Bush Proposes Medicare Reimbursement Cuts to Fund Proposals

The Bush administration seeks to cut Medicare reimbursements to hospitals, home health agencies, and skilled nursing facilities in an effort to save as much as $100 billion to fund health care proposals. (Kaiser Network)

Last week, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, chaired by Democrat Pete Stark, held a hearing to consider a proposal from the Bush administration “to freeze Medicare reimbursements for home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities.”

A health care lobbyist said a freeze on reimbursements would leave home health agencies “absolutely annihilated” and would not generate the kind of savings expected.