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On behalf of the Board of Trustees and all TSCL members, we would like to send a hearty "thank-you," to the Members of Congress and their staff for meeting with us..Burwell Nomination Advances.Low-income beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. According to the Congressional Research Service, state Medicaid programs pay the Medicare Part B premiums of about 18% of Medicare beneficiaries. Although this group is not protected by the hold harmless provision, because their state Medicaid program pays their Medicare premium it is not deducted from their Social Security. Increases in Part B premiums would not reduce their Social Security their benefits..Can you afford a 24% cut in your Social Security check? Can you afford to pay even more than you do now for your health care after you get a 24% cut in your Social Security?.MA plans include Part D and other benefits: Nearly 90% of MA plans come with drug coverage and often include some additional benefits. Before switching it's important to check the MA plan coverage for the drugs you currently take and compare that coverage with your best Part D drug plan choice. If you haven't checked your Part D plan choices recently you may have less costly choices for stand-alone drug plans. The best way for you to compare MA plan and drug plan choices is to do a drug plan comparison based on the drugs you take using the drug plan finder on Medicare's website..It is time to invest in these essential caregivers and our seniors. It is for this reason that I introduced H.R. 4445, the Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 201The bill would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish six, three-year demonstration projects to test models of care using direct-care workers in advanced roles. These demonstrations would focus on care coordination and improved delivery of health services for older adults with chronic illness or at-risk of re-hospitalization. Two projects would train DCWs to take on increased responsibilities related to caring for patients with specific diseases, including Alzheimer's, dementia, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. Two additional projects would include DCWs as members of interdisciplinary care coordination teams and use their abilities to promote smooth transitions in care. The final two would use DCWs to monitor patient health status, help consumers follow prescribed care, and educate consumers and family caregiver..Two Key Bills Gain Support.What financial actions have you been forced to take over the past 12 months? Please take TSCL's new Retirement Survey and let us know!.Permanent Cuts to Payroll Tax would Devastate Social Security/Medicare

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I have been investigating the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs for some time. During my investigation, I have been contacted by a huge range of people - patients, doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers - all warning about massive price increases of certain medications. They gave me example, after example, of drug prices that have been jacked up repeatedly - with no apparent justification, and with no evident link to any increases in the costs of manufacturing these drugs..On Monday, President Obama's November immigration orders which TSCL's members and supporters overwhelmingly oppose according to recent poll results were temporarily halted by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas. Judge Hanen did not rule on the legality of the President's orders on Tuesday the lawsuit is expected to take many months to complete. Instead, he issued a 123-page temporary injunction on the grounds that President Obama's orders did not go through the proper procedures, which require public notices and comment periods. Judge Hanen wrote: "This is not the end of the inquiry; in fact, in this case, it is really the tip of the iceberg.".This week, The Senior Citizens League released its annual "Loss of Buying Power" study, which found that Social Security benefits have lost 34 percent of their purchasing power since 2000. In addition, lawmakers in the House and Senate left Washington for the holiday recess. … Continued

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"These practices pose a risk of severe tissue damage and corrosive injury and should be strictly avoided," the CDC researchers wrote in a paper, published in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "Although adverse health effects reported by respondents could not be attributed to their engaging in high-risk practices, the association between these high-risk practices and reported health effects indicates a need for public health messaging regarding safe and effective cleaning practices aimed at preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in households.".However, a rift has developed among Democrats in the House of Representatives. Those who want to empower the government to demand lower prices from drug makers are concerned that moderates in their party are now emboldened to blunt their ambitious drug-pricing agenda..TSCL believes Congress will need to make some difficult spending cut decisions, and soon, in order to find the savings needed to address Medicare shortfalls, while ensuring access to doctors and adequate Medicare coverage without reducing benefits. Notch Babies who turn 85 to 94 this year are hit particularly hard because they are at the age when they are more likely to have chronic health conditions that require costly treatment. … Continued