The new regulation announced by CMS calls for a standard format when a health plan orders, authorizes, or initiates an electronic funds transfer with its financial institution. The new standard is expected to decrease many complexities and costs that riddle the current model..Inflation, as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index, has taken a deep tumble over the past year, meaning older Americans will have to settle for a cost-of-living adjustment of 1.6% in 2020 after getting a 2.8% increase this year..In addition, TSCL announced its support for legislation from Rep. Grace Meng that would address the Social Security Notch once and for all. It would allow Notch victims born between the years 1917 and 1926 to choose between a ,000 lump sum payment or an improved monthly benefit calculation. TSCL firmly believes that Congress must provide some compensation to victims of the Notch injustice, and we are hopeful that Congresswoman Meng's bill will be approved by the end of this year..Forty-one million Americans participate in Part D. Medicare should be able to negotiate drug prices on their behalf just as the VA and private insurers do. Doing so would have the potential to lower drug costs for Part D participants and save Medicare money. For these reasons, I've introduced multiple bills to end Medicare's ban on price negotiation, and have urged President Trump not to renege on his campaign pledges supporting this..Here is why we say that..Finally, some Good News.While it is true that we must come together to address our budget, we cannot fix our fiscal problems on the backs of our seniors. We also must not use our economic future as a bargaining chip to advance unrelated partisan interests. During my time in Congress I'm proud to fight for Medicare benefits for our next generation of seniors. As we look forward to the next 50 years I am cognizant of some of the challenges facing Medicare. But I also see opportunity:.Patients and their families want to know if the medication will help slow the progression of cognitive decline, especially in view of the serious side effects it can cause, but doctors have no definitive answer yet. The rate and progression of cognitive decline varies widely among people who have started experiencing memory and thinking problems. Thus, it is difficult to quantify how much of a difference the drug would make for a given patient..That's why I introduced the Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act to give seniors on Social Security, veterans, and people with disabilities a one-time payment of 1 to help cover this gap. The bill is fully paid for by closing a tax loophole that allows corporations to write off obscene bonuses to top executives as business expenses for their taxes.
