Washington Wire

Issue 182: September 26, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: BAILOUT, STIMULUS AND CR BILLS POSTPONE CONGRESS ADJOURNMENT; CONGRESS PASSES SEPARATE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY PROVISIONS; BAUCUS SPEAKS TO USE OF RECONCILIATION FOR HEALTH REFORM; NEW COMMITTEE REPORT POINTS TO MEDICARE FRAUD; CONGRESS APPROVES SERIES OF BILLS; HEARINGS

Issue 181: September 19, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: STARK INTRODUCES HEALTH IT BILL; SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO WRESTLE WITH PAYMENT REFORM; METAL HEALTH PARITY VOTE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK; CONGRESS PASSES ADA AMENDMENTS ACT; HEARINGS

Issue 180: September 12, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: SENATE PASSES BILL TO EXPAND, CLARIFY AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT; ADVOCATES PUSH TO PASS MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LEGISLATION; LAWMAKERS POISED TO INTRODUCE CHRONIC CARE LEGISLATION; HOSPICE GROUP SUES TO BLOCK PAYMENT CUT; OIG REPORTS POTENTIAL MEDICARE OVERPAYMENT TO PSYCHIATIC FACILITIES; PHYSICIANS BALK AT NEW ANTI-MARK UP RESTRICTIONS, SUPPORT MORE FREEDOM FOR GAINSHARING; HEARINGS

Issue 179: August 1, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Fails to Act on Bill Including Party Compromise, Advocates Look to September; CMS Finalizes IPPS, IRF, SNF and Hospice Wage Index Rules; OIG Says Surgeon Group/Hospital Corporation Ownership Arrangement with ASC OK Under Stark Law; Grassley Bill Would Tighten Oversight of Self Referral and Imaging Services; Hearings

Issue 178: July 25, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House Committee Passes Health IT Act; Fight to Block SCHIP Directive Hits Obstacles in Senate; GAO Imaging Report Endorses Prior Authorization to Check Growth; OIG Releases Guidance on Retroactive Cost-Sharing Payments; House Blocks Trigger to Decrease Medicare Funds; CMS to Host E-Prescribing Conference in Fall; Hearings

Issue 177: July 18, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Medicare Bill Halts Physician Cuts and DME Competitive Bidding, Restarts Therapy Exceptions Process; Inpatient Hospitals Responsible for Most ‘Improper’ Medicare Payments, CMS Reports; CMS’s Quality Reporting Initiative Pays Physicians Bonuses Topping $36 Million; Sens. Harkin, Specter Propose $5 Billion Boost of NIH Budget; Hearings

Issue 176: July 11, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Passes Veto-Proof Medicare Package; Universal Health Care Bill Reintroduced As Sponsors Push for Bipartisan Support; Medical Review of Hospital Claims Shifted From QIOs to Intermediaries, Contractors; CMS Looks to Expand Quality Reporting In Outpatient Proposed Payment Rule CMS Notifies Labs Not to Bill Medicare For Technical Component of Certain Services Hearings

Issue 174: June 20, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Congress Continues to Work toward a Medicare Bill; House Passes Compromise Supplemental Spending Bill; Senate Bill Introduced to Delay Medicare Competitive Bidding Program; Hearings

Issue 173: June 13, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Republications Filibuster Democrats’ Medicare Physician Payment Bill; House Bill Introduced to Delay Competitive Bidding Program for Medical Equipment; HHS Announces Sites for Electronic Health Record Demonstrations; Hearings/Events

Issue 172: June 6, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Finance Chair to Move Forward with Physician Payment Legislation; Congress Approves Fiscal Year 20009 Budget Resolution; Members of Congress Request Delay in DME Competitive Bidding Programs; Hearings

Issue 171: May 23, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Supplemental Spending Bill Includes Medicaid Provisions; CMS Releases Contractors for First Round of Competitive Bidding Members Consider Delays; President Signs Genetic Non-Discrimination Bill; Hearings

Issue 170: May 19, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Congress Considers War Spending Bill, Includes Medicaid Provisions; House Committee Examines Nursing Home Quality; Senators Reach Compromise on Health IT Bill; Hearings

Issue 169: May 9, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House Subcommittee Blasts Medicare Competitive Bidding Program: PPSV’s Peter Thomas Testifies; War Supplemental Could Include Medicaid and Medicare Provisions; CMS Issues Proposed Rule On Medicare Advantage, Part D Marketing; Hearings

Issue 168: May 2, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: CMS Proposes Cuts to Skilled Nursing Facilities; Genetic Discrimination Bill Heads to President’s Desk; HHS Secretary Medicare Reform Needed in Next Decade; Hearings

Issue 167: April 25, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House Approves Legislation to Delay Medicaid rules, Senate to Act; Senate Approves Genetic Nondiscrimination Act; CMS Issues Proposed Payment Rule for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities; Hearings

Issue 166: April 18, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House Committee Approves Delay in Medicaid Rules; CMS Publishes Proposed Medicare Inpatient Hospital Rule; House Committee Chairman Introduces FDA Overhaul Legislation; Hearings

Issue 165: April 11, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Seeks Medicare Action By Mid-May; House Legislation to Delay Medicaid Rules Sails through Subcommittee Mark-Up; MedPAC to Recommend Single Payment Pilot, Primary Care Provider Update; Hearings

Issue 164: April 4, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House Subcommittee Examines Medicaid Regulations, Moratoria Legislation; Chairman Baucus to Bring Medicare Bill Directly to Senate Floor; CMS Releases New Standards for Dialysis Centers; Hearings

Issue 163: March 14, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House and Senate Approve Budget Resolutions; House Committee Approves TBI Legislation; Hospital Associations File Lawsuit to Stop Implementation Medicaid Rule; Congress is in Recess until March 31, 2008

Issue 162: March 7, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: House and Senate Committees Mark-up Budget Resolutions; House Approves Mental Health Parity Bill; House Report Finds Medicaid Regulations Will Cost States $50 Billion; Hearings

Issue 161: February 29, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Medicare “Trigger” Legislation; HHS Secretary Denies Request to Rescind Medicaid Rule; SCHIP/Medicaid Policy Criticized by State Governors; Hearings

Issue 160: February 15, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: President Sends “Trigger” Proposal to Congress; Finance Committee Urges Medicare to Further Regulate Private Plans; CMS Issues List of Underperforming Nursing Homes; Hearings

Issue 159: February 2, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Bush Administration Releases FY 2009 Budget Request, Includes Cuts to Discretionary Programs; President’s Proposes Major Medicare Cuts in FY 2009 Budget; Senators Request Changes to Medicaid Case Management Rule; Hearings

Issue 158: February 1, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Finance Committee Scrutinizes Private Medicare Fee-for Service Insurers; President Expected to Propose Cuts to Health Programs in Budget; Economic Stimulus Package Moves to Senate Floor without Medicaid Increase; Hearings

Issue 157: January 25, 2008
In this issue, you'll find: Stakeholders Push for Increase in Medicaid Match Rate in Stimulus Package; SCHIP Override Votes Falls Again in House; CMS Proposes Bump in Medicare Payments to Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals; Hearings

Issue 156: December 21, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Congress Approves Medicare Package: Provides Doctors with Short-Term Payment Fix; Congress Sends President Omnibus Spending Bill; Hearings

Issue 155: December 14, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Medicare Bill Still Up in the Air; Congress to Consider Omnibus Spending Bill Next Week; Lawmakers, Hospital Groups Criticize CMS’ RAC Program; Hearings

Issue 154: December 7, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Scraps Medicare Markup: Moves to Negotiations with House; Draft MedPAC Would Increase Hospital Payments; Congress Approves Paired Organ Donation Bill; Hearings

Issue 153: November 16, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: President Bush Vetoes Domestic Spending Bill, Omnibus in the Works?; Panels Examine Quality and Transparency of Nursing Homes; Senate Committee Examines Need for ADA Restoration Legislation: PPSV’s John Kemp Testifies; Congress in Recess Until December 3rd

Issue 152: November 9, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Congress Approves Labor-HHS-Educations Spending Bill, Veto Expected; SCHIP in Limbo?; MedPAC Examines Quality of Care in Medicare Advantage Plans; Hearings

Issue 151: November 2, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: CMS Publishes Final Physician Payment Rule; House Committee Examines Controversial Medicaid Regulations; Senate Approves Revised SCHIP Bill; Hearings

Issue 150: October 26, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: House Approves Revised SCHIP Bill; Falls Short of Veto-Proof Majority; Senate Approves Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill; Legislation Would Increase Price Transparency for Implantable Medical Devices; Hearing and Events

Issue 149: October 19, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: House Fails to Override SCHIP Veto; Finance Committee Begins Discussions on Medicare Package; Senator Baucus and Grassley Question CMS on Investor-Owned Nursing Homes; Hearings

Issue 148: October 5, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: President Vetoes Children’s Health Bill; Study Reports Economic Impact of Chronic Disease; CMS Issues Proposed Rule to Redefine Medicaid Outpatient Services; Hearings

Issue 147: September 28, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Congress Sends SCHIP Bill to the President for Expected Veto; Finance Committee Holds Hearing on the Community Choice Act; House Approves Health Program Extension Package, Spares Hospitals Medicare Cuts; Hearings

Issue 146: September 21, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Negotiators Reach Deal on SCHIP Bill; Senate Approves Mental Health Parity Bill; Senate Sends FDA Legislation to President; Hearings

Issue 145: September 14, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: SCHIP Negotiations Continue; Weems Vows Greater Transparency at CMS; CMS Issues Third and Final Part of Self Referral Regulations; Hearings

Issue 144: September 7, 2007
September 7, 2007 Issue 144 In this issue, you'll find: SCHIP Compromise Proving Difficult; Comparative Effectiveness Center to Result in Net Cost to Federal Government; President Bush Appoints Weems to CMS Acting Administrator; Hearings

Issue 143: August 17, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: CMS Proposes to Reduce Medicaid Rehab Spending; Medicare Part D Premiums to Increase in 2008; House Members Seek SSA Clarification of Medicare’s Role in Long-Term Care; Congress in Recess until September 4, 2007

Issue 142: August 3, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: House and Senate Approve SCHIP Legislation; Negotiations on FDA Bill Postponed Until After August Recess; CMS Releases Final IRF, SNF Payment Rules; Congress is in Recess through August

Issue 141: July 27, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: House Committees Consider CHIP/Medicare Bill; Senate Panel Holds Confirmation Hearing for New CMS Chief; PPSV in the News; Hearings

Issue 140: July 20, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Finance Committee Approves SCHIP Legislation; House Approved Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill; House Panel Approves Mental Health Parity Bill; Bush Administration Requests Additional Funding to Fight Medicare Fraud; Hearings

Issue 139: July 13, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Finance Committee Reaches SCHIP Compromise; House Panel Approves Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill; House Subcommittee Considers Mental Health Parity Bill; House Passes FDA Legislation; Hearings and Events

Issue 138: June 29, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Committee Approves Health IT Legislation; President Bush Opposes Efforts to Expand SCHIP; Senate VA Committee Approves Veterans’ Benefit Bills; Congress is in Recess Until July 9, 2007

Issue 137: June 22, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Senate Committee Approves Annual Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill; House Committee Passes Drug User Fee Bill; Stark Considers Changes to Medicare Part D; Hearings

Issue 136: June 15, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: Opposition to FDA Bill Delays Markup; Subcommittee Examines Comparative Effectiveness; CMS Releases Memo on 75% Rule; Hearings and Events

Issue 135: June 8, 2007
In this issue, you'll find: SCHIP Mark-Up Slips, Kennedy and Hatch Announce their Priorities; House Approves Stem Cell Legislation, Presidential Veto Nearly Certain; House Subcommittee Clears HHS Spending Bill; Bill to Expand 340B Program Introduced in the House; Hearings

Issue 134: May 25, 2007
Finance Chair Announces SCHIP Mark-Up; Senator Clinton Offers Ambitious Health Plan; Bush Taps Nominee for Surgeon General; House Passes VA Health Bills

Issue 133: May 18, 2007
House, Senate Approve Final Budget Resolution; Stark Considers All Medicare Benefits for Possible Savings House Committee Passes Legislation to Improve Veteran's Care

Issue 132: May 11, 2007
Senate Approve Drug, Device User Fee Reauthorization; Conferees Begin Budget Negotiations; Compartive Effectiveness Efforts Gains Momentum

Issue 131: May 4, 2007
HHS Official Tapped as New CMS Administrator; CMS Releases Final Rule on LTCHs, Proposed Rule on IRFs; Senate Debates Drug User Fee Bill, Considers Importation Amendments

Issue Issue 130: April 27, 2007
Congress Approves War Spending Bill, Includes Healthcare Provisions; Trustee's Report Triggers Medicare Funding Warning; SCHIP Reauthorization Introduced in Senate

Issue 129: April 20, 2007
Senate Committee Approves PDUFA Legislation; Senate Republicans Filibuster Medicare Drug Negotiation Bill; House Panel Examines Medicare "Inefficiencies"

Issue 127: April 13, 2007
Senate Passes Bill on Stem Cell Research; Medicare Drug Negotiation Bill Passes Committee, Faces Hurdles on Senate Floor; Kennedy Introduces PDUFA Reauthorization with Drug Safety Provisions; Report Finds Medicare Waiting Period has Health, Financial Tolls; CMS Publishes Final Competitive Bidding Rule

Issue 126: March 30, 2007
House Approves FY 2008 Budget Resolution; Finance Committee to Consider Drug Price Negotiation Legislation; Congress Aims to Improve Delivery, Quality of Veterans' Medical Care; Congress in Recess April 2 - April 9, 2007

Issue 125: March 16, 2007
Senate Panel Approves FY 2008 Budget Proposal; Additional SCHIP Funds Added to Supplemental Spending Bill; FDA Testifies Before Senate Panel; PDUFA Reauthorization to be Stalled; PPSV Moves Offices

Issue 124: March 9, 2007
Senate Subcommittee Considers Drug Importation Bill; Medicare Advantage Cuts Possible,Ways and Means Ranking Member Cautions Colleagues; GAO Recommends Changes to Reduce Improper DMEPOS Payments

Issue 123: March 2, 2007
MedPAC Report Provides Options for Physician Payment Reforms; Governors, Congress Discuss SCHIP Funding; CBO Offers Congress Options for Medicare Savings

Issue 122: February 16, 2007
Compromise Reached on Mental Health Parity; House Committee Approves Genetic Anti-Discrimination Legislation; Senate Finalizes FY 2007 Appropriations; Congress in Recess from February 19-23

Issue 121: February 9, 2007
President's Budget Proposes Major Cuts to Health Care Programs; Leavitt Faces Tough Audience on Capitol Hill; Unions and Employers Join for Health Care Reform Campaign

Issue 120: February 2, 2007
House Approves FY 2007 Spending Bill, Senate to Consider Legislation; FDA Announces Initiatives to Improve Drug Safety Procedures; Senate Committee Passes Genetic Discrimination Legislation; Bobby Silverstein Joins PPSV

Issue 119: January 26, 2007
President Offers Health Care Reforms in State of the Union Address; Study Suggests New Medicaid Reimbursement System Will Underpay Pharmacies; No New Medicare Reporting Program Required for Bonus System

Issue 118: January 19, 2007
Coalition Unveils Plan to Cover the Uninsured; Medicaid Regulation Would Restrict States' Use of IGTs; Medicare Oversight to be a Focus of House Ways and Means Chair; Robert M. Portman Joins PPSV

Issue 117: January 12, 2007
House Passes Stem Cell Bill; MedPAC Considers Physician Payment Formula Reforms; Renewed Action on Drug Importation

Issue 116: December 8, 2006
Tax Bill Targets Medicare Physician Payments, Other Health Provisions

Issue 115: November 17, 2006
Democrats Elect Leaders; Set Committees

Issue 114: November 3, 2006
CMS Physician Fee Schedule Rule Proposes 5% Payment Cut. Will Congress Act?

Issue 113: October 20, 2006
CMS Quality Measures For Physician Reporting And Prospects For Legislative Action In The Lame-Duck

Issue 112: September 29, 2006
No SGR Fix Until After Elections

Issue 111: September 22, 2006
Congress Discusses Physician Payment Fix before Elections

Issue 110: September 8, 2006
McClellan Announces his Resignation from CMS

Issue 109: August 25, 2006
President Issues Executive Order on Price Transparency

Issue 107: August 4, 2006
CMS Issues Final Rule on Inpatient Hospitals

Issue 106: July 28, 2006
McClellan Responds to Congressional Requests to Delay Medicare Payment Revisions

Issue 105: July 21, 2006
Stem Cell Bills Pass Senate; President Issues First Veto

Issue 104: July 14, 2006
Senate Finance Leaders Send Letter to CMS on Hospital Payments

Issue 103: June 30, 2006
Governors Try to Stop President's Medicaid Plans

Issue 102: June 23, 2006
CMS Issues Proposed Changes to Physician Fee Schedule

Issue 101: June 16, 2006
House Appropriators Approve Labor-HHS Spending Bill; Floor Action Delayed

Issue 100: June 9, 2006
House Subcommittee Passes Health Information Technology Bill

Issue 99: May 26, 2006
House Subcommittee Moves Health IT Bill

Issue 98: May 19, 2006
House Finally Votes on FY 2007 Budget Proposal

Issue 97: May 12, 2006
"Health Week" Legislation Defeated in the Senate

Issue 96: May 5, 2006
Medicare to Change Payments for Long-Term Care Hospitals

Issue 95: April 28, 2006
Small Business Health Insurance Bill Remains Controversial

Issue 94: April 7, 2006
House Leaders Postpone Budget Vote

Issue 93: March 31, 2006
House Committee Approves Budget Resolution

Issue 92: March 17, 2006
Senate Passes $2.8 Trillion Budget

Issue 91: March 10, 2006
Senate Committee Approves FY07 Budget Proposal

Issue 90: March 3, 2006
Congress Considers MedPAC Recommendations on Medicare Payment Policies

Issue 89: February 17, 2006
CMS Issues Exceptions to Therapy Caps

Issue 88: February 10, 2006
President Bush Releases FY 2007 Budget Proposal

Issue 87: February 3, 2006
House Passes Deficit Reduction Act

Issue 86: January 20, 2006
Medicare Part D Experiences Problems; States and Congress Offer Temporary Fix

Issue 85: January 13, 2006
MedPAC Approves Recommendations Regarding Payment Adequacy

Issue 84: December 23, 2005
Senate Approves Reconciliation Bill: Legislation Returns to the House

Issue 83: December 16, 2005
House and Senate Continue Budget Negotiations

Issue 82: December 9, 2005
House Looks to Reconciliation Negotiations

Issue 81: November 18, 2005
House Defeats Labor-HHS Spending Bill

Issue 80: November 11, 2005
House Budget Bill Faces Uncertainty

Issue 79: November 4, 2005
Senate Approves Reconciliation Bill; Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid

Issue 78: October 28, 2005
Senate Committee Approves Medicaid, Medicare Cuts

Issue 77: October 21, 2005
Finance Chair Releases Reconciliation Proposals

Issue 76: October 14, 2005
Congress in Recess

Issue 74: October 7, 2005
HHS Waives Application of Stark Law In States Impacted by Hurricane House Committee Examines Impact of "Gainsharing" Proposals

Issue 73: September 30, 2005
Crawford's Resignation and Replacement Prompts Questions

Issue 72: September 23, 2005
Finance Leaders Face Opposition to Medicaid Hurricane Relief Bill

Issue 70: September 16, 2005
Finance Committee Leaders Introduce Medicaid Legislation for Hurricane Victims

Issue 69: September 9, 2005
Congress Acts to Fund Hurricane Relief Efforts

Issue 67: August 12, 2005
Administration Submits Medicaid Proposals to Congress

Issue 66: July 29, 2005
Congress Considers Pay-For-Performance Legislation

Issue 65: July 22, 2005
Senate Confirms Crawford As FDA Commissioner

Issue 64: July 15, 2005
Senate Committee Approves FY 2006 Labor, HHS, Education Spending Bill

Issue 63: July 1, 2005
Senators Grassley, Baucus Introduce Pay-For-Performance Bill

Issue 62: June 24, 2005
CMS Announces Plan to Implement 75% Rule As Is

Issue 61: June 17, 2005
Governors Propose Medicaid Changes to Congress

Issue 60: June 10, 2005
Spending Bill Proposes Cuts to Health Programs

Issue 59: May 27, 2005
CMS Announces Details of Medicaid Commission, Congressional Democrats Opt-Out

Issue 58: May 20, 2005
House to Consider Stem Cell Legislation

Issue 57: May 13, 2005
CMS Announces Funding Available for Emergency Care for Undocumented Aliens

Issue 56: May 6, 2005
CMS Releases Wheelchair National Coverage Rule

Issue 55: April 29, 2005
Congress Approves FY 2006 Budget

Issue 54: April 22, 2005
Medicaid Continues to be Center in Budget Discussions

Issue 53: April 15, 2005
New SHIP Funding to Target Medicare Beneficiaries

Issue 52: April 8, 2005
Enrollment in the Prescription Drug Benefit to Grow Slowly

Issue 51: April 1, 2005
Transplants Increase in 2004

Issue 49: March 18, 2005
House, Senate Pass FY 2006 Budget Resolution

Issue 48: March 11, 2005
Budget Committees Look to Find Savings in Medicaid

Issue 47: March 4, 2005
Governors Fail to Reach an Agreement on Medicaid

Issue 46: February 18, 2005
Finance Committee Questions Administration's Medicaid Proposals

Issue 45: February 11, 2005
President Release Budget Proposal: Tightens Domestic Spending

Issue 44: February 4, 2005
President Bush Addresses Health Care Initiatives in "State of the Union"

Issue 43: January 28, 2005
Leavitt Confirmed by Senate, HHS Releases Key Regulations

Issue 42: January 21, 2005
HELP, Finance Question HHS Secretary Nominee on Medicaid

Issue 41: January 7, 2005
President Lays Groundwork for Passage of Malpractice Legislation

Issue 40: December 17, 2004
Governor Leavitt Nominated to Head HHS, Medicaid Record Will be Scrutinized

Issue 39: December 10, 2004
AMA Honors Richard Emery Verville for Distinguished Service

Issue 38: December 3, 2004
Secretary Thompson to Leave HHS

Issue 37: November 19, 2004
FDA Faces Difficult Questions On Capitol Hill Over Drug Safety, Flu Vaccine

Issue 36: November 12, 2004
Elections Result in Republican Gains in Congress, Committee Changes, and Thompson May Stay at HHS

Issue 35: October 29, 2004
Insurance Coverage and Health Care Affordability Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage Proposals Medical Malpractice Reform Prescription Drug Coverage and Affordability

Issue 34: October 15, 2004
Gap in Coverage Poses Threat to Dual Eligibles

Issue 33: October 8, 2004
US to Face Flu Vaccine Shortage

Issue 32: October 1, 2004
FDA, Merck Pull Vioxx

Issue 31: September 24, 2004
Pfizer VP Breaks with Company Policy to Champion Drug Reimportation

Issue 30: September 17, 2004
Senate Committee Approves Labor-HHS Bill; 75% Rule Amendment One Step Closer to Enactment

Issue 29: September 10, 2004
Labor HHS Passes House, Controversial Amendments Stall Consideration

Issue 28: August 27, 2004
U.S Census Bureau Report Finds Number of Uninsured Continues to Rise

Issue 26: August 13, 2004
Kaiser Study Reveals Dissatisfaction with Medicare Law

Issue 24: July 23, 2004
GAO Releases Report on Accountability in Hospital Accreditation

Issue 23: July 16, 2004
House Appropriations Committee Passes FY 2005 Health Spending Bill

Issue 22: July 9, 2004
OIG: Administration Within the Law in Withholding Medicare Estimates

Issue 21: July 2, 2004
Pharmaceutical Companies Overcharge 340B Hospitals

Issue 20: June 25, 2004
Supreme Court Rules Against Patients' Right to Sue HMOs: Patients' Rights Legislation Reintroduced

Issue 19: June 18, 2004
AARP Endorses Dorgan-Snowe Reimportation Bill, Possible Placeholder Language in House Appropriations Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Drug Discount Cards

Issue 18: June 11, 2004
Senate Finance Committee Hold Hearing on Drug Discount Cards

Issue 17: June 4, 2004
Drug Discount Card Program Goes Online Amid Beneficiary Confusion

Issue 16: May 28, 2004
House Passes FY 2005 Budget Resolution Conference Report, Senate to Delay Consideration Until June

Issue 15: May 14, 2004
House Passes Three Controversial Health Care Bills

Issue 14: May 7, 2004
Senate Passes Family Opportunity Act

Issue 13: April 28, 2004
Senate Finance Committee Examines Medicare's Power Wheelchair Benefit

Issue 12: April 23, 2004
PPSV Team Responds to Stark Law: Phase II Rule

Issue 11: April 9, 2004
Medicaid Home and Community Based Care Legislation Considered in Finance Hearing

Issue 10: April 2, 2004
Medicaid "Predermination" Issue Continues, Congress to Receive IGT Proposal Next

Issue 9: March 26, 2004
House Passes Budget Resolution with Entitlement Cuts

Issue 8: March 19, 2004
Controvery Continues over Medicare Costs Estimates

Issue 7: March 12, 2004
McClellan's Nomination Confirmed by Senate; Agrees to Entertain Reimportation Debate

Issue 6: March 5, 2004
Budget Committee's Resolution Proposes Medicaid Cuts

Issue 5: February 27, 2004
Administration Postpones Changes in State Medicaid Budgets

Issue 4: February 20, 2004
Harbinger of Medicaid Reform? CMS Looks to Change Medicaid Budget Rules

Issue 3: February 13, 2004
Bush Administration under Fire over Medicare Educational Ad Campaign

Issue 2: February 6, 2004
Bush Administration Releases FY 2005 Budget, Health Programs Mostly Cut

Issue 1: January 28, 2004
Budget To Be Released on February 2 President's 2004 Health Care Priorities Outlined in State of the Union Speech