LONG TERM CARE: House Democrats Introduce New Bill
House Democrats yesterday introduced a long term care bill encompassing many proposals that have been "floating around Capitol Hill this year," as well as offering some new ideas, Congress Daily/A.M. reports. The Omnibus Long-Term Care Act, sponsored by Reps. Pete Stark (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA), includes a refundable $1,000 tax credit for family caregiver expenses -- a measure originally proposed by President Clinton -- and background checks for nursing home staff, previously sponsored by Stark and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI). The bill also includes a provision to expand Medicare coverage to people who are forced to quit their jobs to take care of a Medicare beneficiary at home. It also would establish a temporary program to increase reimbursement for home health agencies with sicker patients (Rovner/Morrissey, 8/4).
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