Columbia, Md. —  LifeSpan Network applauds Gov. Hogan for his approval of a 3 percent—or $20.2 million—rate increase for long-term services and supports (LTSS) providers as part of the state’s fiscal year 2019 budget. “This rate increase demonstrates the level of commitment that both the governor and the legislature have for the more than 42,000 individuals…

With the planned retirement of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), mid-term elections, and President Trump’s campaign pledge not to cut Social Security and Medicare, House and Senate GOP members have indicated that the possibility of entitlement reform this year or in the next Congress is very slim.  House members discussed their skepticism at a recent…

The National Alzheimer’s Project Plan Act passed and signed into law in December 2010, set the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. In support, Sens. Collins, Warner, and Markey were joined by 35 bipartisan Senate colleagues in a letter to the Appropriations Committee urging support for continued and increased funding of…

Health Oversight Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have held a series of hearings over the past two months to discuss and receive input on a legislative package to address the opioid crisis. Over 30 individual bills have been introduced that aim to address the crisis primarily though Medicare and…

On March 26, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida signed into law legislation requiring nursing homes and assisted living communities in the state to have power generators. The signing took place at Calusa Harbour, a Five Star Senior Living community in Ft. Myers. Representatives from several industry trade groups attended and shared remarks at the ceremonial…

On March 23, 2018, President Trump signed into law a $1.3 trillion spending bill to avert a government shutdown and fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Highlights of the bill include: Alzheimer’s/dementia research funding within NIH increases by $414 million for a total of $1.828 billion (a 29.3% increase); the Brain Research…

On Jan. 22, President Trump signed the RAISE (Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage) Family Caregivers Act (S. 1028/HR 3759). This new law will: Require HHS to develop, maintain and update a National Family Caregiving Strategy, offering resources and education opportunities to family caregivers in the United States; Require HHS to convene a Family Caregiving Advisory Council…

Background On Feb. 5, the GAO released a report entitled “Medicaid Assisted Living Services: Improved Federal Oversight of Beneficiary Health and Welfare Is Needed.” The report comes in response to a 2015 request from Sens. Collins (R-ME), McCaskill (D-MO), Warren (D-MA) and Hatch (R-UT) for a review of Medicaid spending, and federal and state oversight…