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In addition, one new cosponsor Rep. Corrine Brown signed on to the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. The cosponsor total is now up to one hundred and forty-four. If signed into law, H.R. 1179 would amend current Medicare policy to count hospital stays under "observation status" towards the three-day requirement for skilled nursing care. Currently, those under "observation status" don't qualify for coverage of the benefit, and they are often hit with large, unexpected bills after receiving necessary medical care. TSCL believes the current policy is unfair, and we were glad to see support grow for H.R. 1179 this week..President Obama Releases Budget Blueprint."Depending on how long it takes one's retirement savings to recover, the 2020 coronavirus recession could have a deep and life changing impact on the retirement security of older Americans," says Johnson whose own retirement savings were negatively impacted by the Great Recession of 2007- 0"Those who have lost significant sums might plan to work longer and retire later if they can," says Johnson. "Those who were working and have lost a job and their employer - provided healthcare coverage may wind up working for lower earnings, and could potentially experience worse health," she notes..Bringing Newly Hired State and Local Workers Into The Social Security System: Currently 96 percent of U.S. workers are covered by Social Security; most of the remaining four percent are covered by federal, state and local pension plans and do not contribute to Social Security. Bringing newly hired state and local workers into the system by 2021 would make Social Security more inclusive and increase its revenues. This proposal would close about eight percent of the program's 75-year shortfall.."The bottom line is that Medicare Part B premiums rise several times faster than COLAs, and those premiums are now high enough to cause the net Social Security benefits of millions of people to remain flat for years at a time," Johnson says. "We are at the point where this is affecting far more people than anyone ever anticipated, and it's a red flag that Medicare premiums are increasing too fast, while Social Security benefits are not adequately keeping pace," she explains..Now, a new fight over the practice has emerged as Health groups and consumer advocates are mounting a lobbying campaign to shape forthcoming federal rules around the ban. These are the same health groups that fought bitterly during the law's drafting about who would pick up the costs they could no longer bill to patients..During this presidential election year it's important to let elected lawmakers, the President, and their challengers all know how seniors are affected by the economy and how seniors think those issues should be addressed. To participate in TSCL's 2012 Annual Senior Survey online, visit TSCL at or call to receive a copy of the survey by mail..Recent healthcare reform legislation gradually reduces what beneficiaries must spend when they reach the Part D doughnut hole or gap in coverage. Medicare consumers who hit the doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs and a 7 percent discount on generics in 201While that's good news, don't breathe any sighs of relief just yet. Seniors and the disabled who hit the doughnut hole must still spend ,448 in total drug costs in 2011 before they reach catastrophic coverage period..Unlike many other organizations TSCL accepts no government funding -- this leaves us free to truly represent the interests of supporters like you.