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📢 URGENT: Protect Medicaid for Millions of People with Medicare

Julie Carter

Senior Federal Policy Associate

New Report Highlights Racial and Economic Disparities in Medicare

Historically, Medicare has done significant work in reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health status and access to health care, including driving the desegregation of America’s hospital systems in the 1960s. However, as a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation demonstrates, that work remains incomplete. Not only do racial and ethnic disparities persist, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated them.

Three Damaging Health Regulations Put Access to Care and Coverage at Risk

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.

Trump Administration Winds Down with Flurry of Regulatory Actions

In the waning days of the Trump administration, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), along with other federal agencies, are rushing to propose and finalize various rules before President-Elect Biden takes office. Many of these rules will face increased legal jeopardy for lacking standard notice-and-comment rulemaking in some way. Others are likely to be delayed or withdrawn by President Biden.

New Paper Suggests Needed Changes to Medicare Appeals Processes

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network released a paper this week that outlines problems and potential solutions for various issues within Medicare appeals processes. The hurdles in various appeals processes can pose insurmountable burdens for people with Medicare who need access to care, services, medication, and items.