The following recently introduced House and Senate bills could affect long term care providers: HB 913: Relating to licensing and regulation of certain facilities providing personal care to persons who are elderly or disabled. HB 914: Relating to reimbursement rates for certain therapy services provided to Medicaid recipients. HB 909: Relating to the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities. SB 337: Relating to … [Read more...] about Bills and Provider Bundled Payments
Search Results for: house bills
Child Health Program Bills Introduced
The Texas House and Senate introduced bills related to the child health plan program: Senate Bill 6 and House Bill 11. Among other things, the bills would change family income eligibility levels. Earlier this month, we reported that the Texas Senate had approved a bill to increase enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, raising the income eligibility limits from $44,000 to $66,000 for a family of four. An additional 80,000 uninsured children would be covered. … [Read more...] about Child Health Program Bills Introduced
Medicaid-Related Bills, Part 3
The following Medicaid-related bills may affect certain providers: HB 165 - Relating to a career ladder for interveners who provide services under the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver program. HB 1138 - Relating to information required on pharmacy benefit cards. HB 1240 - Relating to information required to be provided to parents of an infant. HB 1574 - Relating to services for persons with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders and their families. HB 2329 … [Read more...] about Medicaid-Related Bills, Part 3
Economic Stimulus Bills Blocked
Earlier this month, the Kaiser Network reported that House Democrats were considering a bill to add billions more in Medicaid reimbursements as part of a second economic stimulus package they'd hoped to pass before Congress adjourns this month. Kaiser reported late last week that House Democrats proposed a package of $61 billion (some sources report $56 billion), with $13 billion set aside for Medicaid. Their counterparts in the Senate proposed a $56.2 billion package that would provide … [Read more...] about Economic Stimulus Bills Blocked
House Seeks to Expand SCHIP Through Budget Reconciliation Bill
Although President George W. Bush twice vetoed bills that would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Democrats in the House of Representatives are still trying to find ways to expand the program. (Kaiser Network) Last week, Charles Rangel, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the House budget reconciliation bill would include provisions to expand SCHIP and stop a 10 percent Medicare physician payment reduction. The measure would increase SCHIP … [Read more...] about House Seeks to Expand SCHIP Through Budget Reconciliation Bill
Medicaid Rate Increase Fails in Texas Legislature
Despite a huge shortfall between reimbursement and the cost of care, two bills designed to partially alleviate that failed: The failed legislation, Senate Bill 1050 and House Bill 3342, would have set up a long-term care quality provider participation program (QPPP) that provided additional compensation to SNFs that met certain quality metrics. … [Read more...] about Medicaid Rate Increase Fails in Texas Legislature
The Texas Compassionate Use Act: Status
The Texas Compassionate Use Act (Senate Bill 339) was enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2015 (84th Legislative Session). The bill required that the Department of Public Safety create a secure registry of physicians who treat epilepsy for the purpose of prescribing low-THC cannabis to patients who have been diagnosed with intractable epilepsy. In addition, the bill required DPS to license at least three dispensing organizations by Sept. 1, 2017, should they meet the requirements. The license … [Read more...] about The Texas Compassionate Use Act: Status
Obama to Boost Medicaid Funding
While the president's health care reform bill likely won't pass anytime soon, he's trying to beef up funding for programs like Medicaid, raise quality of care, and decrease Medicare fraud in his FY 2011 federal budget. He's proposed an additional $25.5 billion in emergency Medicaid funding for states. (Source) Last month, Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley for the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts. During his campaign, Brown publicly opposed Barack … [Read more...] about Obama to Boost Medicaid Funding
Congressional Democrats Now Wary of Health Care Reform
In light of Republican Scott Brown's defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley for the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, Democrats in both houses of Congress are considering trying to pass health care reform in smaller bills rather than one large bill. During his campaign, Brown publicly opposed President Barack Obama's health care reform plan. Democrats interpreted his win as a consensus against reform as offered by Congress. Kaiser Health News has a round-up of stories from … [Read more...] about Congressional Democrats Now Wary of Health Care Reform
State Medicaid, Health Care Issues
Last month we wrote about how some primary care physicians are dealing with the growing costs of health care by charging fees to provide personalized, or concierge, care. These efforts involve reducing the number of patients and charging remaining patients about $2,000 a year for services that include annual physicals, 24/7 access by phone and e-mail, same-day/next-day appointments, and a CD containing personal medical information. The Kaiser Network rounds up links to news articles about the … [Read more...] about State Medicaid, Health Care Issues