Weekly News Wrap-Up (July 6- July 10)

Letter asks House Chairmen to Remove Proposed Skilled Nursing Cuts from Healthcare Reform Bill (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, July 9, 2009)
A draft of House healthcare reform legislation is set to slice $44.9 billion in nursing home funding over the next decade, according to a group of senior care advocates. The coalition sent a letter to powerful House leaders urging them to reconsider such cuts.

Sebelius Praises CLASS Act (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living)
The Senate proposal to create a national long-term care disability insurance program Tuesday gained the key support of President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

Pharmacy Pits House Against Senate in Debate Over Coverage of Dual Eligibles (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, July 7, 2009)
Dual-eligible seniors are caught in a Capitol Hill cross fire over a pledge from the pharmaceutical industry to reduce costs by $80 billion, according to reports from Washington.

Hospital Groups to Contribute $155B for Health Care Reform (The Washington Post, July 7, 2009)
Three hospital groups, including the American Hospital Association, agreed to provide $155 billion over the next decade to help cover the cost of health insurance reform under a new deal with Obama administration officials and the Senate Finance Committee, two industry sources revealed.