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Celebrating 35 years of making Medicare more accessible, affordable, and equitable!

Lindsey Copeland

Federal Policy Director

Key BENES Act Provisions Signed into Law

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.

Medicare Rights Provides a Summary of Policy Priorities for the Biden-Harris Administration

The Medicare Rights Center looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to advance policies that protect and strengthen Medicare as well as the health and economic well-being of those who rely on its coverage. To facilitate this dialogue, in the coming weeks we will release a set of detailed administrative actions for their consideration—and possible adoption—in 2021. We will also outline our legislative priorities for the 117th Congress.

Congressional Democrats Seek Clarification from Trump Administration on Part D “Gift Cards”

Yesterday, leading Democrats on U.S. House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over Medicare asked the Trump administration for more information on its rumored plan to send $200 “gift cards” to people with Medicare Part D in the coming weeks. The lawmakers also asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the federal agency charged with oversight of such matters, to conduct an expedited review of the project’s legality.

Working in Washington to Improve Medicare

In recent months, the Medicare Rights Center has been pursuing urgently needed reforms, seeking to improve the federal coronavirus response and advance the bipartisan Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477/S. 1280).

House Democrats Release Updated COVID-19 Relief Bill

The new legislation is an attempt to compromise with the White House and Senate Republicans, who prefer a smaller relief bill. Despite its reduced cost, the bill continues to include many changes that are critical for people with Medicare and their families.

CELEBRATING

YEARS

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Help us honor 35 years of making Medicare more affordable, accessible, and equitable. Sign up to receive special alerts with ways to support our 35 years of service to older adults and people with disabilities. Learn more at www.medicarerights.org/35.