House and Senate Payroll Tax Conferees are meeting daily to address such issues as the doc fix and extending the therapy cap exceptions process. The deadline for this committee to complete their work is March 1.
Unfortunately, the Conferees are still considering a proposal which was included in the House-passed bill that would phase down bad debt reimbursement to skilled nursing facilities. The full impact of this cut is estimated to be $500 million a year, or a 1.6% cut in Medicare rates, when fully implemented in 2015.
It is important to note, this cut will not affect all states equally and some states will see a cut that is substantially more than 1.6%. Click here to see the estimated impact of this cut on your state.
For more information please see our issue brief, “Medicare Bad Debt Coverage to Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Critical Lifeline”
Your Elected Officials Need to Hear from You!
Interested in participating in a town hall meeting? Eager to schedule a district meeting with an elected official? Curious about hosting a Member of Congress at your facility? We have tips and tools available to help you.
Host a Facility Tour
Use our “How To” Guide to Facility Tours for Elected Officials for tips on best practices including a sample agenda, invitations, and thank you letters.
Attend a Town Hall Meeting
While Members of Congress are at home for district work periods, many will host town hall meetings with their constituents. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to meet with your elected officials, share your story, and advocate against additional cuts to skilled nursing facilities. For a schedule of town hall meetings in your area, please contact Meredith Freed.
AHCA/NCAL staff is here to help! Please contact MaryAnne Sapio, Matt Smyth, or Meredith Freed for additional details and materials.