The long-awaited vaccine to protect against COVID-19 is being distributed to health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, and, in some states, older adults who live in the community. Some state and local governments have encountered administrative difficulties and disruptions, slowing the roll out. These problems, coupled with the […]
The non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently released an issue brief on the various state Medicaid waivers issued by the Trump administration and what options the Biden administration may have to consolidate, delay, or reverse them. Medicaid waivers allow states to implement changes to their Medicaid programs that would otherwise […]
At the end of 2020, Congress passed sweeping legislation addressing the COVID-19 public health emergency, updating Medicare and Medicaid policies, funding the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year, and extending essential health care programs. While the bill’s COVID-19 relief was necessary and important to ensure equitable access […]
The Medicare Rights Center looks forward to working with the Biden administration to protect and strengthen Medicare as well as the health and economic well-being of those who rely on its coverage. To facilitate this dialogue, we recently submitted a set of recommended actions for the administration’s consideration. Our memo is rooted […]
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that Americans age 65 and older, and those with medical conditions that put them at risk for severe disease from the novel coronavirus, should be prioritized for vaccination. The Secretary of HHS, Alex Azar, said that states with higher […]
In a new report, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) examines the potential impact of new transparency rules on consumer behavior and market pricing. The authors find that although increased transparency may not immediately reduce costs, it could inform future policymaking that does. Generally, health insurers and providers negotiate prices for […]
Medicare Rights strongly condemns the shameful violence and destruction at the U.S. Capitol, as well as those who incited and enabled it. From our offices in Washington, D.C. and New York, we continue to be deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of lawmakers and staff in the Capitol, and […]
On December 23, Congress passed several key provisions of the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (S. 1280/H.R. 2477) as part of a comprehensive legislative package. Signed into law days later, these policies will update Medicare enrollment rules for the first time in over 50 years to end lengthy waits for coverage, expand critical administrative flexibilities, and inform future policymaking on enrollment period alignment.
As the end of the Trump presidency nears, his administration continues to try and push through last-minute regulations that could have sweeping effects on access to health care and coverage. These regulations affect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act , putting millions of older adults, people with disabilities, and families at risk.
