Legislation & Regulation

WASHINGTON—As maneuvering in Congress to pass a budget reconciliation act officially kicks off, Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit and mission-driven providers of aging services, called on House and Senate members to ensure the needs of older adults and the people who serve them are met.   

Her statement, released Wednesday, Feb. 12, is below:

DENVER—The Colorado House of Democrats recently passed legislation that aims to streamline access to durable medical equipment (DME) and create guidelines for the legalization of medical psilocybin, the Colorado House of Democrats reported on their website.

WASHINGTON—Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) have introduced legislation that aims to improve access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) wrote in a recent newsletter to members.

WASHINGTON—On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, President Joe Biden signed into law HR 670, also known as the Think Differently Database Act, which requires the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a website to provide information on resources available to individuals with a disability and their caregivers and families.

WASHINGTON—The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), a telehealth organization, and ATA Action, the company’s affiliated trade organization, have urged Congress to extend access to necessary virtual care services in a year-end legislative package. With many telehealth flexibilities set to expire at the end of the Congressional year, the company aims to gain the support of Congress members. 

WASHINGTON—The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, a patient and disability advocacy group, has sent a letter to Congress urging Congressional leadership to include the 75-25 blended relief rate in its year-end legislative package, the American Associaton for Homecare (AAHomecare) wrote in a recent e-newsletter to members.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee—U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Choices for Increased Mobility Act (S 5154) to increase access to wheelchairs made with advanced materials by allowing Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to lighter, more functional wheelchairs without bearing the entire upfront cost.

WASHINGTON—House Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA) are asking colleagues in the House to join a sign-on letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that aims to reestablish the Medicare 75/25 blended rate for durable medical equipment (

LANSING, Michigan—Homecare workers in Michigan achieved a new victory in fighting for their rights, as the House of Representatives voted “yes” on Senate Bills 790 and 791, which will improve homecare jobs and services in the state.

Senate Bills 790 and 791 improve the working conditions and rights of homecare workers in Michigan. These bills will:

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-Penn), chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, have introduced three bills to better support direct support professionals (DSPs), the workforce responsible for providing homecare and assistance to seniors and people with disabilities who frequently rely on long-term service and support.

WASHINGTON—Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act) in an effort to modernize Medicare’s hospice benefit, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1982. 

WASHINGTON—Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation that would improve access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries. The new bill, S 5154, would create two new HCPCS codes for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) manual wheelchairs and allow for an upgrade within a code.

WASHINGTON—The House passed 14 new bipartisan health bills. The following bills were passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and passed the House unanimously. 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mike Braun (R-IN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, introduced the bipartisan PACE Anytime Act. The bill will expand access to the PACE program, which provides thousands of lower-income seniors and people with disabilities with comprehensive care. 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the bipartisan "Healthcare Cybersecurity Act" to bolster the health care and public health sectors’ cybersecurity in light of recent cyberattacks. 

WASHINGTON & ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance submitted a comment letter to the office of Rep.

A landmark Supreme Court decision that reins in federal agencies’ authority is expected to hold dramatic consequences for the nation’s health care system, calling into question government rules on anything from consumer protections for patients to drug safety to nursing home care.

WASHINGTON—According to a new report on the unmet needs of seniors across the United States, four out of five seniors who needed a home-delivered or congregate meal in 2021 did not receive one; and over 3.6 million, or 18%, of low-income older adults were food insecure.

WASHINGTON—On June 13, 2024, Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon released a discussion draft of legislation, the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act, that would make significant changes to the Medicare hospice program.