Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced seven cooperative agreement awards to implement the Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents. The Initiative will test models to reduce avoidable and costly hospitalizations among nursing facility residents by funding organizations that provide enhanced on-site services and supports to nursing facility residents.

Today, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) announced is accepting recommendations from patients, caregivers, and health care stakeholders for research topics through a survey tool on its website as part of its effort to refine its National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda.

Last week, a White House report was released detailing the Obama administration's plans to enact deep budget cuts mandated by last year's deficit deal was released today, a week later than originally anticipated. The 394-page report details what will happen next year if Washington fails to act to avert roughly $100 billion automatic defense and domestic spending cuts scheduled to begin on January 2.

On Friday, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Thomas Petri (R-WI), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2012, legislation that seeks to improve transitions of care for Medicare beneficiaries at highest risk for readmission as they move from the hospital setting to their home, skilled nursing facility or next point of care. The National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) believes the bill is an important step forward to improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary health-related expenses.