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Reports on the introduction of legislation in the United States which seeks to provide home health agencies substantial relief from budget cuts and regulatory burdens. Cancellation of an additional 15 percent cut in Medicare home health payments; Enactment of a provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 calling for implementation of a prospective payment system for home care.

Discusses moratorium on home health care companies applying for Medicare approval conducted by United States Department of Health and Human Services. Key provision of the moratorium; Impact of the moratorium to home health care industry; Statistics of Americans receiving Medicare benefits.

Reports on the legislation revising the Medicare home health interim payment system passed by Congress in October 1998. One-year delay for home care providers in an across-the-board 15 percent cut; Slight increases in per-visit and per-beneficiary cost limits; Comment by Ron Kolanowski, vice president for communications at the National Association for Home Care.