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On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing titled "Determining Eligibility for Disability Benefits: Challenges Facing the Social Security Administration." Members of the Subcommittee heard from several expert witnesses at the hearing, including Bea Disman, Marilyn Zahm, and Lisa Ekman..Opportunity to utilize new technologies such as telemedicine that bring health care to those in rural communities..Do You Qualify For Medicare Part D Extra Help?.On Monday, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare programs released their annual reports on the current and projected financial status of the two programs. As expected, the Trustees found that both programs currently face significant but manageable financial challenges..The inflation index that is currently used the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners fails to capture the inflation seniors experience because items like gasoline and electronics are given more weight than medical costs, prescription drugs, and housing expenses..We realize there is a severe lack of good news these days and we sometimes fear reporting on the issues of the day can have the effect of discouraging our supporters like you..Senate Panel Discusses the Future of Social Security.This week, House and Senate lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill to begin the "lame duck" session. In addition, The Senior Citizens League saw two key Medicare bills gain support in Congress..Medicare Part B premiums are getting set to make one of the biggest jumps in 14 years, according to new analysis from The Senior Citizens League. While the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will increase benefits by 1.6 percent in 2020, Medicare Part B premiums are climbing by 6.7 percent, "more than four times faster than the COLA," says Medicare and Social Security policy analyst, Mary Johnson.

Redistricting Counting Consequences
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..The Democrats on the committee include: Sens. Max Baucus, Ben Cardin, Bob Casey Jr., and Jack Reed ; and Reps. Xavier Becerra, Sander Levin, Allyson Schwartz, Chris Van Hollen and Henry Waxman..You need skilled nursing services, and/or skilled therapy care on an intermittent basis. … Continued

Health Costs Poll Finding Kff Health Tracking Poll May 2021
This week, Members of the Senate voted to confirm Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, The Senior Citizens League saw two key bills gain support..Barbara, who is now 75, retired 9 years ago. In 2009, the first year after starting benefits, she received a 5.8% COLA and the Part B premium stayed the same as the year before. But in the following 8 years, COLAs dropped to record lows, averaging just 1.1% per year over the entire period..TSCL will keep a close eye on the fiscal 2016 budget resolution as it moves through the Senate in the coming days, and we will continue to voice our concerns about cuts to the Medicare program that would result in higher costs for beneficiaries. For updates on its movement, visit our new Facebook page. … Continued

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