From DC is Justice in Ageing’s weekly roundup of nationwide information and assets about points impacting older adults. To obtain From DC in your inbox as quickly as its revealed, join our mailing checklist.
Right here’s what we’re watching in Washington:
Be a part of a Digital City Corridor with Senate Management to Defend Medicaid
Subsequent week, Congress returns from recess and is predicted to show their consideration to price range reconciliation. The price range blueprints into account name for large cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (SNAP), and different packages older adults depend on to fulfill their primary wants.
On Wednesday, March 26, Senate Democrats are internet hosting a digital city corridor to speak in regards to the struggle to defend well being care from efforts to kick individuals off Medicaid and let tax credit expire for individuals who purchase medical health insurance on their very own.
Members will hear from advocates in communities throughout the nation who’re mobilizing to verify the message will get by means of: Congress can’t reduce healthcare to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and rich firms. If you join, you can even share your story, which will probably be despatched on to Senators out of your state. Register for the digital city corridor right here.
To be taught extra in regards to the threats to Medicaid, register for Justice in Ageing’s webinar on March 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET and discover our assets on Medicaid Protection.
Congress Passes Yr-Lengthy Persevering with Decision
Final week, Congress handed a stopgap funding invoice (generally known as a seamless decision, or CR), to fund the federal authorities by means of the remainder of fiscal 12 months (FY) 2025. The CR will expire on September 30.
Beneath a CR, funding for federal packages typically stay on the identical degree because the prior fiscal 12 months, with some changes. This new invoice:
- Continues funding for outreach and enrollment help for low-income Medicare enrollees;
- Maintains Older People Act funding at FY 2024 ranges; and
- Contains funding to principally preserve present ranges of help in some key housing packages, comparable to Housing Alternative (“Part 8”) Vouchers and Part 202 housing for seniors. Nevertheless, the CR will end in a $150-$200 million shortfall for homeless help packages, which can have an effect on providers for an estimated 18,500 households.
The CR is separate from price range reconciliation. Congress will proceed negotiating a reconciliation invoice within the coming weeks.
SSA to Considerably Limit Cellphone Service for Social Safety Candidates and Recipients
The Social Safety Administration (SSA) just lately introduced that, beginning March 31, it is going to now not permit Social Safety candidates and recipients to confirm their identities over the cellphone.
As an alternative, SSA would require individuals making use of for or receiving Social Safety advantages to confirm their id on-line or in-person at an SSA area workplace to finish purposes or make sure modifications. These restrictions in cellphone service come amidst record-low staffing ranges at SSA and plans to additional reduce employees and shut places of work.
SSA’s coverage change will hurt older adults and other people with disabilities, who might have extra problem accessing or navigating the web and in-person visits. Advocates additionally anticipate substantial profit delays.
Learn extra about considerations over SSA’s new coverage, and take a look at Justice in Ageing’s truth sheet about how Social Safety is Very important to People Nationwide.
Laws Launched to Add Dental, Imaginative and prescient, Listening to to Medicare
Final week, Senator Sanders and Consultant Doggett launched bicameral laws (S.939/H.R. 2045) that may add dental, listening to, and imaginative and prescient protection to Medicare. Justice in Ageing has lengthy advocated for the inclusion of complete oral well being protection in Medicare in Half B and absolutely helps this laws.
Immediately, the absence of dental care in Medicare is a major barrier to accessing oral well being care and exacerbates racial, geographic, and disability-related well being and wealth disparities. Including a dental profit to Medicare Half B would lengthen protection to all 68 million Medicare enrollees and combine oral well being care with different medical care.
Learn extra in regards to the Medicare Dental, Listening to, and Imaginative and prescient Growth Act on this one-page abstract.
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