Aging News Alert

Capitol Hill

 
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Bill Would Make SNFs Eligible for Universal Service Fund Money

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has introduced legislation, the proposed Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 (S 1916) that would amend the Communications Act to permit skilled nursing facilities to apply for support from the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Health Care Program (RHCP).

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SSI Restoration Bill Gaining Support – At Least from Democrats

The bill was introduced this past May in the Senate by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and in the House by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). As of Wednesday, July 29, ten senators and more than 30 representatives have signed on as cosponsors. Conspicuously absent from the list of cosponsors is the name of a single Republican lawmaker, including the current chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

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House Leaders Press Burwell for Answers on Flu Preparedness

Key leaders of the House Energy & Commerce Committee have fired off a joint letter to Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, seeking documents regarding the Obama administration’s lessons learned from the previous flu season, as well as details about the nation’s preparedness efforts in advance of the upcoming flu season. The issue is especially important to the nation’s elderly population, in that this group is particularly vulnerable to influenza.

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Panel Eyes Ways to Strengthen Part D against Fraud, Abuse

Subcommittee members and witnesses discussed recent reports from the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General highlighting weaknesses which make Medicare Part D fraud and abuse possible, and also providing guidance for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to proactively prevent fraud and abuse.

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