Medicare & Medicaid News
Ideas on Cutting Cost of Medicare Released by
Medicare Rights Center
Medicare advocate also unveils updated fact sheets on
Medicare deficit reduction proposals
May 20, 2013 - The Medicare Rights Center, New
York, recently released its latest fact sheet in a series on ways to
reduce the Medicare deficit. The latest resource, “Build
on What Works: Medicare Cost Savers,” outlines proposals to
eliminate wasteful spending in Medicare and promote the delivery of high
value, affordable health care.
Read
more...
Medicare & Medicaid News
Marilyn Tavenner Confirmed to Head Medicare,
Medicaid After Six Years of Senate Inaction
Jennifer Haberkorn of Politico Pro discusses the
confirmation and the future for the CMS chief in interview with Kaiser
Health News
May 16, 2013 – It only took about six and a half
years but the Senate has confirmed a chief administrator for the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Marilyn B. Tavenner, the Obama
nominee, got the Senate nod yesterday on a 91-to-7 vote. She has been
acting head for two years after serving as Virginia’s health secretary
and as a hospital executive.
Read more...
|
Medicare & Medicaid News
Elderly patient shocked to learn two
days of hospital stay were considered 'observation care'
and kept her from nursing home coverage
By
Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News
 May 3, 2013 - After Lois
Frarie, a 93-year-old retired teacher from
Monterey, Calif., spent four days at a local
hospital while being treated for a broken elbow
and pelvis, she went to a nearby nursing home to
build up her strength. But her family was
stunned to find out that they would have to pay
thousands of dollars up front since two of the
days she spent in the hospital were considered
"observation care."
Read more...
Statement issued by CMS is
below this news story; now elderly must spend
three days as hospital patient before being
eligible for nursing home care
By Susan
Jaffe, Kaiser Health News
May 3, 2013 -
Medicare officials have proposed changes in
hospital admission rules that they say will curb
the rising number of beneficiaries who are
placed in observation care but are not admitted,
making them ineligible for nursing home
coverage.
Read more...
|
Senior Citizen Politics
Report Finds Financial Advisors Using Over 50
Titles to Suggest Expertise in Senior Citizen Matters
|
"With such a bewildering
array of titles and acronyms, it is no wonder that older
Americans are confused and misled" |
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Office for
Older Americans calls for
action by regulators to assist senior citizens who are ‘often confused
and mislead’
April 24, 2013 – A report highlighting the
well-known problem of so-called “senior designation” credentials of
questionable value used by many financial advisers to market their
services to older Americans was released last week. It also calls for
specific action by federal and state regulators to protect seniors.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
First Public Hearing Underway on Chained CPI
Proposed to Slow Future COLA for Senior Citizens
Republican chair of House Ways and Means subcommittee
on Social Security issued news release blasting Treasury secretary; in
opening says reducing COLA only would be called ‘benefit cut’ in
Washington
April 18, 2013 – The first congressional hearing on
the budget cuts to Social Security proposed by President Obama is
underway. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Tx), chair of the Social Security panel of
the House Ways and Means Committee, released his opening statement and
the prepared testimony of witnesses. The Texas Republican also released
a news release this morning accusing Treasury Secretary Jack Lew of
making “conflicting statements” about the Chained CPI before the full
committee.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Five Ways the President's Budget Would Change
Medicare; Reduce Spending $371 Billion in Decade
Wealthier beneficiaries to pay more for coverage and
future retirees to pay higher copays for outpatient services such as
doctor's visits and home health care
By Mary Agnes Carey, KHN Staff Writer
April 15, 2013 - President Barack Obama's fiscal
2014 budget includes a variety of what he says are "manageable" changes
for Medicare's 54 million beneficiaries as well as for the hospitals,
nursing homes and other health care providers that serve them.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Ways and Means Draws Bead on Medicare Cuts, Chained
CPI to Limit COLA for Social Security
HHS Secretary Sebelius in witness chair today on
total budget for HHS, CMS with Social Security proposal the target this
Thursday
April 12, 2013 – The Republican-led House Ways and
Means Committee has grabbed the lead in questioning President Obama’s
2014 budget proposals for the Department of Health and Human Services,
which includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HHS
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will testify there today and next Thursday
the hearing topic will be on entitlement reform proposals, with emphasis
on the controversial Chained Consumer Price Index, which will be used to
lower cost-of-living adjustments for seniors and others in future years.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Obama Says Budget Proposal Offers ‘Manageable’
Curbs on Medicare Cost, Social Security Benefits
Most
media reports say focus of White House is to strike a ‘Grand Bargain’
with Republicans who want to change Medicare into a voucher-style
system; Medicare proposal has one revenue item - higher premiums
for couples making more than $170,000 a year
April 11, 2013 - The White House says its budget is
a good start toward controlling government entitlement programs by
offering proposals to curb the growth of Social Security, Medicare and
other federal benefit programs. The budget blueprint, released
Wednesday, includes what the president called "manageable" curbs on
Medicare spending growth, but GOP congressional leaders were dismissive,
while some Democrats and virtually all senior citizen advocacy groups
were unsettled.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
How
Chained Consumer Price Index Proposed by Obama Works to Curb Social
Security Benefits
Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a Q&A about
inflation calculation that will slow cost-of-living adjustments for
senior citizens
April 11, 2013 – The term “COLA” is a part of the
Social Security program that has been highly cherished by senior
citizens. It stands for “cost-of-living adjustment,” and was the
government’s way of being trying to keep retired older Americans from
seeing their Social Security benefits eaten away by inflation. Now, the
Obama administration has come up with a new way to calculate inflation
that will reduce COLA in the future. It is called the chained consumer
price index and below is a Q&A on this method provided by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Reporters Dig Into Obama Budget and Find Other
Proposals that May Impact Seniors
More spending on Medicaid, mental health; replacing
current formula for Medicare pay to doctors
April 11, 2013 – Senior citizens have – rightly so
– primarily focused on the cuts to Social Security and Medicare in the
2014 budget proposal from the White House that was presented yesterday.
Media sources have found other parts of the budget that may also impact
many seniors - funding boosts for mental health and food and drug
safety, as well as the elimination of the SGR formula to set Medicare
physician payment rates. It also delays funding cuts to hospitals that
treat the uninsured.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Congress Could Lose Older Voters by Cutting
Social Security, Medicare, Vets Benefits: AARP Poll
Senior advocates seem solid in opposition to cuts
expected to appear Wednesday in President Obama’s budget; Congressional
call-in on Wednesday
April 8, 2013 – Groups that advocate for senior
citizens and senior issues appear to be solid in their opposition to
budget moves advocated by Republicans and now supported by the White
House that will cut income from Social Security and reduce spending by
Medicare. A survey released today by AARP says 84% of American voters
age 50 and older oppose the chained CPI proposal for reducing Social
Security benefits for years ahead.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Budget Axe Ready to Strike Social Security, Medicare
as President Makes Appeal to GOP
Reports say Obama in agreement on plan reducing
Social Security COLA for seniors, cutting $400 billion from Medicare
over 10 years
By Tucker Sutherland, Editor
SeniorJournal.com
April
5, 2013 – For more than a week there has been a steady stream of rumors,
speculation and news leaks indicating White House and Republican
negotiators are near agreement on significant changes to Medicare and
Social Security aimed at reducing the government’s cost. Reports from
major newspapers this morning say the Obama budget will be out next week
and it will have cuts to Social Security and Medicare in hopes of
winning Republican support.
Read more...
Medicaid News
Arkansas Medicaid Plan, Born Of Necessity, Shakes
Things Up in Reluctant Republican States
By Karl Eisenhower, Capsules –
the KHN Blog
March 26, 2013 - Since the Supreme Court made the Medicaid
expansion under the federal health law optional last year,
states’ decisions have largely split along party lines. States run by Democrats have
been opting in; states run by Republicans have mostly been saying no or
holding back.. Read
more...
Medicare News
Medicare a Hot Button as Budget Proposals from
Political Parties Smash Head-On
GOP’S Ryan presents ‘austere budget proposal that
looks a lot like one they approved last year that Democrats quickly
dismissed. Republicans revived plans to overhaul Medicare, slash the
social safety net for the poor and bolster defense — all while lowering
corporate and individual tax rates to no more than 25%’
March 13, 2013 – The political parties are running
out their budget proposals and the general consensus is they are “miles
apart.” The House GOP plan, which was unveiled yesterday, would repeal
the health law's subsidized insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion
and turn Medicare into a premium-support system. The Senate Democrats'
plan, scheduled for release today, would lower domestic spending in part
by saving $275 billion through changes to Medicare and Medicaid that are
smaller than those proposed by Republicans.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Senate Aging Committee Hears Changes to
Medicare Unpopular with Senior Citizens, Voters
First hearing of this Congress lays out the
problems and the options with a focus on fixing the cost of healthcare
Feb.
28, 2013 - The first hearing by the Senate Special Committee
on Aging since the leadership was handed to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fl) and
ranking member, Susan Collins of (R-Me) took on the challenge of
Medicare’s future yesterday. But, rather than a doom-and-gloom hand wringing, it
was an earnest, straight-forward approach at helping the popular senior
program survive with little or no damage to its services.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
|
Chairman
Bill Nelson |
New Senate Aging Committee Tackles Future of Medicare in Hearing
Wednesday
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fl) takes over as chairman; Sen.
Susan Collins (R-Me) now leads Republicans (see members below news
story)
Feb. 26, 2013 – The first hearing by the Senate
Special Committee on Aging will convene tomorrow in hopes of finding the
best way to shape the future of Medicare to meet the challenges of a
booming senior population, climbing prices for health care and a
strained federal budget. It is the first hearing under new chairman,
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fl), and ranking member, Sen. Susan M. Collins
(R-Me). Read
more...
Medicare News
Changes To Medicare is Focus of Three Congressional
Hearings This Week
Small signs that Democrats and
Republicans are beginning to wrestle with the issue of what role
Medicare should play in deficit reduction
By Mary Agnes Carey
Feb. 25, 2013 - With $85 billion in
automatic federal spending cuts set to take effect on Friday and
predictions of economic disruption, much of official Washington is
focused on the “blame
game.” Publicly, there has been no sign that
Congress or administration officials has made any progress on averting
these cuts or finding common ground on tackling the country’s fiscal
problems.
Read more...
Medicare News
Traditional Medicare’s Administrative Cost – 1%;
Private Company Medicare Advantage – 6%
Setting the record straight on Medicare's overhead
costs: New study finds surprising results
Feb. 20, 2013 - The traditional Medicare program
allocates only 1 percent of total spending to overhead compared with 6
percent when the privatized portion of Medicare, known as Medicare
Advantage, is included, according to a study in the June 2013 issue of
the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
President Obama Calls For Two 'Modest Reforms' To
Medicare
Obama suggests two specific changes in Medicare:
drug-makers should go back to giving rebates for
dual-eligibles, having wealthiest seniors pay more
for Medicare
Feb. 14, 2013 - Jackie Judd and Kaiser Health New's Mary
Agnes Carey examine the health care issues
in Tuesday night's State of the Union
address - and Sen. Rubio's Republican
response - in this Health on the Hill
discussion.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Social Security Head: Program Fraying from
Neglect
By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press
Feb. 14, 2013 - Outgoing
Social
Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue has some
parting shots for
Congress, the White
House and advocates for seniors. They have all "really walked away
from Social
Security," he says, leaving the program "fraying
because of inattention to its problems." Instead of making the hard choices to fix
Social Security's financial problems, policymakers "use it as a tool
of political rhetoric," Astrue said in an interview with the AP.
Read at Yahoo/AP
Features for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens Least Likely to Support Women in
Combat: Pew, Washington Post Survey
Researchers finds broad support among most demographic
groups for expanding women’s military role to the battlefield
Feb. 6, 2013 - The public broadly supports the
military’s decision to life the restrictions on women serving in combat,
according to a recent survey by Pew Research Center for the People & the
Press and The Washington Post. Senior citizens, however, composed the
age group least likely to support the decision.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Obama Says He Has Offered 'Sensible Reforms To
Medicare' in Press Briefing on Budget
‘Reforms would reduce our government’s bills by
reducing the cost of health care, not shifting all those costs on to
middle-class seniors…’ see video
Feb. 6, 2013 – President Barack Obama spoke briefly to the
press yesterday about budget negotiations and emphasized the need to
reduce the cost of health care in the U.S. He also touched on
entitlements and, specifically, Medicare. Below is the complete
transcript with key words on senior programs highlighted in yellow.
Read more, see
video...
Senior Citizen Politics
Senior Citizens Hear Encouraging Words
on Entitlements in President's Second Inaugural
'The commitments we make to each other through
Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our
initiative, they strengthen us' - see video
Jan. 22, 2013 –
President Barack Obama generally drew praise from senior
citizen advocates for the words in his inaugural address
yesterday that signaled his commitment to preserve the
“entitlement programs” of Medicare, Medicaid and Social
Security.
Read
more, see video...
Aging
Coalition Urges Policymakers: Don't Reduce the Deficit on the Backs of
Seniors in Need
Groups representing 60 million older Americans oppose
cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Cost-of-Living
Adjustments
Dec. 17, 2012 - The Leadership Council of Aging
Organizations (LCAO) - who together represent over 60 million older
Americans - expressed grave concerns about proposed cuts to
Medicare, Medicaid, the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment
(COLA), and discretionary programs like the Older Americans Act as part
of the emerging budget agreement.
Read more...
Increasing Medicare Age of Eligibility May Not Be
Off Table but Chances of Approval Look Dim
White House does not support statement by Sen. Durbin
that issue is not on the table
Dec. 14, 2012 – Yesterday, the Associated Press
reported that increasing the eligibility age for Medicare was no longer
part of the budget negotiations with Republicans. This good news for
older Americans not yet age 65 did not hold up, however, as
McClatchy
Newspapers report today that the White House will not confirm
the measure is off the table in talks aimed at avoiding the fiscal
cliff.
Read more...
Medicare Silver Bullets: What’s The Best Way To
Control Costs? Experts Sound Off
Dec. 14, 2012 - Kaiser Health News (KHN) asked a range of health policy experts
the following question: If you could make only
one change to Medicare to control costs, what
would it be and why? Edited excerpts of their
thoughtful answers follow.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Increasing Age for Medicare Eligibility Appears Off
the Table for White House
Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin says he got the info from
the White House; major issue for House leader Nancy Pelosi; hot button
for GOP
Dec. 13, 2012 - There is good news for baby boomers
pressing age 65 - the Associated Press is reporting that an increase in
the age for Medicare eligibility is no longer being considered by the
Democrats as an option in negotiations with Republicans on avoiding the
"fiscal cliff."
Senior Citizen Politics
How the 'Fiscal Cliff' May Affect
Senior Health Care: Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE
Republicans and Democrats
continuenever-ending battle over the budget, while nation faces
government shut-down; seniors concerned do to dependence on government
health care
By
Mary Agnes Carey,
KHN Staff Writer
Dec. 7, 2012 - The impending
"fiscal cliff" is a package of automatic spending cuts and tax hikes set
to kick in next month unless President Barack Obama and Capitol Hill
agree on a way to stop them. Below are answers to how this
could impact Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE, the health program for the
military and veterans.
Read
more...
GOP 'Fiscal Cliff' Plan with Big
Reductions in Social Security and Medicare Rejected by White House
$200 billion in savings to come from
GOP trick to change way inflation is calculated, thus reducing COLA for
Social Security and slow Medicare benefit increases
Dec. 4, 2012 - The House
Republican’s made a counteroffer to President Obama’s earlier budget
proposal and it that for big cuts in the critical programs for America’s
senior citizens – Social Security and Medicare – while still refusing to
allow taxes to rise back to previous levels for the wealthiest
taxpayers. The While House rejected the plan because it rejects the tax
increase and does not meet his "test of balance."
Read more...
Medicare News
Key Group Rejects Calls To Limit
Seniors' Medigap Policies to Shrink Spending
Insurance Commissioners examine if seniors would use
less Medicare if the most popular Medigap plans were less generous
By Susan Jaffee, Kaiser Health News
Nov.
30, 2012 - A key group of state insurance commissioners dealt a blow
Friday to proposals that would shrink Medicare spending by asking
seniors to pay more for Medicare supplemental coverage.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
AARP Says 7 in 10 Older Americans
Oppose Medicare, Social Security Changes Now
‘Congress should not make last-minute
deals that would jeopardize the promise made to current and future
generations that they receive the Social Security and Medicare benefits
they have contributed…’
Nov.15, 2012 - In an AARP survey
fielded immediately following the 2012 election, 70 percent of Americans
age 50 or older say that they believe a separate public debate about the
future of Medicare and Social Security is needed and changes should not
be part of any end-of-year deal addressing the nation’s budget deficit,
often referred to as the “fiscal cliff.” Almost all (92%) older
Americans also said that it is very important that Washington listen to
ordinary citizens when it comes to decisions about Medicare and Social
Security. Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Fiscal Cliff: What Is At Stake for Medicare,
Medicaid as Budget Battles Get Underway?
Medicare and Medicaid are big targets as the Congress
and White House begin urgent task of preventing the government from
falling off the “Fiscal Cliff’
|
Watch video,
listen to audio or
read transcript |
Nov. 15, 2012 - The budget negotiations scenarios
that may include Medicare are discussed by Mary Agnes Carey of Kaiser
Health News in an interview by Jackie Judd. They also look at where the
“doc fix” (Medicare pay raise for doctors) fits into the budget picture
and whether Medicaid cuts are possible.
Read more, see
video...
Medicare News
Changes in Medicare Expected in Negotiations to
Avoid the ‘Fiscal Cliff’
‘Lawmakers are wrestling with finding a balance
between asking beneficiaries to pay more for Medicare services and
reducing payments to Medicare providers’
By Mary Agnes Carey, KHN Staff Writer
Nov. 14, 2012 - Expectations are high. President
Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, say they want to
avert the fiscal cliff, that toxic mix of expiring tax breaks and
automatic spending reductions set to begin in January. If Republicans
make concessions on taxes, Democrats and the president say, they’ll move
on entitlements, such as Medicare and Medicaid, as part of a larger deal
to reduce the federal deficit.
Read
more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Obamacare Gets New Life with Election Win by President
Obama; Takes Place in History
President’s
second term will be about bringing the law to life; Obama
reelection, Democrats holding the Senate will solidify the
law in American history - see editor's notes on benefits for
seniors
By Jay Hancock, KHN Staff Writer
Nov. 7, 2012 - President Barack Obama’s
victory cements the Affordable Care Act, expanding coverage
to millions but leaving weighty questions about how to pay
for it and other care to be delivered to an increasingly
unhealthy, aging population.
Read more...
HHS Secretary Sebelius Touts Savings, Assistance for
Seniors from Obamacare
Pre-election day announcement says Affordable Care
Act has saved Medicare patients $4.8 billion on prescription drugs
Oct. 25, 2012 – In a timely pre-election day press
release, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that because of
the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), 5.6 million seniors and people with
disabilities have saved $4.8 billion on prescription drugs. And, she
adds, in 2012 alone, 2.3 million people in the Medicare prescription
drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole” have saved an average of
$657. During the first nine months of 2012, over 20.7 million people
with original Medicare got at least one preventive service at no cost to
them. Read
more...
Medicare News
'Somewhat surprising how many
seniors would be willing to pay more for Medicare'
By Alvin Tran, Capsules,
The KHN Blog
Oct. 19, 2012 - Although
most seniors appear to be at least somewhat
satisfied with their Medicare coverage, many are
deeply worried about what the future may hold
for the program, according to a national survey
released this week. More than 60 percent of
seniors surveyed said they are concerned about
changes the program may undergo.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
GOP Premium Support Plan Could Raise Medicare
Premiums In Many Parts of Country
A central part of the House Republican budget
written by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, now GOP’s vice-presidential
candidate; also embraced by Mitt Romney
By Jordan
Rau, KHN Staff Writer
Oct.
15, 2012 - The type of proposal championed by Republicans to overhaul
Medicare by giving beneficiaries a fixed amount of money to purchase
insurance could lead to significant increases in premium costs in some
parts of the country, according to a new study.
Read more...
|
In
VP
Debate,
Biden
And
Ryan
Clash
On
Health
Issues
Oct.
12,
2012
-
In
this
face-off,
the
two
candidates
outlined
very
different
sets
of
policies
and
perspectives
on
issues
ranging
from
their
respective
Medicare
plans
to
the
uninsured
and
abortion.
Kaiser
Health
News |
Entitlement Program Changes, More Saving, Longer
Work Life Likely as Population Ages
National Research Council looks at demands of aging
nation - ‘Although 65 has conventionally been considered a normal
retirement age, it is an increasingly obsolete threshold for defining
old age and for setting benefits for the elderly’
Sept.
26, 2012 - The unprecedented demographic shift in which people over age
65 make up an increasingly large percentage of the U.S. population is
not a temporary phenomenon associated with the aging of the baby boom
generation, but a pervasive trend that is here to stay, says a report
from the National Research Council.
Read more...
Medicare Moves Into Spotlight of Presidential Race;
Poll Finds Obama More Trusted
AARP upset that Medicare, Social Security or not on
agenda for first presidential debate on Oct. 3; Medicare topic today at
AARP meeting in New Orleans
Sept. 21, 2012 – Just as both presidential
campaigns are shifting more of their focus to Medicare, the Commission
on Presidential Debates has announced that this hot issue for senior
citizens is not listed as a topic for the first presidential debate.
AARP has issued a statement urging that “retirement security issues be
directly addressed.” A new USA Today /Gallup Poll shows President Barack
Obama is more trusted to address Medicare issues than Mitt Romney.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
HHS Touts Growth in Medicare Advantage Plans, Drop
in Premiums Ahead of Hearing
GOP working on case that Obamacare cut MA plans,
causing seniors to leave program; House Ways and Means Health
Subcommittee hearing Friday
By
Mary Agnes Carey, Kaiser Health News
Sept.
20, 2012 - Just days away from a House hearing where Republicans are
likely to charge that the 2010 health law’s cuts to
Medicare Advantage
plans will cause insurers to leave the program and seniors to pay more
for coverage, the Obama administration said Wednesday that as a result
of the law seniors now have more of these private plans to choose from
and that coverage is less expensive.
Read more...
Media Spotlight Turns to Medicare in U.S. Presidential Race: New Twist Every Hour
Summary of news coverage – everyone will know a lot more about Medicare and Medicaid
Aug.
15, 2012 – Medicare – a top political issue for senior citizens – has taken front and center in the U.S. presidential race following the
selection of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as the Republican vice presidential running mate of Mitt Romney. Some of the highlights of news coverage
include the backing away by both Republican candidates from some of the Medicare proposals included in the budget proposal of the House
Republicans that was authored by Rep. Ryan.
Read more...
Survey in June 2011 found just 33% of senior citizens think Medicare needs major changes or to be completely rebuilt
Aug.
14, 2012 - Senior citizens do not like the idea of making changes to Medicare and only a handful think the program needs major changes,
according to a commentary by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Romney's Choice of Rep. Ryan Key to Politics of Campaign
Medicare Debate
Senior citizen issues like Medicare and Social Security take center stage in presidential race as GOP's Romney
picks vp with controversial ideas on entitlements - see video
Aug. 13, 2012 - KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini discuss how Medicare reforms could figure into
November’s presidential election now that presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has chosen Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to be
his running mate.
Read more..see video.
AARP Says Working Boomers Focused on Economic Issues, Retirees on Entitlements
Age 50 -64 voters want more information on candidates' plans to strengthen Social Security, Medicare - 'Anxiety Index'
Aug. 10, 2012 - In the coming November elections, a key group of voters – non-retired baby boomers ages 50-64 – are
driven by economic anxieties that extend well beyond the single issue of jobs, according to the results of a new series of surveys by AARP.
Among all voters age 50+ the focus is more on Social Security and Medicare. These seniors want the candidates to better explain their plans
for the entitlements, which will help them determine their choices.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Senate Aging Chair Wants Social Security to Better Inform Seniors About Benefits
|
More information:
•
Link to GAO report "Retirement Security: Women Still Face Challenges."
•
testimony by hearing witnesses
•
video of Senate hearing
•
GAO on purpose of report on women and retirement
•
Summary of GAO report |
At hearing on Retirement Challenges for Women, Sen. Kohl also pushes for higher minimum benefit
July 26, 2012 – At a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging yesterday - “Enhancing Women’s Retirement Security”
- Chairman Herb Kohl, D-Wis., called on the Social Security Administration to do more to help older Americans understand their benefits.
Read more...
Medicare News
Medicare Wants Pay Hike for Primary Care Providers; Pay to Return Patients Home
Proposal includes more Medicare-covered preventive services that can be provided by interactive telecommunications system
July 9, 2012 – Family physicians are getting a pay increase of almost 7 percent from Medicare in January and other
practitioners providing primary care services will get between 3 and 5 percent. More than a million physicians and non-physician practitioners
are covered under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year (CY) 2013.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis
Supreme Court Gives America’s Senior Citizens Longer, Healthier Lives
Helpful in getting senior citizens who oppose Obamacare to take a second look are statements issued today by many
well-informed senior advocates
By Tucker Sutherland, Editor & Publisher,
SeniorJournal.com
June 28, 2012 – Many, many senior citizens – maybe millions – will live longer healthier lives due to the approval of the
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) this morning by the U.S. Supreme Court. For seniors the legislation has already put in place lower drug costs,
more free preventive health care screening and an annual consultation with a physician to discuss their personal health plan. And, for all
Americans it should mean an end to out-of-control increases in medical costs.
Read more...
Medicare News
Cuts by Affordable Care Act in Medicare Payments to
Advantage Plans Did No Harm
Medicare Rights Center releases report: doomsayers wrong saying a reduction in plan payments would increase costs, decrease
benefits, diminish plan choices
June
28, 2012 – One of the tactics used by opponents of the Affordable Care Act was to tell senior citizens that it made “cuts” in the Medicare
program. Details were usually left vague but the implication was it reduced benefits. That was never the case, according to a report released
yesterday by the Medicare Rights Center. It shows that even when the cuts were accurately described as reductions in money Medicare paid
insurance companies to promote Advantage plans, the action had no negative impact on Medicare patients.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Awaiting Court Ruling: Consumer Guide to Health Care Reform Law
Senior citizens could lose several popular benefits created by Affordable Care
Act (Obamacare) that are already in place
By Mary Agnes Carey, KHN Staff Writer
June 22, 2012 -The Supreme Court is expected to rule within a week on some key constitutional challenges brought by
states against the 2010 health care overhaul law. The decision will have sweeping ramifications for consumers, state officials, employers and
health care providers, including hospitals and doctors.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis
Filling the Part D Doughnut Hole: Savings Could Disappear in Court Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling against the healthcare law could mean ‘a nasty hit in the wallet the next time millions of seniors
go to the pharmacy’
By Ron Pollack, Executive Director, Families USA
June 14, 2012 - As just about anyone with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage can tell you, one of the biggest
problems with the benefit has been the gap in coverage that’s known as the “doughnut hole.” Under the original Part D, when your total drug
costs (the costs paid by both you and your plan) reached an initial limit ($2,930 in 2012), your coverage would stop completely.
Read more...
Medicare News
Medicare Drug Discounts for Seniors At Risk if Court Strikes Health Law
Over 5.1 million of those in Medicare drug plan saved more than $3.2 billion on drugs from March 2010 -
December 2011
By Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News
June 13, 2012 - Billions of dollars in drug savings for Medicare beneficiaries may come to an end if the Supreme Court
overturns the 2010 federal health law, a drug industry spokesman said Tuesday.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
3 Large Insurers to Keep Features of Obamacare Even if Court Strikes It Down
Unitedhealthcare to allow children to stay on parents’ policies to age 26, will not reinstate lifetime limits on
coverage, will continue to offer cancer screenings and other preventive services without a copayment
By Julie Appleby, KHN Staff Writer
June 12, 2012 - As speculation over the fate of the health care law heightens in anticipation of the Supreme
Court ruling, at least three major insurers Monday promised to continue following some of the rules in the federal health law that are already
in effect.
Read more...
Medicare News
CMS, Partners to Reduce Antipsychotic Drugs for Dementia in Nursing Homes
Government joins providers, caregivers, patients to ensure
better use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes; follows bi-partisan senate action to curb use of the drugs
May 31, 2012 - With a goal of reducing use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing home residents by 15 percent by the end of this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services yesterday introduced the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care. No doubt a motivating factor is a bill crafted by Sen. Herb Kohl, chair of the Special Committee on Aging, that will require Health and Human Services to gain consent from nursing home patients or their guardians prior to the administration of these drugs.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Senators Want Antipsychotic Drug Use Better Controlled in Nursing Homes
‘…overuse of antipsychotics is a common and well-recognized problem that puts frail elders at risk and costs taxpayers
hundreds of millions of dollars each year’
May 23, 2012 – Senators from both parties joined with the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Sen. Herb
Kohl, D-Wis., to propose legislation to combat the costly and inappropriate – yet widespread – use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Obama Administration: A Plan To Prevent Alzheimer’s By 2025
Plan has been through months of
development since President Obama signed National Alzheimer’s Project Act
in January 2011, funding, however, an issue -
see video
By Christian Torres, KHN
May 16, 2012 - The Obama administration is moving forward with an ambitious, fast-moving agenda to improve the treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease and unlock a method to prevent it by 2025. The
final draft of the plan, released yesterday, also sets up a wide-ranging effort
to improve the care that Alzheimer’s patients receive and support families.
Read more, see video...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Presented by Obama Administration
HHS Secretary outlines research funding, tools for health care providers, awareness campaign and new website
May 15, 2012 – An aggressive national plant to fight Alzheimer’s disease was released by the Obama Administration today.
The plan was called for in the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), which President Obama signed into law in January 2011. The National
Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease sets forth five goals, including the development of effective prevention and treatment approaches for
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by 2025.
Read more...
Social Security News
AARP Says Social Security, Medicare Trustee Reports Show 'Long-Term' Challenges
2012 Reports underscore the need for a national conversation on strengthening retirement security for Americans; action
soon by Washington
April 23, 2012 – AARP’s statement on the Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports for 2012 emphasized that there is
time for action on the looming financial crisis for senior citizens and called for a “national conversation on strengthening retirement
security,” which is a campaign it recently launched. The statement emphasized Social Security funding appears secure until 2033.
Read more...
Caregiver & Elder Care News
Fewer Antipsychotic Drugs, More Nurses Will Improve
Care, Save Money in Nursing Homes
Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing focuses on long-term care for senior citizens; The Center for Medicare Advocacy
offers ideas
April
23, 2012 - The Center for Medicare Advocacy issued a statement last week saying that huge savings in nursing facility costs, and advances in
resident care, could be achieved if facilities eliminated the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs and provided sufficient staff to meet
resident needs.
Read more...
Medicare News
Revamping Medicare: A Guide to the Proposals, Politics and Timeline
Immediate pressure is to reduce the deficit by the end of this year to stop automatic 2 percent spending cuts from going
into effect in 2013
By Marilyn Werber Serafini, KHN Staff Writer
April 5, 2012 - Congress is unlikely to consider legislation that would fundamentally restructure Medicare until a new
Congress - and possibly a new president - are seated in 2013. But politicians have sought to tackle the growth in Medicare costs several times
in the past two years, most notably in the 2010 health care law and, then again, in last year's budget deal.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Physicians Wade Into Efforts To Curb Unnecessary Medical Treatments
Groups suggest one third of health care spending is for unnecessary treatments; Dr. Donald Berwick, the former head of
Medicare, called the campaign "a game changer."
By Julie Appleby, KHN Staff Writer
April 4, 2012 - Nine prominent physician groups today released lists of 45 common tests and treatments they say are often
unnecessary and may even harm patients. The move represents a high-profile effort by physicians to help reduce the extraordinary amount of
unnecessary treatment, said to account for as much as a third of the $2.6 trillion Americans spend on health care each year.
Read more...see video
Sec. Sebelius Highlights Success in First Two Years of
‘Obamacare’
Affordable Care Act has been particularly beneficial for senior citizens
March
23, 2012 – In a brief statement on the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, which some call “Obamacare,”
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a statement hitting the highlights of the law’s accomplishments for
various groups, including senior citizens.
Read more...
Republicans Push New Budget Proposal Changing Medicare, Cutting Deeply
into Medicaid: Media Views
Health on the Hill video examines changes in GOP proposal, Summaries of news reports from across American -
see video
March 21, 2012 - The blueprint is an election-year marker that envisions a smaller government and deep cuts to
entitlement and safety net programs. The Republican budget presented Tuesday by Rep. Paul Ryan has no chance of passage this year. Below are
summaries of what others are reporting and below that is a video -
KHN's Marilyn Werber Serafini and Mary Agnes Carey
discuss the budget Ryan presented and how it differs from the proposal he released last year.
Read more, see video
New Ryan Budget Would Drastically Transform Medicare, Medicaid
With Cuts
GOP again pushes for senior citizens to buy private insurance but makes modification to previous proposal to allow room for
traditional Medicare - See video
By Marilyn Werber Serafini, KHN Staff Writer
March 21, 2012 -
The Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee surprised no one Tuesday when he released a spending blueprint that would drastically
reshape the Medicare and Medicaid programs for the elderly and poor in an attempt to rein in their soaring costs.
Read more, see video
AARP Program to Draw Seniors into Conversation on Medicare, Social Security
'You’ve Earned a Say’ gives platform for older Americans who have paid into these programs to have a say in their future -
see video
March 19, 2012 - AARP leaders at events across the country today announced the launch of You’ve Earned a Say, which the
organizations describes as a national conversation about strengthening health and retirement security. AARP says this program is taking the
debate about Medicare and Social Security out from behind closed doors in Washington and making sure that all Americans have a voice in the
discussion about their future.
Read more, see video
Medicare News
Medicare Commission Wants Some Cuts, Equalization, End to
How Doc Fees Decided
MedPAC tells Congress it also wants changes in low-income drug assistance to encourage more genetics
March 19, 2012 – The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has released its annual report to the Congress,
Medicare Payment Policy 2012, which recommends some pay reductions for nursing homes and hospitals, an equalization of pay for the same
service, more emphasis on generic drugs and, once again, a plea for an end to the way physician’s fees are determined each year.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
House Bill Would Make Colonoscopy, Polyp Removal Free for Medicare Patients
Groups want to allow removal of polyps during procedure with no unexpected co-pay
March 1, 2012 - Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening saves lives, but a loophole in current Medicare law may cause
patients to think twice before undergoing this vital test, says three medical groups. Legislation introduced today seeks to ensure that
colorectal cancer screening for all Medicare beneficiaries is free, as was intended.
Read more...
Doctors 'Disgruntled' And Frustrated By Battle Over Medicare Pay Cuts
Note:
Congressional negotiators agreed today to delay the huge cut in Medicare pay rates for physicians until next year.
By Julie Rovner
Feb. 17, 2012 - A looming 27.4 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements likely won't happen. But next year, any cuts could be greater. The good news for the nation's doctors — and the millions of Medicare patients they care for — is that assuming
everything goes as planned, the
27.4 percent cut in reimbursements that would have taken effect March 1 won't.
Read more...
Presidential Candidates Court Senior Citizens with Positions on Medicare
Romney would give seniors money to buy insurance; Obama would keep program, reduce the cost
By Marilyn Werber Serafini, KHN Staff Writer
Feb. 15, 2012 - When GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney told conservative activists on Friday that he wants to "save"
Medicare by turning it into a program that would give seniors a defined sum to shop for the health plan of their choice, he teed up an issue
that has the potential to sway millions of voters, especially seniors, in November.
Read more...
Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
War Against Alzheimer’s Gets Big Boost from Obama Administration Today
New research funds of $130 million, more for education, support of Alzheimer’s Project Act
Feb. 7, 2012 – The battle against Alzheimer’s disease is getting a gigantic number of reinforcements from the Obama
Administration today, including $130 million in research funding and $26 million for caregiver support and education. These actions follow the
signing last month by President Obama of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Senior Advocates Want Supreme Court
to Keep Obamacare Provisions for Seniors Out of Case
Six aging groups say Congress did not intend to tie senior benefits with individual insurance mandate being challenged in
court
Jan.
31, 2012 – In an effort to protect provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) – sometimes
called “Obamacare” – that are of "vital importance to the health and well-being of people 65 and older," six groups that serve senior citizens
have filed a brief with the Supreme Court saying Congress never intended these provisions be tied with the “individual mandate” now being
challenged in the Court as unconstitutional.
Read more...
Senior Citizen Politics
Obama Makes Slight Mention of Health Care, None of Medicare in State of Union
Minimal mention of health law may be reflection of difficulty president, administration, supporters are having
selling it...
Jan. 25, 2012 – Perhaps the biggest surprise of the lengthy State of the Union Address by President Barack Obama last
night was his lack of mention of Medicare and saying very little about health care. Even the Republican response referred to Medicare, notes
Mary Agnes Carey, Kaiser Health News, in a video interview with Jackie Judd.
Read more...
Election Year Politics, Renewing Older Americans Act Play Key Roles for Seniors in 2012
NCOA says entitlements are top priorities but sees no major changes this year
Jan. 25, 2012 – The National Council on Aging has identified the six top key issue priorities for 2012 and encourages
older adults and their caregivers to advocate for key issues that could greatly affect their lives, and their livelihoods.
Read more...
Only Senior Citizens Support Romney Over President Obama in Pew Survey
Nationally unpopular, Romney holds solid lead over GOP challengers, Ron Paul a
threat as third party candidate
Jan.
18, 2012 – A new survey released today shows only senior citizens – registered voters age 65 or older – would vote for Republican presidential
candidate Mitt Romney in a race with President Barack Obama.
Read more...
Groups for Patients with Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease Ask
Court to Defend Health Law
Affordable Care Act ('ObamaCare') critical for people with life-threatening chronic diseases: expands access to quality,
affordable health care, reduces family cost burden, emphasizes prevention
|
Below
news story are links to a number of reports about this Supreme Court case to be heard in March. |
Jan. 12, 2012 - The nation’s leading groups representing patients and families living with cancer, diabetes, heart
disease or stroke jointly filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court today in support of provisions of the Affordable Care Act - often
referred to as 'Obamacare" by critics - that are critical for people with life-threatening chronic diseases.
Read more...
|
President Obama, GOP Have Similar Ideas on Medicare Changes
Baby boomer tsunami forcing actions to reduce spending growth
  1/2/12
- Medicare is headed for big changes in 2012, no matter who wins the White House, according to an analysis by AP reporter Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar.
And, it is the flood of baby boomers – 1.5 million a year - hitting the Medicare door-opening age of 65 that is forcing changes to slow the spending
growth.
The AP report says there are “surprising similarities” in the remedies being offered by President Barack Obama and
the Republican leader on this issue, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
Squeezing more money out of higher-income senior citizens, limiting Medicare spending, and increasing the age for
eligibility are mentioned by both. >>
Read AP report at Yahoo
|
Senior Citizen Politics
Wyden-Ryan Plan Could Neutralize Medicare in 2012 Election: Analysis
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., unveiled new
Medicare plan, would give seniors a fixed amount of money to buy private
insurance or pay for traditional Medicare -
plus
video from GOP debate on Gingrich position
By Marilyn Werber Serafini, KHN Staff Writer
|
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., left, and House Budget
Committee Chair Paul Ryan, R-Wis. |
Dec. 16, 2011 - Even with just two congressional supporters, a new Medicare overhaul plan could have big implications for
next year’s congressional election. Indeed, it could neutralize a political problem that has been plaguing Republicans since April, argues
Robert Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Read more, see video...
Rep. Ryan Joins with Democratic Senator Wayden to Take Another Shot at Medicare Reform
Senior advocates say it is still a voucher system and only winners would be private insurance companies
Dec. 15, 2011 – Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), who proposed converting Medicare to a system where senior citizens were given
vouchers to buy health care protection, has joined with an Oregon Democrat, Sen. Ron Wyden, to propose a new idea for changing the government
health care program. Senior advocates don’t seem to like the new plan better than Ryan’s first.
Read more...
CMS to Make Drug-Makers Disclose Dealings with Physicians: Senators Prompt Action
Senators Kohl, Grassley force action by agency on their bill which also includes other medical device-makers and teaching
hospitals
Dec. 15, 2011 – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services yesterday issued a rule that will make public the often
questionable financial relationships between drug and device manufacturers and certain health care providers. The action caused Sen. Herb
Kohl, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, to postpone a hearing scheduled today aimed at getting this long-delayed Physician
Payments Sunshine Act implemented.
Read more...
Medicaid News
Administration Ties Medicaid Private Care to Performance; More Control to States
Latest signal Feds will give broad leeway to states to expand Medicaid to private managed care if they meet performance measures
By Phil Galewitz,KHN Staff Writer
Dec 14, 2011 - The managed care industry's growing role in Medicaid got a boost Monday when the Obama administration
approved Texas' plan to shift one million additional recipients into private health plans by 2013.
Read more...
Basement case suspects held 4 mentally disabled captives while taking their SSA benefits
Cuts to Medicare limited to hospitals and other medical providers, would not exceed 2%; Congress must act before
year end to stop a scheduled 27% physician pay cut by Medicare
Conservatives argue that federal government shouldn’t help finance health care benefits for the rich
Nov. 14,
2011 - In the scramble to come up with a deficit-reduction deal by Thanksgiving, members of Capitol Hill's super committee appear to have one
group squarely in their cross hairs: high-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Read
more...
AARP surveys find Iowa, Florida GOP primary voters dead set against cuts to senior citizen programs to balance budget
Health On The Hill interviews Kaiser Health News Reporter Mary Agnes Carey - video and transcript
Obama administration has consistently fought to change 1997 law that causes annual lobbying effort by medical
groups
Nov.
2, 2011 - The annual big-dollar battle over the rate of pay for physicians kicked off yesterday with a rule from the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services that set the rates for 2012 – the cut was slightly less than expected but still a gigantic 27.4 percent.
The CMS rule was mandated to follow current law, although the administration is firmly against the cuts.
Read more...
Task is improving the financial decision-making of seniors and preventing unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices targeted
at senior citizens
Hearing to Focus on Aftermath of Recession on Older Adults and Ways to Provide Economic Assistance
Less than 30% by senior citizens: of 170,000 prescribed drugs from 5 or more docs in 2008, about 120,000 (71%) were
eligible for Medicare Part D based on a disability - see hearing video
Gerontological Society organizes first Take Action Week to push funding for aging research; renewal of Older Americans Act
Biggest cut to Medicare requires drug companies to lower their rates, saving Medicare an estimated $135 billion over 10
years- watch videos
Republicans, insurance companies predicted high prices, less benefits after Obama health law
Listen or read transcript of Kaiser Health News interview where former senator tells it like it is
GOP appointee to Super Committee, Rep. Fred Upton, says senior benefits should not be cut for those in program
Fear is that cuts would leave the elderly without adequate financial protection or access to medical care
Sen. Kohl releases GAO report showing need for strong screening of those making financial decisions for incapacitated
seniors, others
Aug. 11, 2011 – There is a greater need for screening and oversight of guardians appointed to make financial decisions
for senior citizens and other adults that are incapacitated – primarily on Social Security - says Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), Chairman of the
Senate Special Committee on Aging.
Read more...
More
Political News (PoliticalWire)
-
Oct. 19, 2012 - Although
most seniors appear to be at least somewhat
satisfied with their Medicare coverage, many are
deeply worried about what the future may hold
for the program, according to a national survey
released this week. More than 60 percent of
seniors surveyed said they are concerned about
changes the program may undergo.
Read more...
Nov. 11, 2011 – An obvious and perhaps disastrous disconnect seems to have developed between Republican voters – senior
citizens in particular - and their national party, including their presidential candidates. AARP has just released polls from Florida and Iowa
showing a vast majority of GOP voters oppose cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits to reduce the deficit – solutions the leadership is
suggesting.
Sept. 19, 2011 - In his plan to trim the federal deficit, President Barack Obama Monday proposed $320 billion in cuts to
Medicare and Medicaid, largely by changing how the federal government pays health providers, slashing payments to drug companies, and
dramatically changing the way it splits the costs of Medicaid with the states, according to a fact sheet the White House released today.
Aug. 15, 2011 - Why does the debt ceiling deal give liberals so much heartburn? Many reasons, obviously. But a big one is
the possibility that it will trigger automatic cuts to Medicare, the jewel of the Great Society and the program on which virtually every
senior citizen depends for health insurance.
Proposals include raising payroll tax cap, raising retirement age, adding public workers
June 29, 2011 - Can seniors afford to pay more for
Medicare? Medicare patients would pay more - in some cases much more -
under a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate today (Tuesday 6/29).
But can they really afford it?
May 15, 2011 - The Social Security Board of
Trustees late Friday (May 13, 2011) released its annual report on the
financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds and said they will
be exhausted in 2036, one year earlier than projected last year.
one year sooner than projected last year. Most senior advocacy groups
were not alarmed (see comments below news report).
April 11, 2011 - Three Republican members of the
House Ways and Means Committee have launched an attack on AARP,
including the release of a report focusing on the massive amount of
money the organization earns from insurance companies, and sending a
letter last Friday to the Internal Revenue Service asking for an
investigation of AARP’s non-profit tax status.
Complete
text below of President’s remarks and answers to questions from
senior citizens, also link to video of event
Congresswoman Dina Titus,
Democrat from
Nevada’s Third District, spoke on the House floor on the
Medicare Premium Fairness Act, which she introduced.
