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  • Q A September 2021

    The government negotiates prescription drug prices for veterans and Medicaid beneficiaries, but it is barred from negotiating lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries. As a result, seniors enrolled in Part D often pay much higher prices than others for their prescription drugs. What are you doing to correct this unfair policy? .The president might also hurt himself on the campaign trail. Linking prices paid by Medicare to an international index that includes countries with nationalized or government-run health-care systems would undercut one of Trump's favorite criticisms of Democratic proposals: they represent "socialism." .Several lawmakers at Tuesday's hearings voiced concerns about Congressman Mulvaney's Social Security and Medicare reform positions. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) – Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee – said: "The opinions and views of Mr. Mulvaney are way out of touch with what the American people want. And more importantly, they are way, way out of touch with what President Trump campaigned on." Congressman Mulvaney stated, "I haven't exactly been a shy Member of Congress in my six years here, and I don't expect to end that here today or if I am confirmed as Director of OMB." He said he would be "completely and brutally honest" as a budget advisor to President Trump. … Continued

  • Congressional Corner Lets Repeal The Windfall Elimination Provision And Government Pension Offset

    Now we are looking for viral deliverance when drug development is one of the world's most lucrative businesses, ownership of drug patents is disputed in endless court battles, and monopoly power often lets manufacturers set any price, no matter how extraordinary. A new cancer treatment can cost a half-million dollars, and old staples like insulin have risen manifold in price to thousands of dollars annually. .TSCL enthusiastically supports the Strengthening Social Security Act and the Social Security Fairness Act, and we were pleased to see support grow for both of them this week. .The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the rule would be mandatory and will focus on 50 single source drugs and biologic drugs that comprise the largest majority of Medicare Part B drug spending. … Continued

According to the 2020 Social Security Trustees report, which does not include estimates of the impact of the coronavirus, Social Security is expected to receive about 3.3 billion in payroll tax revenues this year. "That estimate is higher than it actually will be, since it was based on just a 5 percent unemployment rate," Johnson notes. "Currently the unemployment numbers are roughly four times higher than that," she points out. In addition, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), allows employers to defer the employer portion of payroll taxes in 2020 for up to two years. .This week, action remained slow on Capitol Hill as the month-long August recess continued. .Homeowners: Are You Covered For The Next Disaster? Maybe Not .Source: James W. Kelley & Joseph R. Humphreys, "Congressional Intent Concerning The Notch Issue: Legislative Background of the 1977 Social Security Amendments," 1994.Source: Congressional Research Service May 24, 1999 .The 2% COLA will raise the average Social Security benefit (currently ,258) about But the overwhelming majority of Social Security recipients will never see it. Medicare Part B premiums for most people will rise considerably and completely offset the COLA increase, after being held at lower adjusted levels, as required by law, over the past two years when there was no COLA. This provision of law that protects Social Security benefits from reductions is known as the "hold harmless" provision. .TSCL supports several bills in the House that would strengthen your Social Security benefits by indexing the COLA using the CPI-E. Visit us at www.SeniorsLeague to learn the latest on this legislation and what you can do to help move this legislation in Congress! .By the end of this year, lawmakers could enact legislation that would trim Social Security benefits, threaten access to care for Medicare beneficiaries, and make millions of immigrants eligible for benefits based on illegal work. With so much currently at stake, it is more important than ever for seniors to learn about – and possibly challenge – the positions of their elected officials. .You should still avoid medium or large-sized gatherings. .However, others at Tuesday's hearing focused on the skyrocketing prescription drug costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. In his opening statement, Ranking Member Ron Wyden (OR) said, "The fact is, seniors are getting pounded by drug costs. And in my view, there is an enormous amount of work that has to be done to guarantee that seniors have affordable access to the medications they need."