Sources: "Miami Actor, Cable Station Founder, Arrested In Medicare Fraud Takedown," Jay Weaver, The Miami Herald, May 14, 2013. .However, an estimated 15 million Medicare beneficiaries – including new enrollees, those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, high-income beneficiaries, and beneficiaries who do not receive Social Security benefits – will see large premium and deductible hikes in January if Congress does not act before October 15th, less than one week from now. .Based on consumer price index (CPI) data through April of this year, Johnson estimates that the COLA for 2021 will be zero. That estimate could change, however, since there are still five months of consumer price index data to be collected before the Social Security Administration announces the COLA in October. .Source: "The 2018 Long-Term Budget Outlook," The Congressional Budget Office, June 2018. .Even though Medicare recipients getting these services may stay in the hospital overnight or longer, getting the same nursing care, lab tests and drugs as they would if inpatients, their bill will be calculated very differently. Patients admitted for in-patient stays usually are responsible for the Medicare hospital deductible of ,484 for a stay of up to 60 days. They may also pay 20% of doctor charges. Many people have Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans that cover much or even all of this expense. Outpatient services, on the other hand, are charged differently, with the patient paying 20% of the Medicare approved amount for each service. In addition, the new billing changes would hit patients with "facility fees" that can run up to several thousand dollars to cover hospital overhead charges. And since, prescription drug plans don't cover medication for hospital patients, beneficiaries would be charged 100% of the full retail cost of drugs they need, even those they normally routinely take at home. .This week, lawmakers in the Senate held confirmation hearings to question Congressman Tom Price (GA-6) and Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-5), who have been nominated by President Donald Trump to fill important positions in the administration. .In addition, one new cosponsor – Rep. John Duncan, Jr. (TN-2) – signed on to the Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures (PRIME) Act (H.R. 2305). The total is now up to sixty-three. If signed into law, the PRIME Act would take a number of steps to comprehensively prevent fraud, waste, and abuse within the two programs – a problem that TSCL believes must be addressed in order to ensure that scarce program dollars are being spent properly. .TSCL believes that the extreme cost increases are putting Medicare beneficiaries and funding for Part D at risk. "Medicare must be given the authority to negotiate pharmaceutical prices with manufacturers for covered Part D drugs," says Cates. How are rising healthcare costs affecting you? TSCL wants to hear from you, visit . .The number of people receiving benefits.