Capitol Hill

House, Senate Panels OK Different Versions of Farm Bill, SNAP Cuts
   The House and Senate Agriculture Committees adopt competing versions of measures to rewrite the Farm Bill, calling for significant reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- or SNAP (a.k.a., Food Stamps) -- program. SNAP is especially important to older Americans inasmuch as some 3 million seniors depend on the program to help keep them healthy and independent.
5/21/13 4:34 PM  read complete story

House Votes – Again – to Repeal ObamaCare; It's the 37th Time
   "House leaders continue to waste time and resources with symbolic repeal votes that will have no impact … "
5/16/13 7:08 PM  read complete story

Senate Confirms Tavenner as CMS Administrator
   The full Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly confirmed Marilyn Tavenner as the first permanent administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since 2006.
5/16/13 11:21 AM  read complete story

Action on Farm Bill Expected Soon
   The House and Senate Agriculture Committees are expected to move quickly on their respective Farm Bill rewrites when Congress reconvenes on May 6. The measure includes provisions for feeding programs serving low-income elderly people.
5/2/13 1:13 PM  read complete story

Proposed Legislation Addresses Controversial CMS Bidding Plan
   HR 1717, the proposed Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013, would stop the bidding program, forcing CMS to adopt a market-based approach in determining prices for home medical equipment prescribed by doctors for Medicare patients rather than relying on administrative price-setting.
4/25/13 5:56 PM  read complete story

Grassley Still Pressing Administration for Answers about CMS Policy Decision
   Controversy continues to grow – and questions from a key lawmaker continue being asked -- about how a privately-held capital markets firm managed to accurately predict a CMS policy decision affecting Medicare Advantage rates before the decision was made public.
4/24/13 4:13 PM  read complete story

Key Senate, House Democrats Press to Level Playing Field for Rx Drug Prices
   The bill's sponsors say it would save $141.2 billion, helping to responsibly reduce the deficit while avoiding reckless proposals to cut Medicare benefits.
4/18/13 7:16 PM  read complete story

House Democrat Introduces Bill to Upgrade and Improve SSI Benefits
   The proposed Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act would strengthen SSI by streamlining and updating the rules for eligibility and amount of benefits.
4/17/13 5:27 PM  read complete story

Is CMS Providing Wall Street with Policy-making Intel?
   The acting head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is being pressed for answers about how a privately-held capital markets firm managed to accurately predict a CMS policy decision affecting Medicare Advantage rates before the decision was made public.
4/4/13 6:04 PM  read complete story

Health Hazard Preparedness Measure Signed
   President Obama signs the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PL 113-5), which focuses on protecting Americans from all kinds of public health emergencies.
4/4/13 4:12 PM  read complete story