VP Vance and Mehmet Oz Turn Medicaid into a Weapon in Minnesota
In a move of partisan pettiness, the Trump administration has “temporarily halted” $260 million in Medicaid reimbursements owed to the state
Trump Offers Seniors Lies & Empty Promises in State of the Union Speech
Last night, Donald Trump delivered a bloated, hyper-partisan spectacle that did nothing to reassure the concerns of older Americans. In fact, the president attempted to mislead seniors about the administration’s policies that most seriously affect them.
“The state of the union speech was theatrics over substance. And it was brazenly partisan,” said NCPSSM president and CEO, Max Richtman. “Trump’s brand of political performance art is no substitute for leadership that improves the lives of Americans of all ages, including our nation’s seniors.”
Medicare Turned 60! Here’s Why We Can’t Simply Celebrate
Medicare turns 60 years old today. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law on July 30, 1965, giving seniors a guarantee of health coverage that never existed before. Prior to Medicare’s enactment, it was nearly impossible for older people to obtain health insurance, as they were considered a ‘bad risk.’
Hopes that Senate Would Mitigate Medicaid & SNAP Cuts Have Been Dashed
Many who analyzed the reconciliation bill narrowly approved by the House of Representatives in a 215-214 vote on May 22nd hoped that the U.S. Senate would temper unaffordable tax cuts for the wealthy — and avoid slashing Medicaid and SNAP. Those hopes have been dashed by Senate Republicans on the Finance and Agriculture Committees, who propose to end Medicaid and SNAP as we know them – as lifelines for millions of Americans across the country who need reliable access to basic health care and food to survive.
The Devastating Consequences of GOP Medicaid Cuts
House Republicans have taken another major step toward gutting the Medicaid program to pay for tax cuts largely benefitting their wealthy donors. On May 14, the GOP-controlled House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved budget legislation that slashes Medicaid funding by a jaw-dropping $717 billion over the next decade.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the Republican budget could strip health coverage from at least 13.7 million people. “Republicans are cutting them adrift, with no place else to turn for medical care except perhaps the emergency room,” says NCPSSM President Max Richtman, who labeled it “the most massive cut in Medicaid’s 60-year history.”
Why We Endorsed Kamala Harris for President of the United States
“The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare proudly endorses Kamala Harris for President of the United States. As Vice President, she has championed President Biden’s policies on behalf of older Americans --- including strengthening Social Security and Medicare and lowering prescription drug prices for seniors. She has been in lockstep with the President in his pledge to protect Americans’ earned benefits against Republican proposals to cut and privatize them --- including Donald Trump.
Harris Likely to Sustain Biden’s Social Security, Medicare, Rx Drug Policies
As we have noted many times, the President has fought especially hard for American seniors --- by lowering prescription drug prices, strengthening Medicare, and advocating improvements to Social Security --- which is why he earned our endorsement in June. His heir apparent, Vice President Harris, has been in lockstep with President Biden on these crucial issues.
Why GOP Medicaid Work Requirements Are Such an Awful Idea
The House Republicans' debt ceiling bill includes drastic cuts to federal programs that seniors and other vulnerable Americans rely on. But it also imposes work requirements on lower income people who receive health coverage through Medicaid. Under the GOP plan, Medicaid patients would have to work at least 80 hours per month or lose their coverage. We spoke to the National Committee's senior health policy expert, Anne Montgomery, about why this is such a harmful proposal.
NCPSSM-Endorsed Candidate Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
The National Committee-endorsed candidate in the pivotal Wisconsin State Supreme Court race prevailed in yesterday’s elections. Judge Janet Protasiewicz bested her opponent, Daniel Kelly, by 10 points on Tuesday, changing the complexion of the court. Liberals will now be in the majority for the first time in some fifteen years.
Republicans Are Playing With Fire – and Seniors’ Earned Benefits – By Risking Default
Today’s breaching of the debt ceiling by the U.S. government is making seniors’ advocates nervous. The federal government is now on track to default on its financial obligations (including the ability to make Social Security and Medicare payments) as early as June --- unless Congress raises the debt ceiling, which it has done 78 times since 1960. As CNN's Jake Tapper put it, "Republicans are vowing to cut future spending before agreeing to pay bills that are already due."