Weekly News Wrap-Up (November 9-November 13)

Report Lowers Estimated Number of U.S. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, November 13, 2009)
The number of U.S. continuing care retirement communities-often estimated at around 2,500-is actually fewer than 1,900, according to a new analysis by Ziegler Capital Markets.

National Family Caregivers Association Sponsors Free Teleclass and Webinar for Family Caregivers (National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), November 12, 2009)
National Family Caregivers Month is proclaimed every November as a time to thank, support, educate and empower all those providing care to loved ones with chronic ailments, disabilities, or frailties of old age.

CLASS Act Would Not Increase Federal Deficit, AAHSA’s Manard Asserts (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, November 12, 2009)
Barbara Manard, vice president of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Wednesday countered criticism that the CLASS Act would contribute to the federal deficit.

House Reform Bill Would Significantly Alter Medicare Payment Policy, Report Finds (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, November 11, 2009)
Under the House healthcare reform package, Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities would grow slowly, according to a Congressional Research Service report released the day before the bill’s passage.

Minnix Expects Senate to Include CLASS Act in Healthcare Reform Bill (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, November 10, 2009)
The president and CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging feels confident that the CLASS Act will make it into a final healthcare reform bill.

House Passes Massive Healthcare Reform Bill with CLASS Act In It (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, November 9, 2009)
The House late Saturday passed its comprehensive healthcare reform bill by a vote of 220-215.