Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare Advisers Urge Congress To Help Cover Seniors' Rehab Services
The Associated Press: Medicare Panel: Ease Rehab Coverage For Seniors
A panel that advises Congress on Medicare policy says the government should make it easier for seniors to get covered for rehab after a short hospital stay. MedPAC said in a report Monday that Congress should revamp a rule that says to qualify for rehabilitation at a nursing facility, beneficiaries first must be hospitalized for three days as inpatients. (6/15)
CQ Healthbeat: MedPAC Urges Congress To Look At Drug, Insurance Payments
Congress’ top advisers on Medicare on Monday put before lawmakers suggestions with the potential to reduce profits for some products sold by drugmakers and insurance companies, proposals that would be certain to stir controversy if taken up in earnest. Leaders of the nation’s hospitals, though, likely will welcome at least one item in the latest iteration of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s annual June report. The commissioners recommended an end to the so-called "two midnight" rule that governs whether a patient's hospital stay should trigger the more generous inpatientMedicare reimbursement or the often lower outpatient payment. (Young, 6/15)
