Hospital 'observation stays' scrutinized by Senate Aging Committee

Meanwhile, on the House side, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would allow people with group health insurance to keep policies that don't conform to the health law's standards.

CQ Healtbeat: Three-Day Rule, Observation Stays Under Fire at Senate Hearing
A Senate panel Wednesday highlighted instances in which Medicare patients got stuck with thousands of dollars in bills because their hospital stays were less than three days, the standard for Medicare to pay for subsequent care in a skilled nursing facility. The leaders of the Senate Aging Committee sought to build support for legislation (S 569) that would count all days spent in the hospital toward the requirement. "Most people, after spending the night in a hospital would say that they have been 'admitted' to the hospital – that they are an inpatient of that hospital," said Bill Nelson, D-Fla., chairman of the Aging Committee (Reichard, 7/30).

The Hill: Panel Approves Bill Letting People Keep Old Health Insurance Plans
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would let people on group health insurance plans keep policies that don't conform to ObamaCare's standards. The legislation, approved almost down a party-line 27-20 vote, is meant to respond to those who said their health plans were cancelled because of the new healthcare law, which required plans to meet minimum coverage standards. (Al-Faruque, 7/30).