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But no matter how legislation would be structured, Canadian health experts are warning that the plan could accelerate drug shortages in Canada. Attempting to fill the U.S. consumers' needs with pharmaceuticals from our smaller northern neighbor could not only drain supplies in Canada, but also drive up prices in that government-run health system, opponents say..Until then, many Members of Congress will be holding town hall meetings to address the questions and concerns of their constituents. TSCL encourages its members and supporters to attend these town halls and to ask questions of their elected officials about important Social Security and Medicare issues, like the following four….This week, Members of Congress continued to focus on a series of fiscal 2015 appropriations bills including one that would provide funding for the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition, The Senior Citizens League announced its support for a new piece of legislation, and two key bills gained cosponsors..Two of the most popular Medigap plans, "F" and "C," will no longer be offered for sale in 2020. "While individuals enrolled in these plans may keep their plans, we are concerned that premiums for these plans could rise significantly without younger and healthier new enrollees to spread the costs in those plans," Johnson says..Keep up with the latest. Follow TSCL on Twitter and Facebook..In addition, one new cosponsor Reps. Zoe Lofgren signed on to the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. The cosponsor total is now up to one hundred and forty-eight. If signed into law, H.R. 1179 would amend current Medicare policy to count hospital stays under "observation status" towards the three-day requirement for skilled nursing care. Currently, those under "observation status" don't qualify for coverage of the benefit, and they are often hit with large, unexpected bills after receiving necessary medical care..In her new role as CMS administrator, Verma will report to Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who has authored several Medicare reform plans in recent years. His proposals would increase the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 while adopting a "premium support" model, where beneficiaries would be given vouchers from the federal government to purchase private health insurance..This week, sixteen new cosponsors signed on to H.CON.RES. 72, which expresses the sense of Congress that Social Security and Medicare should be protected from benefit cuts by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. This cosponsor surge brings the total up to 28..Increasing the payroll tax rate gradually by around 1 percent for both workers and employers. Doing so would amount to an additional 50 cents per week for the average American worker an amount that TSCL feels is reasonable.