Home health agencies and nursing homes, which are already facing lower reimbursements, would have to pay a fee to enter the Medicare program. To stay in the program, nursing homes, home health agencies and other providers would be charged a yearly fee for the cost of recertification surveys. Nursing homes would also be charged a fee to search a nursing home criminal abuse registry to protect their patients from known criminals. In 1997, Congress passed legislation which saved and strengthened Medicare for over a decade. One centerpiece of this legislation was the MedicarePlus Choice program which was designed to give seniors choice in health care.
More choices mean more competition, lower costs and increased satisfaction.
Unfortunately, the way in which HCFA has established the formula to make payments to insurers has resulted in a great disparity between rates paid to Washington State insurance companies and those paid in other states. Washington state, especially in rural areas, is being penalized for providing efficient medical care. This has led to the withdrawal of Group Health and Secure Horizons from Eastern Washington. The President's proposed participation user fees which would be placed on MedicarePlus Choice would increase the cost even further for plans wishing to participate in the Medicare program. Two years ago, Congress rejected user fees by unanimously voting down legislation which would have implemented the fees proposed in the President's fiscal year 1999 budget.