AAHSA Applauds CMS Decisions on 2009 Medicare Payment Update for Skilled Nursing...

AAHSA Applauds CMS Decisions on 2009 Medicare Payment Update for Skilled
Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Rate Recalibration

WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) today applauded the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) announcement that Medicare reimbursement
to nursing homes will increase by $780 million in 2009 and that the agency
will put a hold on a proposed recalibration of Medicare SNF payment rates
pending further study.

"This announcement is a huge success for America's nursing homes and the
millions of people they serve," AAHSA President & CEO Larry Minnix said. "This
decision illustrates CMS' commitment to target public dollars towards needed
patient care."

We are also pleased that CMS decided to reconsider the proposed changes in the
way Medicare payment rates are calculated. When CMS first proposed these
changes, we told them the proposal would make a faulty payment system worse
and would reduce funds needed for quality care at a time when costs are rising
rapidly. We will continue working with the agency to make the Medicare payment
system for skilled nursing facilities more accurate.

About AAHSA
The members of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
(www.aahsa.org) help millions of individuals and their families every day
through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing
the services that people need, when they need them, in the place they call
home. Our 5,800 member organizations, many of which have served their
communities for generations, offer the continuum of aging services: adult day
services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living
residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. AAHSA's
commitment is to create the future of aging services through quality people
can trust.

SOURCE American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

Lauren Shaham of AAHSA, +1-202-508-1219, lshaham@aahsa.org