The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that, during the last week of May, Medicare beneficiaries across the country should begin receiving copies of a brochure “Medicare and the New Health Law – What it Means for You” (Spanish version) in their mailboxes. The mailing from CMS outlines key provisions of the Affordable Care Act for people with Medicare as well as members of their families. The mailing is being sent in both English and Spanish.
The first benefit that many people with Medicare will receive as a result of the passage of the new law is a one-time check for $250, if they enter the Part D donut hole and are not eligible for Medicare Extra Help. Beginning next year, the health care reform law ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will get free preventive care services like colorectal cancer screening and mammograms, in addition to a free annual wellness visit. The law also includes new tools to help fight fraud by helping Medicare crack down on criminals who are seeking to scam seniors and steal taxpayer dollars.
This story from the Associated Press outlines how the new health care law gives the government new tools and new resources for fighting waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare.
Read how “sacm artists are working overtime” and “preying on the fears and confusion” around the new health care law. Also, get advice from AARP about how to protect yourself from health insurance scams.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is holding a webchat on April 22, 1 p.m. EST, to discuss how the Affordable Care Act will affect America’s seniors. You can e-mail questions for the webchat to healthreform@hhs.gov. You can join the webchat at www.healthreform.gov .
The new initiatives provide a big dose of prevention in an effort to counter the powerful forces that encourage people to engage in sedentary lifestyles, to smoke and to eat fatty, high-calorie foods, reports The New York Times.
The Elder Justice Act was added into the Senate health care bill by Senator
Blanche Lincoln (D‐Ark.) a co‐author of the measure and a member of
the Finance Committee. Read more about Elder Justice Act.
On March 11, 2010, President Barack Obama spoke to a group in St. Louis about an expansion of a program that uses outside auditors to review Medicare and Medicaid billing records to root out overpayments and mistakes. Auditors would be paid based on how many errors they uncover.
during his visit to St. Charles. The president’s appearance, and the protests it inspired, made for compelling television. There was no shortage of political analysis, before or after. But the policy proposals the president outlined did not get the same attention. Read more.
On Feb. 3, 2010, President Obama called on Congress to move forward on a final vote regarding health care reform.
“Reform has already passed the House with a majority. It has already passed the Senate with a supermajority of 60 votes,” Mr. Obama said. “And now it deserves the same kind of up or down vote that was cast on welfare reform, that was cast on the Children’s Health Insurance Program, that was used for Cobra health coverage for the unemployed and, by the way, for both Bush tax cuts — all of which had to pass Congress with nothing more than a simple majority.” Read more.
Congressional leaders’ plan is to pass the Senate bill with some changes to accommodate House Democrats, senior Democratic aides said. Read more.
According to Michael McAuliff in the New York Daily News, “If health care reform fails completely, nearly everyone agrees on this: We’re all gonna pay. But, that’s where President Obama’s push for an overhaul may be headed.” Read more about health reform failing.
Read this New York Times article on the “new search for consensus.”
Read this new analysis from the National Senior Citizens Law Center.
House Reportedly Wants National Exchange In Return For Dropping Public Option
In place of a public option, House Democrats are reportedly interested in a national insurance exchange where the uninsured can buy coverage. Read more.
Congress May Bypass Conference Committee
Democrats appear likely to side-step a formal conference committee process regarding the merging of the two health care reform bills. Read more.
Senate Passes Health Care Reform Bill
With a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate on Dec. 24, 2009, passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it’s version of health care reform. Read more.
Senate Health Reform Vote Scheduled for Thursday Morning
Senators will vote on the morning of Dec. 24, 2009, on their health reform bill. Read more.
On Dec. 21, 2009, the American Medical Association (AMA) endorsed the Senate’s health care reform bill. The endorsement is a significant boost for the legislation. Read more.
As the Senate continues to debate its health overhaul bill, National Public Radio (NPR) continues to check the debate’s accuracy, especially the assertions about the life of the Medicare program.
TIME magazine discusses possible advantages and disadvantages of the recent Senate proposal to expand Medicare coverage to include Americans aged 55-64.
According to The Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has a plan “in which the massive overhaul of the nation’s health system could pass by the end of the year.”
The New York Times reported on Dec. 10, 2009, that Senate leaders are split over a proposed amendment that would allow Americans to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada and certain other countries.
The New York Times reported that on Dec. 8, 2009, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that “a broad agreement” for the disputed public option had been reached by a group of 10 Democratic senators. The proposed government-run health insurance plan is seen by many as the biggest obstacle to passing a health care reform bill. Although “Reid refused to provide details,” the Times noted that “under the agreement, people ages 55 to 64 could ‘buy in’ to Medicare.”
Seniors to Seniors commends the Senate for voting to retain the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act in the Senate’s health reform legislation. The CLASS Act provisions would provide choice and flexibility to elders, people with disabilities and their caregivers while encouraging personal responsibility. It is a voluntary program that will provide more access to home and community-based services while having no impact on the federal deficit.
Our current system of caring for people is expensive, fragmented and unsustainable. We must seize the opportunity of health reform to enact this program.
Read his letter to President Obama.
Senate says “No” on McCain Amendment, “Yes” on Bennet AmendmentBy a vote of 42-58, the Senate defeated Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) amendment to the Senate Health Care Reform bill that would have continued wasteful Medicare spending threatening Medicare’s future, and which all the major Senior organizations opposed.
A coalition of organizations that have served seniors for years say Sen. McCain ‘s
amendment would have killed health reform in the Senate, stopped improvements to Medicare, and allowed private insurance companies to keep inflated profits at the expense of people with Medicare. Below you can read why these organization supported the amendment by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) that would guarantee no benefit cuts and keep Medicare savings in Medicare. Sen. Bennet’s amendment passed by a vote of 100-0.
When you enter your phone number below, an automated service will call you and direct your senator. When you are connected, tell the person who answers that you are a senior (or someone concerned about a senior) and that you want your senator to support health reform.
