TSCL enthusiastically supports the Audiology Patient Choice Act and the Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act, and we look forward to working with their sponsors in the House and Senate to help build support for them. For more information, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website. For progress updates, follow TSCL on Twitter..This week, one new cosponsor Rep. Dennis Ross signed on to Rep. Ron Paul's Social Security Preservation Act. The cosponsor total is now up to eleven..TSCL would like to thank Representatives Kristi Noem, Sean Duffy, and Mick Mulvaney for taking the time discuss the issues that matter the most to our members and supporters. TSCL also met with top staffers in the offices of the following Members of Congress: Jim Matheson, Linda Sanchez, Norm Dicks, Steve Stivers, William Keating, Janice Hahn, and Robert Hurt..Social Security beneficiaries are receiving a cost-of-living adjustment of just 1.6% this year. For many, that won't be enough to keep up with healthcare costs, let alone items like homeowners and auto insurance or rising real estate taxes. That leaves retirees digging deeper into savings - if they have any, or - going deeper into debt..The high cost of health care is one of the biggest threats to Medicare and older Americans' health in general. I stand ready to take action on drug price negotiation and Medicare-X and to debate whatever ideas Democrats, Republicans, and independents have to bring down the cost of health care today and protect Medicare's viability for generations to come..Extending The Payroll Tax Cuts: Employees' Social Security payroll taxes were reduced by 2 to 4.2 percent in December. Because it makes the Social Security trust funds reliant on general revenues, it would jeopardize the Administration's ability to fully pay Social Security benefits now, especially as we approach the August 2nd debt limit..To allow this situation to languish so long is a national disgrace when there's a surprising high level of bipartisan support for Notch Reform through "The Notch Fairness Act." This legislation would allow Notch Babies born from 1917 through 1926 a choice between a lump-sum of ,000 payable over a four-year period, or a higher monthly benefit. As of this writing, more than 94 cosponsors have signed on..Many enrollees in traditional Medicare have purchased a supplemental Medigap policy that covers the out - of - pocket expenses of Part B. Premiums for those policies could also rise as insurers anticipate higher outlays for costs associated with Aduhelm. On the other hand, out - of - pocket costs would be the big cost issue for enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans. According to experts at Kaiser Family Foundation, 500 thousand patients taking Aduhelm could add about per month to the Medicare Part B premium, which in 2021 is 8.50 for most beneficiaries, to as much as 5 a month for higher income beneficiaries who pay a surtax on their premium..If signed into law, S. 2023 would take a number of steps to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, including requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate Part D drug prices, allowing the re-importation of drugs from Canada, closing the "doughnut hole" three years earlier than current law, and prohibiting "pay-for-delay" deals between drug manufacturers.

Device For Acid Reflux Approved By Fda But Not By Insurers

In a Wednesday speech on the House floor, Speaker John Boehner stated, "What we are dealing with is a President who has ignored the people, ignored the Constitution, and even his own past statements. In fact, on at least twenty-two occasions, he has said he does not have the authority to do what he did." In response to the bill's passage, White House officials issued a veto threat and said "there's no reason to tinker with the administration's actions at all.".Aging Committee Holds Hearing on Combatting Senior Scams.Medicare Advantage plan cuts. So far, seniors have not been widely affected by cuts to Medicare Advantage plans, but many of the changes in reimbursements to plans have not yet taken effect. TSCL remains concerned that the reimbursement cuts would cause plans to drop extra benefits like eyeglasses and hearing aids that they now provide. Of greater concern is whether plan payments will be adequate for insurers to maintain their contracts with Medicare to provide services. When Congress cut plan payments too deeply in the past, insurers pulled out of markets all over the United States, leaving millions of seniors scrambling to find another health plan - most often at higher out-of-pocket cost. … Continued

Health Costs Report Medicaid Managed Care For Persons With Disabilities 3

This is an issue TSCL will continue to monitor as the year progresses to make sure the legislation is implemented as Congress intended..In response to Trump's orders, four Senators requested an estimate from the Social Security Administration about what the long-term effect on the viability of Social Security if the tax deferral is made permanent. Last week, the report was released..The CBO estimated last November that if lawmakers wished to raise the amount of covered earnings subject to the payroll tax to 90 percent of covered earnings, then the taxable maximum would need to be set at 6,400 in 2017 and to rise to 5,000 by 202"Legislation was introduced in December that would impose deep benefit cuts," Johnson notes, "but had no provisions to provide new revenues. " "Lifting the taxable maximum cap would provide new revenues to Social Security and it could also provide a modest boost to Social Security benefits, and more adequate COLAs to all people when they retire," Johnson points out. "Our lawmakers should not be allowed to hide this option under the rug," she says. "Raising the payroll taxable maximum is the means of providing greater retirement security and long - term program solvency, " Johnson says. "We can save Social Security without the deep cuts." … Continued

Contact Atavista Farm Today!