Our organizations signify older adults and folks with disabilities who depend on Medicare and Medicaid for life-saving well being care. We condemn the Home’s passage of devastating cuts to Medicaid and Medicare that can hurt tens of millions of beneficiaries and their households. We urge the Senate to reject these merciless cuts to important well being care.
The laws consists of drastic cuts to Medicaid that can hurt Medicare beneficiaries and all older adults and folks with disabilities who obtain long-term care in nursing amenities and at residence. The invoice additionally mandates harsh work necessities for adults as much as age 65, which in actuality operate as cuts to Medicaid by one other title. Many Medicaid beneficiaries who will likely be kicked off of Medicaid because of the purple tape of labor necessities are individuals with disabilities, older adults, and their caregivers.
The laws additionally delays implementation of the historic nursing residence staffing rule that may have improved take care of residents and supported nursing residence employees. Analysis estimated that the staffing rule would save 13,000 residents’ lives every year. Postponement will jeopardize the well being, security, and lives of nursing residence residents.
The invoice rolls again guidelines that assist low-income people enroll in applications that help with their out-of-pocket Medicare prices—a direct assault on the bottom earnings Medicare beneficiaries. It additionally units a chilling precedent of really terminating Medicare protection for sure immigrant beneficiaries who’ve paid into the Medicare program and are at present enrolled.
Lastly, the invoice as written threatens Medicare’s sustainability by triggering large future cuts to this system. Almost $500 billion in Medicare cuts could be required, with an estimated $45 billion occurring as quickly as fiscal yr 2026.
By callously stripping away crucial well being and long-term care, this laws undermines Medicare and can inflict actual ache, actual struggling and even demise on older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their households. We name on the Senate to push again on this cruelty by rejecting the laws.
