The ongoing budget battle in Washington ramped up this week as President Obama sent Congress his $3.8 trillion spending request for fiscal year 2014. Seeking common ground with Republicans, the president’s plan aims to reduce the federal debt... Full Story

Lawmakers worked late hours in a tireless effort to push a compromise Medicare bill through Congress before the November holiday recess. Full Story

Backers of a $400 (B) billion dollar Medicare prescription drug bill appealed to lawmakers this week to support the House-Senate compromise bill because it also contains $25 (B) billion dollars in increased reimbursements for rural hospitals and... Full Story

The top Senate Finance Committee lawmakers, both with significant rural constituencies, unveiled a bi-partisan plan for Medicare this week that would earmark billions of dollars for rural hospitals, doctors and other health care providers. Full Story

A Medicare reform bill due out of Congress next week will include coverage of prescription drugs, but there are still concerns over the discrepancies in the payments made to care professionals in rural areas. Full Story