Congress restores Medicare funding.

Senior-care leaders voice their response

THE HOUSE AND SENATE RECENTLY AGREED on a bill that would restore $28.2 billion toward Medicare funding over the next five years.

According to a report in The Washington Times, the bill will go to President Clinton, who earlier threatened to veto it because he opposes increased payments toward the Medicare + Choice, an HMO option. The president, however, wants to restore funds to the federal program, which provides health care for the elderly. His budget proposal suggested $21 billion for Medicare.

The restored money would amount to more than was spent on Medicare in 2000 and in 1999 combined, according to the report.

Under the agreement's provisions, Medicare recipients would get an increase in benefits, including eye care, nutritional therapy, screenings for colon cancer, and pelvic exams. The plan also reduces co-payments for hospital visits.

The law, enacted in 1998, was intended to cut about 10 percent of Medicare payments but instead trimmed nearly 25 percent. It also set caps on rehabilitation therapy, it was reported.

                            VIEW FROM THE HILL
Bill      Title
S.2733    Affordable Housing for
           Seniors and Families Act
H.R. 5661 Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP
           Benefits Improvement and
           Protection Act of 2000
H.R. 4547 Medicare and Medicaid
           Nursing Services
           Quality Improvement Act
H.R. 4614 Nursing Staff Accountability
           and Training Improvement Act
S. 2553   Labor/HHS/Education
H.R. 4577  Appropriations for
           fiscal year 2001
H.R.4635  VA/HUD Appropriations for
           fiscal year 2001
H.R.5042  Return-to-home legislation
Bill      Description
S.2733    Reauthorizes and expands programs that provide
           supportive housing for seniors and people with
           disabilities. Includes grants for the preservation
           of affordable housing and for conversion of seniors
           housing to assisted living.
           Sponsor: Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.)
H.R. 5661 Provides additional Balanced Budget Act relief to
           health care providers, including nursing homes and
           home care agencies.
           Sponsor: Rep. William Thomas (R-Calif.)
H.R. 4547 Provides a waiver of certain nurse aide training
           requirements for specially trained individuals who
           perform certain specific nursing-related tasks in
           nursing facilities.
           Sponsor: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)
H.R. 4614 To require skilled nursing facilities furnishing services
           to Medicare beneficiaries to submit data to HCFA
           with respect to nursing staff levels of facility, to require
           posting of staffing information by facilities and HCFA, to
           assess the adequacy of training requirements for certified nurse
           aides, and provide for grants to improve the quality of
           care furnished in nursing facilities.
           Sponsor: Rep. Fortney (Pete) Stark (D-Calif.)
S. 2553   Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health
H.R. 4577  and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for
           the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001. Includes funding
           for Older Americans Act programs and the Title XX Social
           Services Block Grant program.
           Sponsor (S.2553): Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.)
           Sponsor (H.R.4577): Rep. John Porter (R-III.)
H.R.4635  Making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs
           and Housing and Urban Development for the fiscal year ending
           September 1,2001. Includes funding for seniors housing under
           Section 202 and other HUD programs.
           Sponsor: Rep. James Walsh (D-N.Y.)
H.R.5042  To protect the right of a Medicare beneficiary enrolled in a
           Medicare+Choice plan to receive services at a skilled nursing
           facility where that individual lived prior to a hospitalization.
           Sponsor: Rep. David Hobson (R-Ohio)
Bill      Status [*]
S.2733    Incorporated into the American
           Homeownership and Economic
           Opportunity Act of 2000
           (H.R. 5640). Presented to the
           President 12/15/00
H.R. 5661 Provisions attached to
           H.R. 4577; signed into law
           12/21/00
H.R. 4547 Introduced 5/25/00, referred to
           Committees on Commerce and
           Ways and Means
H.R. 4614 Modified staffing information
           posting requirements included
           in H.R. 5661/4577, the
           Medicare, Medicaid, and
           SCHIP Benefits Improvement
           and Protection Act.
           Signed into law 12/21/00
S. 2553   H.R. 4577 became the
H.R. 4577  Consolidated Appropriations
           Act, which included
           Labor/HHS spending and
           8 other measures.
           Signed into law 12/21/00
H.R.4635  Signed into law 10/27/00,
           P.L. 106-377
H.R.5042  Provisions included in H.R. 5661,
           Medicare, Medicaid, and
           SCHIP Benefits Improvement
           and Protection Act, which in
           turn was incorporated into
           H.R. 4577, the Consolidated
           Appropriations Act,
           Signed into law 12/21/00
(*.)As of early January
SOURCE: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOMES AND SERVICES FOR THE AGING