Weekly News Wrap-Up (July 13-July 17)

From MedPAC to IMAC: Obama Would Hand Medicare Pay Rate Decisions to New Independent Council (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, July 17, 2009)
The Obama administration has begun the process of shifting control over Medicare rate adjustments for nursing homes, hospice and other providers away from Congress and toward a new, five-member independent executive agency, according to recent reports.

Senate HELP Committee Passes Kennedy Bill; Providers Worry About Companion House Plan (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, July 16, 2009)
As fallout from the House healthcare reform plan continued to rain down Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed its own reform proposal.

U.S. House Healthcare Reform Bill Formally Unveiled (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, July 15, 2009)
The U.S. House of Representatives officially released its version of healthcare reform legislation Tuesday. And, as requested by President Obama, the reform package should come to a vote by the August recess, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.