Government
Bill would halt growth of long-term-care hospitals
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 1, 2004
U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D, Calif.) recently introduced legislation that would place a moratorium on any additional Medicare long-term-care hospital beds until the Dept. of Health and Human Services secretary can determine if more beds are needed.
Stark said the number of long-term-care hospitals has increased from 109 to 300 in the past decade, and Medicare spending for these facilities is expected to grow from $398 million in 1993 to $2.3 billion in 2005.
"With the dramatic growth of long-term-care hospitals, Congress ought to take a hard look at whether this growth corresponds to actual need," Stark said. "At issue is whether these facilities are merely cash cows for the corporate investors or if they are truly adding value to the care provided to our seniors and people with disabilities."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/01/gvbf0301.htm.
