Key Legislation Affecting Home Care & Hospice 111th Congress (2009-2010)

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (health care reform legislation that passed Congress; numerous provisions affecting home care and hospice; CLASS Act included) - H.R. 3590; Public Law No. 111-148

The Home Health Care Access Protection Act of 2010 (reforms process for evaluating home health case mix changes) – S. 3315; H.R. 5803

Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2009 (allow NPs/PAs to sign home health plans of care) - S. 2814; H.R. 4993

Fostering Independence Through Technology Act of 2009 (telehomecare demonstration projects) - S. 457; H.R. 3030

The Medicare Rural Home Health Preservation Act (home health rural add on) - S. 1123

Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2009 (workforce training and education) - S. 245

Medicare Hospice Protection Act (delays elimination of the budget neutrality adjustment factor in hospice wage index) - S. 421

The Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2009 (background checks) - S. 631

Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 (card check union certification and arbitration) - S. 560; H.R. 1409

Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS Act) (voluntary federal long term care insurance) - S. 697; H.R. 1721

Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act (telehomecare incentives) - H.R. 2068

RE-Aligning Care Act (Medicare geriatric assessments and chronic care management) - S. 1004; H.R. 2307

Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (home health rural add on; allow NPs/PAs to sign home health plans of care; telehomecare demonstration projects) - S. 1157

The Independence at Home Act (Medicare chronic care demonstration projects) - S. 1131; H.R. 2560

Bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare competitive acquisition program for durable medical equipment and prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in a budget neutral manner (repeal Medicare Competitive Bidding) - H.R. 3790

A bill to extend the increase in the FMAP provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for an additional 6 months (extend Medicaid FMAP assistance to July 1, 2011) – S. 3000

State Medicaid Assistance Extension Act of 2009 (extend Medicaid FMAP assistance to December 31, 2011) – H.R. 4263

Employee Misclassification Prevention Act (require employers to keep records of workers they classify as “non-employees” and institute a “special penalty” for misclassification) – H.R. 5107; S. 3254

Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009 – S. 1788; H.R. 2381

Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act – H.R. 5910; S. 3696