Weekly News Wrap-Up (August 10 - August 14)

New Congressional Report Lends Credibility to End-of-Life Provision in House Reform Bill (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 14, 2009)
A report released this week has found that end-of-life planning and discussions both improves quality of life near death and is associated with less aggressive and less costly care.

Obama Addresses Rumors About Healthcare Reform, Accuses Opponents of Using Scare Tactics (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 12, 2009)
President Barack Obama attempted to clear up misconceptions about healthcare reform in a town hall meeting Tuesday. One rumor he addressed is that reform would create government death panels that would “pull the plug on grandma.”

Obama, AARP Begin Push to Win Seniors’ Support for Reform (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 11, 2009)
Proposed cuts to Medicare and misinformation about advance care planning in legislation have raised concerns among seniors over healthcare reform. Now the Obama administration is facing an uphill battle to win over this reluctant group of voters, recent news articles say.

Martinez to Resign, Tennessee Senator Likely to Become Ranking Member of Aging Committee (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 10, 2009)
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), who is ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, disclosed on Friday that he stepping down as senator.

The National Advisory Board (NAB) was Invited to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Summit to Present “Declaration for Independence” and Discuss State Long Term Services and Supports Programs
Four members of the NAB told an audience of legislators from across the country that the NAB’s Call to Action to transform our health care system to address long term services and supports was about people, not programs. Len Kirschner, Rob Sweezy, Jane Woods and Chuck Graham spoke to the National Conference of State Legislators on a panel entitled “Transforming the Systems of Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities.” The panel was moderated by Senator Renee Unterman (GA) who also serves as the Chair of NCSLs Human Services and Welfare Committee.