1/24/2003) State’s economic problems affect senior healthcare (10/3/2003) States’ Medicaid crunch would be eased by Senate bill (5/7/2002) States must try to recoup incorrectly paid Medicaid funds (5/22/2003) Study links low Medicaid reimbursement to resident harm (10/10/2003) Study says Medicaid overpaying for prescription drugs (12/17/2004) TN bed tax disputed (7/13/2001) TN Senate Approves Bill to Raise Allowance for Nursing Home Residents (5/28/2004) The end of Medicaid as we know it? (2/7/2003) Thousands to regain Medicaid coverage in KY (8/20/2004) US celebrates Medicaid’s 40 years (8/05/2005) US House of Representatives unable to line up enough votes to pass Budget Reconciliation Bill (11/14/2005) U.S. Supreme Court upholds “income first” Medicaid methodology (2/25/2002) Website finds many seniors qualified but not enrolled in Medicaid (4/8/2002) West VA considers freezing Medicaid payments to nursing homes (6/18/2002) West VA leaders fight federal Estate Recovery Act (5/7/2002) West VA’s effort to overturn Medicaid estate recovery thwarted (5/29/2002) WI governor considers alternative way to fund Medicaid (3/12/2003) BACK TO TOPICS

Medicare

Administration fails to notify consumers of therapy cap (9/12/2003) Advocacy group points out other types of improper Medicare denials (4/8/2002) Advocates analyze impact of Medicare Part D coverage on residents (2/18/2005) Advocates urge Congress to extend QI-1 (2/7/2003) AHCA releases state-by-state Medicare analysis (4/1/2002) Appeals and grievances information now on-line (4/1/2002) Asian language Medicare information now available (1/21/2005) Ask the experts: Medicare Part D- Live Webcast (9/30/2005) Associations urge permanent repeal of Medicare therapy cap (2/11/2002) Beneficiaries' fraud awareness is on the rise, OIG says (12/19/2001) Bill would change Medicare administrative operations (4/1/2003) Care to Medicare beneficiaries improving, but still not optimal (1/24/2003) CMS Adds Resources to Respond to Record Numbers of Hotline Callers (5/28/2004) CMS Announces Nursing Home Payments to Increase in 2006 (8/05/2005) CMS clarifies policy on “first fills” for LTC residents (6/03/2005) CMS Gives Guidance on Halting Medicare Therapy Caps (12/30/2003) CMS offers free workshops on Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (8/05/2005) CMS proposes new Medicare payment rates (5/21/2005) CMS settles class action on local coverage policy denials (12/16/2002) CMS Steps up informational campaign on Medicare Part D (9/30/2005) CMS uses 'offbeat' ad campaign to promote Medicare hotline (12/19/2001) Congress considering home care co-payments (5/7/2002) Congress Passes Two-year Moratorium on Medicare Therapy Caps (12/9/2003) CT legislations blends Medicare Part D with state programs (12/21/05) Consultant Pharmacists' Overview of the New Prescription Drug Benefit (1/23/2004) Consumer information on Medicare Part D available (01/09/06) Council created to improve beneficiary access to technology (4/8/2003) Criminal Background Checks for LTC Workers Pilot Program Approved (12/9/2003) Democrats Will Attempt to Revamp 2003 Medicare Law (1/12/2004) Denial appeals process would be drastically changed under Bush plan (3/24/2003) DVA negotiates better price on prescription drugs than Medicare Discount Card (9/30/2005) Doctors refusing to take Medicare patients (3/25/2002) Emergency supply of drugs under Part D to be expanded (02/10/06) Expert says that Medicare should pay for all nursing home costs (6/10/2002) Fact sheet about Medicare for individuals with dementia available (5/29/2002) Final Medicare Prescription Drug regulations to be released soon (1/7/2005) Final rules for Medicare Drug Benefit issued (2/4/2005) Five million Americans under 65 qualify for Medicare (9/23/2002) Funding increased to educate seniors about changes in Medicare (3/19/2004) GAO report finds Medicare payments exceed costs for most SNFs (1/9/2003) GAO, Senator find CMS transition plan for dual eligibles inadequate (12/02/05) Governors want Medicare to cover Medicaid prescription drug costs (8/15/2003) Guideline for injected drugs discriminatory (7/8/2002) HHS OIG finds disparities in Medicare mental health coverage (6/24/2002) Helping beneficiaries get their medications (01/30/06) Home care co-payment proposed (6/10/2002) Hotlines help non-English speakers with Medicare Part D (12/02/05) House bill would speed Medicare coverage of new technologies (3/12/2003) House Medicare package proposed (5/21/2002) Illinois fills gaps in drug law for seniors (8/19/2005) Improper Medicare payments continue to decline (3/4/2002) Insurance commissioners protest CMS promotion of drug benefit (11/19/2004) Issue of cap on outpatient therapy services resurfaces (3/18/2005) Legislation targets therapy caps (3/20/2003) LTC Residents and the Medicare Drug Discount Card (5/14/2004) Medicare ad campaign begins (11/6/2002) Medicare Adjusts Nursing Home payment Rates for Patients with AIDS (5/28/2004) Medicare appeal hearings no longer to be face-to-face (5/03/2005) Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman Open Door Forum to be held (01/30/06) Medicare carriers not giving accurate information to providers (5/7/2002) Medicare changes time limits on appeals (8/26/2002) Medicare claims appeals system being revised (11/05/2004) Medicare consumer guide now online (11/19/2004) Medicare coverage for those with Alzheimer’s disease highlighted (4/8/2002) Medicare coverage to include neuromuscular electrical stimulation (7/31/2002) Medicare Drug Discount Card Spurs Confusion (5/28/2004) Medicare Education Advisory Panel to meet (2/11/2002) Medicare establishes new ambulance fee schedule (3/4/2002) Medicare financial outlook declines (3/24/2003) Medicare Fraud prevention videos available (5/30/2003) Medicare Fraud Protection Videos (5/8/2003) Medicare “giveback” still a possibility (10/7/2002) Medicare helpline not so helpful (1/7/2005) Medicare increases skilled nursing facility rates (8/11/2003) Medicare increasingly funding nursing home care (6/10/2002) Medicare mental health bill proposed (5/8/2003) Medicare now covers glaucoma detection eye exam (1/31/2002) Medicare panel calls for more spending (1/31/2002) Medicare Part B premiums will rise (4/30/2003) Medicare premium and deductible rates to increase in 2003 (10/23/2002) Medicare Reform Bill: How Will it Affect Nursing Home Residents? (11/21/2003) Medicare regulatory reform Advisory Committee members named (1/4/2002) Medicare starts pilot program to help seniors stop smoking (12/2/2002) Medicare therapy cap instructions issued (5/22/2003) Medicare to address discrimination against Alzheimer’s patients (1/4/2002) Medicare to cover e-stim for wound care (8/8/2002) Medicare to cover more preventive health services (7/6/2001) Medicare to offer new preventive benefits (12/03/2004) Medicare to pay for group therapy under certain conditions (6/18/2002) Medicare to stop outreach, educational activities (2/7/2003) Medicare Web Site to Show Comparative Data on Drugs (4/16/2004) Medicare’s geographic disparities would be addressed by bill (4/16/2003) MedPAC calls for no updates to SNF payments (1/24/2003) MedPAC may recommend freezing 2004 SNF payment increases (12/23/2002) More Medicare spending does not mean better care (2/19/2002) More Medicare spending doesn’t necessarily mean better outcomes (2/24/2003) Most new Medicare appeals procedures delayed (10/17/2002) New Medicare appeals process proposed (8/26/2002) New Medicare law could negatively impact nursing home residents (12/17/2004) New Medicare law does little for nursing home residents (8/6/2004) New Medicare Ombudsman hired (4/1/2005) New Medicare resources available for caregivers and employers (4/1/2003) New paper on Medicare Part D issues released (11/14/2005) New regulations on appeals procedures issued (3/18/2005) New resource available to help Medicare providers (3/8/2004) New rules change Medicare+Choice appeal rights (4/23/2003) NY advocacy group pushes administrators to act on Part D (01/09/06) Nursing home industry sounds Medicare alarms in ads (7/22/2002) Nutrition, pain management services coverage to begin (1/4/2002) OIG assesses SHIP’s assistance to Medicare beneficiaries (3/13/2002) Pharmacy groups seek additional drug coverage under Medicare law (3/4/2005) Proposed Medicare appeals regulations published (12/2/2002) Proposed rule would increase SNF Medicare payments (5/22/2003) Reform bill would revise appeals process; create Ombudsman (12/14/2001) Report sets new vision for Medicare (3/6/2003) Senior Medicare Patrol recoups millions for Medicare (12/17/2004) Sign-up for Medicare Discount Drug Cards to begin May 3, 2004 (4/30/2004) SNFs received millions in inappropriate payments (4/23/2003) States told not to automatically enroll beneficiaries in drug plans (4/15/2005) Studies differ on impact of Medicare reimbursement changes (5/29/2002) Suit challenges 3-day hospitalization requirement (1/21/2005) Therapy cap challenge fails in court (10/3/2003) Therapy cap delayed (1/15/2003) Therapy cap starts July 1, 2003 (2/19/2003) Therapy caps take effect (9/5/2003) Training on Medicare Part D available (10/31/2005) U.S. Senator seeks equity in nursing home payments (1/11/2002) U.S. Senators introduce Medicare legislation (5/21/2002) U.S. Senators promote bill to stop Medicare nursing home cuts (6/18/2002) Updated Medicare guide available (11/19/2002) Use of Medicare preventive services varies widely (6/3/2002) 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 BACK TO TOPICS