News

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services continued its preparation effort for the new health care law by announcing Marilyn Tavenner as its new top official. The move comes as the organization seeks to increase insurance industry oversight amid the overhaul process. Tavenner replaces Donald M. Berwick..Dealerships and lenders that use these tactics often target older consumers, low-income people with credit problems, and people with low "financial I.Q.s" by taking advantage of the borrower's lack of understanding about loans, terms and finances in general. The lender makes money from charging excessively high interest rates and stacking terms in its favor, and from the profits when the vehicle is repossessed and resold, sometimes to multiple buyers..This week, lawmakers in the House and Senate remained in their home states and districts to continue the holiday recess. They are expected to return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, July 10th. In the meantime, many Members of Congress will be attending local events and hosting town hall meetings around the country..For progress updates or for more information about these and other bills that would strengthen Social Security and Medicare programs, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website or follow TSCL on Twitter..Last year, more than one-fourth of participants in TSCL's Senior Survey reported that they had received a "surprise" medical bill in the past 12 months. While surprise medical bills can refer to any number of situations, including a sudden cost increase for prescriptions, recent legislation passed in December of 2020 addresses a certain type. Specifically, medical bills that a patient unexpectedly receives when treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility..With Medicare outlays spiraling due to outlays for COVID-19, Congress recently passed legislation to head off an expected Part B premium spike, by restricting the increase for 202TSCL has been warning about the potential of a low cost of living adjustment and spiking Medicare premiums since July of this year..If adopted, the Audiology Patient Choice Act would improve Medicare coverage for hearing services that are performed by licensed audiologists. According to the bill's sponsors, under current law, Medicare does not recognize audiologists as providers of health-related hearing services, and it will only reimburse audiologists for diagnoses when they are referred by physicians or nurse practitioners. The Audiology Patient Choice Act would ensure access to a full range of hearing services provided by licensed audiologists..In addition, one new cosponsor Sen. Christopher Murphy signed on to the Social Security Fairness Act this week, bringing the total up to fourteen in the Senate. If signed into law, S. 896 would repeal two provisions of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce the earned benefits of millions of state and local government employees each year. TSCL believes that the two provisions the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset must be repealed before the end of this year so that dedicated public servants receive the retirement security they have earned..Finally, there is little support for the tax cut among senior citizens. The findings of TSCL's 2012 Senior Survey have indicated that nearly fifty–six percent of seniors disagree with the use of the payroll tax cut as a means to stimulate the economy. Among those surveyed, only twenty-five percent said they agree with the use of the tax holiday.