Ben Nelson (D-Ne) helps stop Medicare rehab rule

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

BY JAKE THOMPSON

WASHINGTON — With the help of Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Congress has blocked a Medicare rule that would have forced rehabilitation hospitals nationwide to turn away thousands of patients recovering from heart or lung ailments or joint replacements.

Marsha Lommel, president of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, said the action will particularly help older patients return more quickly to health and stay out of nursing homes.

But a spokeswoman for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Congress' intervention is one reason health care costs keep going up in America.

The agency's rule aimed to hold down costs by steering patients to less costly but effective treatment, the spokeswoman said.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10219465

[fenriswolf]

1. hmmmm wonder what those

"less costly but effective treatment" are? maybe you don't need chemo, maybe you need a dietician? or a yogi to align your chi? thats it your cancer is all over your colon because your chi is blocking it.

[kickysnana]

2. Absolutely no comparison between my Aunts rehab at Regions and at a good area Home.

She had one, on one. And the correct equipment

At the rehab floor at the nursing home guidelines only required two aids for up to 36 people. These people need help learning how to get up and down, use the bathroom, shower and there is no way that that level of staffing can accomplish that.

Glad that this prevailed. You do get what you pay for and rehabbing people is cheaper in the long run that having them have to have permanent nursing home care because they were not given enough help during the initial incident.

[TwilightGardener]

3. I don't often praise Ben Nelson, but...good on Ben Nelson!

[rch35]

4. you said it exactly n/t

[acmavm]

8. No kidding. But as much as I HATE to admit it, old Benny is a decent

guy when it comes to healthcare issues. He voted FOR children's health insurance.

Senator ES&S Hagel voted against it. (Only one reason why I cannot figure out why some dems consider Hagel a worthy human being and a decent politician.)

[TwilightGardener]

10. They both have their good points and bad points.

I think Ben's a little unethical, in the ear-marky sense. And he's clearly a Bush supporter--brokered the Southwick and Mukasey confirmations. But sometimes he actually acts like a decent Democrat. Hagel can be a fiscal-tightwad jerk on domestic issues, but sometimes he actually acts like a decent almost-Democrat too, on some issues. I'm casting a wary eye on that Raimondo guy. I guess he figures if Ben Nelson can get away with acting like a semi-Republican and still belong to the party, why can't he?

[aquart]

11. Shocking, isn't it?

Is he learning how to be a Democrat?

[Judi Lynn]

5. We can afford to hear a lot more news like this. Great story, good for Sen. Nelson. n/t

[xchrom]

6. having witnessed the difference between the level of care in a hospital

and in a care facility -- all i can say is seniors NEED hospitals.

the one on one care -- while not perfect is far better in a hospital -- and seniors for all kinds of reasons need the extra help.

we are all going to get older.

good for senator nelson.

[Toots]

7. He worked with Republicans to do this , He and Grassley sponsored the bill

I wouldn't jump up and down with joy until I had all the particulars. There were not many Democrats in favor of it..

[pattmarty]

9. "Congress' intervention is one reason health care costs keep going up in America"

Well then, just let Congress pass ONE more piece of legislation creating Medicare for all and then they won't have to fuck with it anymore. Problem solved, case closed.

[rucky]

16. All the checks they write to Congressmen is driving up their costs. n/t

[damntexdem]

12. Mhmm, GOP cost containment: put more burden on the consumer.

Or, in healthcare, let the consumer die.

[humbled_opinion]

13. Can we get our delagates back at the DNC please Mr. Nelson?

[Vinca]

14. This is a reason health care costs are going up? What's Plan B?

Throw Grandma in a snow bank and hope she recovers from her hip replacement? Lots of money for war, no money for health and another reason for universal, single payer.

[rucky]

15. Wow. His voting record is worse than Lieberman's.

Law of averages?