The Senate’s approval on Saturday of a measure that extends the therapy cap extension process for two months appeared to be a step closer to victory for nursing home providers, but House Republicans are not quite ready to toe the line.

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) was quick to renounce the measure as a "short-term fix" that "kicks the can down road" on NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday. 

The Senate-passed measure, which extends the payroll tax cut and delays cuts to Medicare payments to doctors, also dodges the use of nursing home bad-debt payment reductions as a pay-for.

American Health Care Association President & Chief Executive Officer Gov. Mark Parkinson applauded the Senate bill, saying that the agreement “benefits the American people without jeopardizing access to skilled nursing care for millions of seniors.”

At a press conference this morning, however, the speaker said the House will come up with its own proposal that includes a full-year extension of benefits. “I expect the House to take up legislation that reinforces the need to extend the payroll tax relief for a full year, rather than just two months…to provide certainty for job creators,” he told reporters.

Long term and post-acute care advocates will closely monitor the House this week as the deadlines bear down on both chambers of Congress.​