Obama Administration’s regulatory reductions to save
health care system nearly $1.1 billion
Scaling back outdated rules is part of Administration’s
effort to cut red tapeNew proposed rules released today
by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would
reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations
and save hospitals and healthcare providers nearly $1.1
billion each year and over $5 billion over 5 years.·
The new proposals regarding the rules for hospitals
that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients were developed
in response to President Obama’s call on all Federal
agencies to eliminate burdensome and unnecessary
regulations.“The President and I have challenged
agencies to hunt down burdensome regulations,” said
Vice President Joe Biden.· “Today’s steps will remove
outdated, duplicative, unnecessary burdens on hospitals -
saving money and improving care.”“President Obama has
been clear: it’s time to cut the red tape,” said HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.· “Our new proposals
eliminate unnecessary and obsolete standards and free
up resources so hospitals and doctors can focus on
treating patients.”CMS proposed two sets of regulatory
reforms today, and finalized a third. All are designed
to improve transparency and help providers operate
more efficiently by reducing their regulatory burden.··
One set proposes to update the rules for hospitals
that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients -- the
Medicare Conditions of Participation. As an example,
the proposed reforms would consolidate patient care
plans and eliminate outdated requirements for hospital
management. This could save hospitals over $900 million
per year and perhaps grow to much more over time as
hospitals increasingly use this new flexibility.The
second set of reforms address regulatory requirements
for providers other than hospitals and could save up to
$200 million in the first year. The rule would identify
and begin to eliminate duplicative, overlapping, outdated,
and conflicting regulatory requirements for healthcare
providers and suppliers such as end-stage renal disease
facilities and durable medical equipment suppliers.
Examples of these reforms include updating obsolete
e-prescribing technical requirements to meet current
standards and eliminating other out-of-date and overly
prescriptive requirements for healthcare providers.CMS
is also finalizing a third rule that reduces regulatory
burden for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), which is
expected to save ASCs $50 million per year. This rule
makes common-sense changes to the requirements ASCs must
follow in order to meet Medicare and Medicaid health
and safety standards.These regulatory reforms are just
one part of a wide-ranging effort by the Obama
Administration to improve the quality of health care
and lower costs for all Americans, using important new
tools provided by the Affordable Care Act.·
These efforts include the National Quality Strategy
and the Partnership for Patients. These initiatives
aim to reform the health care delivery system and
bring together both private and public sector partners
to keep patients from getting injured or sicker in the
health care system and to improve transitions between
care settings.· CMS intends to invest up to $1 billion
to help drive these changes through the Partnership for
Patients initiative. And beginning in FY 2013, for
the first time, the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing
program authorized by the Affordable Care Act will pay
hospitals’ inpatient acute care services based partially
on care quality, not just the quantity of the services
they provide.To view the proposed and final rules, please visit:
www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx.Both proposals invite the
public, including doctors, hospitals, patient advocates,
and other stakeholders, to comment.· To submit a
comment, visit www.regulations.gov, enter the
ID number CMS- 9070-P or CMS-3244-P, and click on
“Submit a Comment.”For additional information on
these and other Conditions of Participation,
visit http://www.cms.gov/CFCsAndCoPs/01_Overview.asp
Update October 1, 2011:
Links for Shared Living RFI:
PA Dept. Public Welfare/ ODP
Announcement for Request for Information (RFI)
on Shared Living
ODP issued
Services RFI”, on July 18, 2011. This communication contained the following information:
Informational Packet #093-11, titled “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Shared Living
•
and industry leaders to provide comments and feedback about Shared Living Services.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is soliciting information from all interested stakeholders
•
The letter from Secretary Gary Alexander and the RFI about Shared Living Services.
•
The Shared Living Services RFI website: http://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us
Flyer 1
Click on the following hyperlink to view the DPW, Division of Procurement,that announces this extension:
http://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/FileDownload.aspx?file=RFI-DPW-ODP/Solicitation_2.pdf
Click on the following hyperlink to the view the Shared Living Services RFI:
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/provider/doingbusinesswithdpw/S_002846
INQUIRIES/ISSUES
Please direct any questions or issues regarding this communication to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Announcement
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Shared Living Services
Request for Information (RFI)
ODP Communication Number: Announcement 097-11
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Office of Developmental Programs
Update August 1, 2011:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/31/fact-sheet-bipartisan-debt-deal-win-economy-and-budget-discipline
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2011
BIPARTISAN DEBT DEAL: A WIN FOR THE ECONOMY AND BUDGET DISCIPLINE
The debt deal announced today is a victory for bipartisan compromise,
for the economy and for the American people.
The agreement:
- Removes the cloud of uncertainty over our economy at this critical time,
- by ensuring that no one will be able
- to use the threat of the nation’s first default now, or in only a
- few months, for political gain;
- Locks in a down payment on significant deficit reduction, with savings
- from both domestic and Pentagon spending,
- and is designed to protect crucial investments like aid for college
- students;
- Establishes a bipartisan process to seek a balanced approach to larger
- deficit reduction through entitlement and tax reform;
- Deploys an enforcement mechanism that gives all sides an incentive to
- reach bipartisan compromise on historic deficit reduction,
- while protecting Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries and low-income
- programs;
- Stays true to the President’s commitment to shared sacrifice by preventing the middle class,
- seniors and those who are most
- vulnerable from shouldering the burden of deficit reduction. The President
- did not agree to any entitlement reforms outside of
- the context of a bipartisan committee process where tax reform will be
- on the table and the President will insist on shared
- sacrifice from the most well-off and those with the most indefensible
- tax breaks.
Mechanics of the Debt Deal
- Immediately enacted 10-year discretionary spending caps generating
- nearly $1 trillion in deficit reduction; balanced between defense and
- non-defense spending.
- President authorized to increase the debt limit by at least $2.1
- trillion, eliminating the need for further increases until 2013.
- Bipartisan committee process tasked with identifying an additional
- $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, including from entitlement and
- tax reform.
-
- Committee is required to report legislation by November 23, 2011,
- which receives fast-track protections. Congress is required to vote on
- Committee recommendations by December 23, 2011.
- Enforcement mechanism established to force all parties – Republican
- and Democrat – to agree to balanced deficit reduction. If Committee
- fails,
- enforcement mechanism will trigger spending reductions beginning in 2013
- – split 50/50 between domestic and defense spending.
- Enforcement protects Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries,
- and low-income programs from any cuts.
- 1. REMOVING UNCERTAINTY TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
- Deal Removes Cloud of Uncertainty Until 2013, Eliminating Key Headwind
- on the Economy:
- Independent analysts, economists, and ratings agencies have all made
- clear that a short-term
- debt limit increase would create unacceptable economic uncertainty by
- risking default again
- within only a matter of months and as S&P stated, increase the chance
- of a downgrade.
- By ensuring a debt limit increase of at least $2.1 trillion, this deal
- removes the specter of default,
- providing important certainty to our economy at a fragile moment.
- Mechanism to Ensure Further Deficit Reduction is Designed to Phase-In
- Beginning in 2013 to Avoid Harming the Recovery:
- The deal includes a mechanism to ensure additional deficit reduction,
- consistent with the economic recovery.
- The enforcement mechanism would not be made effective until 2013,
- avoiding any immediate contraction that could harm the recovery.
- And savings from the down payment will be enacted over 10 years,
- consistent with supporting the economic recovery.
- 2. A DOWNPAYMENT ON DEFICIT REDUCTION BY LOCKING IN HISTORIC
- SPENDING DISCIPLINE – BALANCED BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND PENTAGON SPENDING
- More than $900 Billion in Savings over 10 Years By Capping Discretionary
- Spending: The deal includes caps on discretionary spending that
- will produce more than $900 billion in savings over the next 10 years
- com
- pared to the CBO March baseline, even as it protects core investments
- from deep and economically damaging cuts.
- Includes Savings of $350 Billion from the Base Defense Budget – the First
- Defense Cut Since the 1990s: The deal puts us on track to cut $350 billion
- from the defense budget over 10 years. These reductions will be implemented
- based on the outcome of a review of our missions, roles, and capabilities
- that will reflect the President’s commitment to protecting our national
- security.
- Reduces Domestic Discretionary Spending to the Lowest Level Since Eisenhower:
- These discretionary caps will put us on track to reduce non-defense
- discretionary spending to its lowest level since Dwight Eisenhower was
- President.
- Includes Funding to Protect the President’s Historic Investment in Pell
- Grants: Since taking office, the President has increased the maximum Pell
- award by $819 to a maximum award $5,550, helping over 9 million students
- pay for college tuition bills. The deal provides specific protection in
- the discretionary budget to ensure that the there will be sufficient
- funding for the President’s historic investment in Pell Grants without
- undermining other critical investments.
- 3. ESTABLISHING A BIPARTISAN PROCESS TO ACHIEVE $1.5 TRILLION IN
- ADDITIONAL BALANCED DEFICIT REDUCTION BY THE END OF 2011
- The Deal Locks in a Process to Enact $1.5 Trillion in Additional Deficit
- Reduction Through a Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Committee:
- The deal creates a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Committee that is
- charged with enacting $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reduction
- by the end of the year. This Committee will work without the looming specter
- of default, ensuring time to carefully consider essential reforms
- without the disruption and brinksmanship of the past few months.
- This Committee is Empowered Beyond Previous Bipartisan Attempts at Deficit
- Reduction: Any recommendation of the Committee would be given
- fast-track privilege in the House and Senate, assuring it of an up or down
- vote and preventing some from using procedural gimmicks to block action.
- To Meet This Target, the Committee Will Consider Responsible Entitlement
- and Tax Reform. This means putting all the priorities of both parties
- on the table – including both entitlement reform and revenue-raising tax
- reform.
- 4. A STRONG ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM TO MAKE ALL SIDES COME TOGETHER
- The Deal Includes An Automatic Sequester to Ensure That At Least $1.2
- Trillion in Deficit Reduction Is Achieved By 2013 Beyond the Discretionary
- Caps:
- The deal includes an automatic sequester on certain spending programs to
- ensure that—between the Committee and the trigger—we at least put in
- place an
- additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by 2013.
- Consistent With Past Practice, Sequester Would Be Divided Equally Between
- Defense and Non-Defense Programs and Exempt Social Security, Medicaid,
- and Low-Income Programs:
- Consistent with the bipartisan precedents established in the 1980s and
- 1990s, the sequester would be divided equally between defense and non-defense
- program,
- and it would exempt Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment insurance,
- programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement.
- Likewise, any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider
- side.
- Sequester Would Provide a Strong Incentive for Both Sides to Come to the
- Table: If the fiscal committee took no action, the deal would automatically
- add nearly $500 billion
- in defense cuts on top of cuts already made, and, at the same time, it would
- cut critical programs like infrastructure or education. That outcome would
- be unacceptable to
- many Republicans and Democrats alike – creating pressure for a bipartisan
- agreement without requiring the threat of a default with unthinkable
- consequences for our economy.
- 5. A BALANCED DEAL CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT’S COMMITMENT TO
- SHARED SACRIFICE
- The Deal Sets the Stage for Balanced Deficit Reduction, Consistent with
- the President’s Values: The deal is designed to achieve balanced deficit
- reduction, consistent with the
- values the President articulated in his April Fiscal Framework. The
- discretionary savings are spread between both domestic and defense spending.
- And the President will demand
- that the Committee pursue a balanced deficit reduction package, where
- any entitlement reforms are coupled with revenue-raising tax reform that
- asks for the most fortunate Americans to sacrifice.
- The Enforcement Mechanism Complements the Forcing Event Already In Law –
- the Expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts – To Create Pressure for a Balanced Deal:
- The Bush tax cuts expire as of 1/1/2013,
- the same date that the spending sequester would go into effect. These two
- events together will force balanced deficit reduction. Absent a balanced
- deal, it would enable the President to use
- his veto pen to ensure nearly $1 trillion in additional deficit reduction
- by not extending the high-income tax cuts.
- In Securing this Bipartisan Deal, the President Rejected Proposals that
- Would Have Placed the Sole Burden of Deficit Reduction on Low-Income or
- Middle-Class Families: The President stood
- firmly against proposals that would have placed the sole burden of deficit
- reduction on lower-income and middle-class families. This includes not only
- proposals in the House Republican
- Budget that would have undermined the core commitments of Medicare to our
- seniors and forced tens of millions of low-income Americans to go without
- health insurance,
- but also enforcement mechanisms that would have forced automatic cuts to
- low-income programs. The enforcement mechanism in the deal exempts Social
- Security, Medicaid, Medicare benefits,
- unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and
- military retirement.
Update July 1, 2011:
Before midnight last night Governor Tom Corbett
signed the FY 2011-2012 state spending plan after
the legislature passed the fiscal code, public welfare code,
and a referendum on property tax, which prohibits
school districts from raising taxes above inflation.
Update June 30, 2011:
1. HHS PRESS RELEASE: Affordable Care Act cuts health care red tape, saves
$12 billion
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:59:10 -0400
From: "OS Media (HHS/ASPA)"
Subject: HHS PRESS RELEASE: Affordable Care Act cuts health care red tape,
saves $12 billion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Contact: HHS Press Office
Thursday, June 30, 2011
(202) 690-6343
Affordable Care Act cuts health care red tape, saves $12 billion Common-sense
measures will save
money for doctors, patients and insurers
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took the first
steps to implement
an Affordable Care Act provision that cuts red tape in the health care system
and saves an estimated
$12 billion over the next ten years. These savings come from improved use of
lectronic standards
that will help eliminate inefficient manual processes and reduce costs. This
is the first in a
series of steps that will help reduce inefficient business processes by
standardizing and improving
electronic health care transactions. This will not only save health care
providers and health
insurance companies money, but also allow physician offices to redirect
time now spent on administrative
tasks to patient care. Consumers will also benefit with more complete
information about their out-of-pocket
costs and deductibles.
A May 2010 study in Health Affairs found that physicians spend nearly
12-percent of every dollar they receive
from patients to cover the costs of excessive administrative complexity.
The study found that simplifying these
systems could save four hours of professional time per physician and five
hours of support staff time every week
- time that could be better spent on patient care.
"Doctors and health insurance companies waste thousands of hours and
billions of dollars filling out forms and
processing paperwork," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The Affordable
Care Act is helping doctors operate
more efficiently and spend their time treating patients, not filing out
papers."
The interim final rule issued today requires compliance by health plans,
health care clearinghouses, and certain
health care providers by January 1, 2013, and implements part of Section
1104 of the Affordable Care Act. It puts
in place operating rules for two electronic health care transactions,
making it easier for providers to determine:
* Whether a patient is eligible for coverage
* The status of a health care claim submitted to a health insurer
The new operating rules will provide greater uniformity of information
and transmission formats so that
physicians and other health care providers can use one type of information
request for all insurers rather
than being required to use multiple systems. For example, if a physician
submits an electronic inquiry
to a health plan about a patient's eligibility, some plans may simply
respond yes or no, while others provide
information that the physician needs to know at the point of service, such
as patient co-pays and deductibles.
Under the proposed rules, physicians will get a more detailed response when
they ask about the status of a
claim they have submitted to a health plan.
The new rules save an estimated $12 billion for physicians, other health
providers, and health insurance companies
by reducing transaction costs in the form of fewer phone calls between
physicians and health plans, lower postage
and paperwork costs, fewer denied claims for physicians, and a greater
ability to automate health care administrative processes.
Patients benefit from more accurate information about their out-of-pocket
costs at the time of service, and expanded
access to care as clinicians will have more time to spend treating patients
by spending less time calling health plans.
The rule largely adopts operating rules developed by the Council for
Affordable and Quality Healthcare's Committee on
Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CAQH CORE), a health industry
coalition that focuses on ways to simplify
health care administration for plans and providers. CAQH CORE offered
a set of potential operating rules that are
currently in use in the health care industry on a voluntary basis, and
which have demonstrated a significant return on investment.
"As a pediatrician, I know how frustrating it can be to spend time dealing
with paperwork instead of patient care," said CMS
Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D. "These rules will help health care
professionals operate more efficiently, lowering
their costs and reducing hassle for consumers."
The rule announced today is the first in a series of steps that will
streamline and simplify the health care system: Future
administrative simplification rules will address adoption of:
* Standards and operating rules for electronic funds transfer and
remittance advice;
* A standard unique identifier for health plans;
* A standard for claims attachments; and
* Requirements that health plans certify compliance with all HIPAA
standards and operating rules.
The IFC with comment period may be viewed at the Federal Register at
http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx#special. The rule is
scheduled for publication on July 8, 2011. Comments will be accepted
if submitted by 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on September 6, 2011.
Update May 13, 2011:
According to the April issue of PA Health Law Project's Senior Health News,
the Assisted Living Waiver is on hold indefinitely by PA DPW,
however the licensure and Administrator Training will continue.
http://www.phlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/April-2011-SHN-Final.pdf
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=932080&mode=2
UPDATE March 9, 2011
Assisted Living Regulations:
http://www.aging.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/assisted_living/19891
UPDATE March 8, 2011
Current and Proposed PA Commonwealth Budgets
2011-12 Proposed Budget (Introduced by Governor Corbett March 8, 2011)
UPDATE February 4, 2011
Governor Corbett to Nominate Brian Duke as Secretary of Aging
Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today announced that he intends to nominate Brian Duke, 53, of Washington
Crossing, Bucks County, as Secretary of Aging.
“Brian Duke has devoted more than a decade of his career to improving the lives of our seniors,” Corbett said.
“His knowledge, experience and compassion will be a tremendous benefit to Pennsylvania.”
Duke is currently the director of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging where he oversees more than 20 programs
helping older adults remain as independent as possible, an annual budget of $12 million and a
network of
neighborhood centers to promote the well-being of older adults. As part of his position, Duke
lso advocates
with local, state and federal legislatures on the formation of policy and legislation.
Before taking his position in Bucks County, Duke was the Executive Director for the New Jersey
Foundation for Aging,
a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults throughout New Jersey.
Prior to that, Duke served as a consultant working with the U.S. Administration on Aging and the AARP Foundation in
the development of statewide caregiving coalitions in 12 states. He also co-chaired the Caring Community,
a coalition
of over 100 organizations convened by WHYY, the public broadcaster serving the greater Philadelphia region.
Duke received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Scranton, his
Master of Health
Administration from George Washington University and his MBE in bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Department of Aging oversees many services and benefits to older Pennsylvanians and advocates
for their interests
at all levels of government.
Pennsylvania has the third-highest percentage of elderly residents in the nation. There are approximately
2.5 million
Pennsylvanians over the age of 60, with more than 302,000 over the age of 85. One in five older Pennsylvanians
lives in or near poverty and more than 200,000 are identified as members of a minority group.
For more information about the Department of Aging, visit www.aging.state.pa.us.
Media contact: Kevin Harley, 717-783-1116
UPDATE December 29, 2010
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/regulations/17888/assisted_living_regulations/716095
Assisted Living Regulations
In January of 2011, a new option in long-term living will become available in Pennsylvania. At that time, Assisted Living Residences
(ALRs) will start to be licensed based on a regulation that was published in the PA Bulletin on July 17, 2010. A copy of the regulation
can be found at:
http://pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-29/1316.html
ALRs will be licensed under 55 Pa. Code, Chapter 2800 by the Office of Long-Term Living. Similar to Personal Care Homes (PCHs), ALRs
will have an initial assessment, development of a support plan, and a written contract between the resident and the residence. However,
there are many differences between the two.
The following link contains the preamble to this new regulation, a version of the final form regulation that highlights key changes from the
proposed version, and the extensive comment/response document where commentator questions about these regulations were answered.
www.irrc.state.pa.us/Documents/SRCDocuments/Regulations/2712/AGENCY/Document-17996.pdf
What is the difference between an Assisted Living Residence and a Personal Care Home?
ALRs are different from PCHs in 3 ways: concept, construction and level of care. ALRs embody the concept of allowing a resident to
“age in place” without having to move to a licensed long-term care facility when their needs increase.
The construction of an ALR is different from a PCH. PCH residents live in bedrooms that may be shared by up to 4 people. ALR residents
will have living units with kitchen capacity. No one will be forced to share a living unit. Living units will have a door with a lock and a private bathroom.
This housing-service model will allow for privacy and maximum independence. It is similar to a studio apartment where the resident can make meals
if desired and have a private bathroom.
The level of care provided in an ALR is distinguishable from a PCH, offering another choice of long-term living options in the commonwealth.
A person who needs the level of care of a nursing facility is not permitted to reside in a PCH and must transfer when their needs become too great.
That same person, however, will be able to live in an ALR where they’ll be provided with the services they need to age in place.
UPDATE December 3, 2010
Gov. Rendelll rescinds Executive Order regarding Consumer Workforce
2010-04 - Rescission - Consumer-Directed Home Care Providers
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=717&PageID=228891s&mode=2&contentid=
http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/
cop_general_government_operations/oa/oa_portal/omd/p_and_p/
executive_orders/2010_2019/items/2010_04___rescission.html
Historically the Gov. submits PA State budget in early February….
I guess it is not going to be until March 2011.
Where will Corbett find $4B?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/40392763/
UPDATE December 1, 2010
President’s Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/
This key Commission will present ideas on reducing the federal deficit and include proposals regarding Social Security, Medicare, and Dept. of Defense spending.
UPDATE October 1, 2010
Affordable Care Act gives consumers new tools, makes health insurance market more transparent
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:01:00 -0500
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that new information and tools have been added to HHS’ consumer website www.healthcare.gov that will make the health insurance market more transparent, increase competition and help lower costs for individuals.
UPDATE September 16, 2010
Consumer Workforce Council
Governor Rendell signs an Executive Order to create the Consumer Workforce Council.
A controversial subject during legislative hearings in 2009 was immediately implemented on 9/15/2010 by Gov. Rendell via Executive Order. The order will create an entity, called the Consumer Workforce Council, to oversee a voluntary registry of all Direct Care Workers who work with the elderly and disabled. Supporters say the Council is needed to expand access to home care and ensure a workforce of care-takers. Opponents argue it would create an unnecessary bureaucracy and cost an estimated $500,000 to a system that already functions well, but is underfunded.
The executive orders are available online at: www.oa.state.pa.us, click on “Records & Directives,” then, “Executive Orders” in the left navigation bar.
More information about the Consumer Workforce Council is available online at: www.dli.state.pa.us.
News for Immediate Release
Sept. 15, 2010
Governor Rendell Signs Executive Orders to Improve Agriculture and Healthcare
Harrisburg – Governor Edward G. Rendell yesterday signed executive orders that will ensure more of Pennsylvania’s agricultural operations benefit from the commonwealth’s purchasing power and enhance home healthcare services for seniors and people with disabilities.
...
Improving Long Term Healthcare
Currently, Pennsylvania faces an acute shortage of direct caregivers, a shortage estimated at about 10,000 workers. As a result, consumers who directly hire their own caregivers are not always able to dependably recruit and retain workers who are right for them. Attendants in Pennsylvania are paid an average of $9.10 an hour, and they usually receive no health insurance, sick days, vacation or retirement through their jobs. As a result, turnover rates can be as high as 100 percent and there is no backup system to help people when their caregiver calls off or quits.
Executive Order 2010-04 helps address the long-term care needs of seniors and people with disabilities who prefer to use the consumer-employer home care model, and the direct care workers who assist them with independent living. The consumer-employer home care model allows individuals to hire, manage, schedule, train and terminate the home care provider of their choice.
“Pennsylvanian’s deserve the right to choose the way they receive home care and we have a responsibility to ensure access to high-quality services enabling them to live independently for as long as they wish,” Governor Rendell said. “This executive order protects the rights and well-being of consumers by implementing policies to ensure an available, high quality workforce.”
The order creates the Consumer Workforce Council comprised of seniors and people with disabilities who employ their own attendants to serve as the policy voice to make recommendations to expand the consumer-directed model of home care – especially in regards to the number of available, qualified and reliable home care attendants. It also guarantees the rights of employees to elect a union representative should they so choose. The executive order enables caregivers and consumers to work together to tackle the chronic workforce issues such as turnover, training and benefits in order to help stabilize the consumer-employer home care workforce.
Both orders take effect immediately.
UPDATE September 13, 2010
Health Care Reform:
Class Act:
http://www.aahsa.org/classact.aspx
Community First Choice Option:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titleii/community-first
Home Community Based Services through Medicaid:
http://www.nsclc.org/areas/medicaid/health-reform-ltss/at_download/attachment
UPDATE July 12, 2010
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 1, 2010
|
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
|
HHS Launches New Consumer Focused Health Care Website www.HealthCare.gov
A Powerful New Information Tool That
Will Give Consumers More Control Over Their Own Health Care
and Allow Them to Compare Their Coverage Option
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled an innovative new on-line tool that will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. Called for by the Affordable Care Act, HealthCare.gov is the first website to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool.
“HealthCare.gov helps consumers take control of their health care and make the choices that are right for them, by putting the power of information at their fingertips,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “For too long, the insurance market has been confusing and hard to navigate. HealthCare.gov makes it easy for consumers and small businesses to compare health insurance plans in both the public and the private sector and find other important health care information.”
HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options, combining information about public programs, from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. Consumers can receive information about options specific to their life situation and local community.
In addition, the website will be a one-stop-shop for information about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act as well as other health care resources. The website will connect consumers to quality rankings for local health care providers as well as preventive services.
“This website is unlike any government website you have ever seen or used before,” said HHS Chief Technology Officer Todd Park. “It was developed with significant consumer input and is remarkably easy to navigate. This is despite the sheer volume of content it offers consumers: billions of health care choices through the insurance finder and more than 500 pages of new content, all of which is designed to grow with ongoing consumer feedback and as our health care system improves.”
As the health care market transforms, so will HealthCare.gov. In October, 2010, price estimates for health insurance plans will be available online. In the weeks and months ahead, new information on preventing disease and illness and improving the quality of health care for all Americans will also be posted. The website also includes a series of opportunities where users can indicate whether pages were helpful to them and we will continue to seek user feedback to grow and strengthen the site.
“People need to see what choices are offered, what options cost, and how coverage works in practice,” said Karen Pollitz, Deputy Director for Consumer Support, Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. “Today HealthCare.gov takes an important first step in that direction. In the coming months and years, we will add pricing and plan performance information so that consumers can see and understand and make meaningful choices about their health coverage.”
###
UPDATE July 12, 2010
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/07/20100708a.html
More Seniors to Receive One-Time Donut Hole Rebate Checks
UPDATE July 12, 2010
Hello Matt-- thought this link to MSNBC article may be of interest to you and maybe something we share with our ICA friends---
Have a great day!
Kim
Hospice may no longer mean halting treatment
The new health law could lead to a major change in Medicare policy that allows patients to get aggressive treatment and hospice care simultaneously.
Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37138739/from/toolbar
UPDATE July 1, 2010
Legislature passes budget..but Gov. has not signed yet, awaiting other legislation....
The 2010-11 general appropriations spending plan in House Bill 2279, was
approved by the House of Representatives Wednesday (6/30/2010) evening by a vote of
117-84, after the Senate approved the bill earlier in the day by a vote of
37-13.
Although lawmakers praised the $28.05 billion spending plan as the first
on-time budget in the eight years of the Rendell Administration, Governor
Rendell said he would not sign it until later this week, when other
budget-related bills are completed. Rendell said he would sign the spending
bill after the state fiscal code and an economic development borrowing bill
are passed. Rendell said he anticipates getting those bills by the end of
the week or sooner.
House members were required to suspend their 24-hour waiting period placed
on legislation received from the Senate in order to approve the budget bill
on Wednesday.
Among House Democrats, despite weeklong concerns expressed about budget cuts
to early childhood education and the environment, the bill passed virtually
unanimously, with only Representatives Chelsa Wagner, D-Allegheny and Tim
Briggs, D-Montgomery, voting against it.
Sixteen House Republicans voted for the budget bill, including the top
caucus leaders: Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney; Minority Whip
Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny; and House Appropriations Committee Minority
Chairman Bill Adolph, R-Delaware. Floor debate in the House lasted about an
hour, and then Republicans requested a caucus meeting. After that hour-long,
closed-door discussion, members returned to the floor and quickly voted for
suspension and passage of the bill.
So we still await a FINAL PA Budget ....
Advocacy
Update 5/20/2010
Good site from the federal gov. on health care reform.
http://www.healthreform.gov/
...especially the question and answer blog:
http://healthreform.gov/forums/blog/blogtakingquestions.html
FYI: The $250 checks for theose who are in the doghnut-hole are top go out in June 2010:
Q: How will the $250 benefit toward coverage gap cost be received by beneficiaries? What’s the Eligibility?
A: Once you have hit the prescription drug doughnut hole, you will eligible for a $250 rebate. That check will be sent directly to you from Medicare. There’s no application process and no private company will be involved in getting your rebate check to you.
Larry asked: “I am a senior who is already in the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the donut hole. Will the rebate of $250 be sent to me automatically or must I apply for it and how?”
Secretary Sebelius: We’re developing the specific rules right now, but this year, the $250 rebate will be sent the quarter that you hit that gap in coverage. So if I understand it correctly, if you’re already there, and we’re only in March, by June you will get a $250 check…For those who may hit later in the year, there will be additional checks going out in September that will take care of that, and over time, the “donut hole” will be completely closed so you won’t be facing that kind of gap any longer. Next year, about a 50% decrease in the brand name drugs in the donut hole takes effect.
Updated May 5, 2010
Assisted Living Regulations from the PA IRRC:
New Regulations
14-514 - Assisted Living Residences (Final Regulation)
Establishes minimum standards for building, equipment, operation, care, programs and services, training, staffing and for the issuance of licenses for assisted living residences.
Regulations from an agency
Based on your subscription preferences, the following regulations from one or more of your agency selections are now available on the IRRC website.
New Final Regulation
14-514 - Assisted Living Residences (IRRC No.2712)
Department of Public Welfare
Regulation Documents
The following documents relating to a specific regulation are now available for viewing on the IRRC website:
14-514 - Assisted Living Residences
Thank You,
- IRRC Website Administrator
Update posted 4/8/2010
Links to Health Care Reform Law: (from Wikipedia....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Care_and_Education_Reconciliation_Act_of_2010)
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) is a reconciliation bill passed by the 111th United States Congress to make changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, Public Law No. 111-148). It was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2010.
Together, H.R. 4872 and Public Law No. 111-148 are the primary vehicle of the Democratic-controlled Congress's and Obama Administration's efforts to reform health care in the United States.
The bill also includes the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was attached as a rider. However, small technical parts of the bill relating to Pell Grants were removed during the reconciliation process.
Other Health Care Reform informational links:
Straight Talk for Seniors on Health care Reform (NCOA)
http://www.ncoa.org/assets/files/pdf/Straight-Talk-for-Seniors.pdf
The National Senior Citizens Law Center (www.nscls.org)
Health Care Reform & Low-Income Older Adults: An Overview
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://healthreform.kff.org/
Update....posted 3/12/2010
Health Care Reform Refresher...
(from N4A Answers on Aging for Professionals.)
Anyone remember what's in the health care bill?
from NPR
Since the Senate passed its version of a health overhaul on Christmas Eve, most of the debate has focused on the politics of the effort. By now, many people have forgotten — if they ever knew — what the bill would actually do. So here's a short refresher. more
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124471919
Update....posted 3/10/2010...
PA Governor's Race Info: (From Penn State Grassroots Network):
... Currently, the six candidates for governor are:
In addition to coverage of Pennsylvania House and Senate floor proceedings, cable network PCN also televises other events related to state business, including public forums with gubernatorial candidates. These forums are listed on its daily schedule and on its “PCN Anytime” Webcast schedule.
...
More news about the race for Pennsylvania governor can be found in your local newspapers or on their Web sites, and also at two Web sites dedicated to political news and/or political races: PoliticsPA and Politico.com.
races: PoliticsPA and Politico.com.
Update....posted 2/10/2010...
Governor's proposed Budget links:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4566&mode=2
http://www.budget.state.pa.us/imageserver/budget2010/2010-11_Budget_Document_CD.pdf
http://www.budget.state.pa.us/imageserver/budget2010/2010-11_Budget_In_Brief_Web.pdf
Update....posted 1/7/2010...
Links to Health Care Reform websites:
The "actual" legislation will be posted at www.thomas.gov click:
Weekly Top Five H.R. 3590,& H.R. 3962
and these links have congressional memebers input:
http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc.cfm?doc_name=sr-111-1-163
http://energycommerce.house.gov (click box on right side of webpage page entitled "Affordable Health care For America")
Low Income Senior Health Advocacy Network
The National Senior Citizens Law Center is launching a new campaign to use strategic advocacy to protect low income older adults' access to health care. Advocacy on behalf of poor older adults is especially important now. The economic crisis has left more individuals in need of assistance with health care costs. At the same time, many state and local governments are threatening to reduce the assistance they provide.
As part of this campaign, NSCLC is developing a network of advocates committed to meeting the needs of older adults. Lawyers, health professionals, consumer advocates, social workers, senior services providers and others are welcome. Network members will learn about issues impacting low income older adults' access to health care and be invited to participate in efforts to find solutions. To join NSCLC's Low Income Senior Health Advocacy Network visit: http://www.nsclc.org/join-or-donate-to-nsclc.
Update Nov 20,2009:
Senate Health Care Reform:
Senate Dems moving ahead on crucial health vote
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – With no margin for rebellion, Senate Democratic leaders pushed ahead Friday toward a crucial weekend test vote on their sweeping health care bill amid indications the rank-and-file would stand together on President Barack Obama's signature issue.
"We are not assuming a thing. We are working hard to bring all Democrats together for the 60 votes necessary to proceed to this historic debate," said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. "I'm hoping that we can muster our ranks."
The nearly $1 trillion, 10-year Senate bill would extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, bar insurance company practices like denying coverage to people with medical conditions, and require nearly all individuals to purchase insurance.
Sixty votes are required to clear Saturday's must-pass procedural vote allowing debate to begin, meaning that all 58 Senate Democrats and the two independents that generally vote with them will need to hold together.
Links to review of the Senate version of Federal health care Reform:
CBPP Statement & Analyses: Senate Health Reform Bill-
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3006&emailView=1
