Does Trump want to defund Social Security and Medicare?
Concerns Mount After President's Executive Order President Donald Trump's Saturday decision to sign an executive order to defer payroll taxes has fueled concerns that he is attempting to defund Social Security and Medicare, with the latest order drawing criticism from conservatives and liberals alike.
Did president Trump sign these Medicare changes into law?
President Trump signed these Medicare changes into law. Here’s what to watch for Editor’s Note: Journalist Philip Moeller is here to provide the answers you need on aging and retirement.
Did Trump's fiscal-year 2018 budget cut Medicare and Social Security?
His fiscal-year 2018 budget (proposed in 2017) did not include proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security, but would have made cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance, which would have affected nearly 10 million people.
Will Trump's tax cuts deplet Social Security?
And Trump has said that he would make “permanent cuts” to the payroll tax — action that would require congressional approval — if he wins in November. Some experts have said that move could, in theory, totally deplete Social Security by 2023.
What does Medicare mean by "liberating telemedicine"?
In Medicare, so far, that means liberating telemedicine, liberating Accountable Care Organizations, ending payment incentives that are driving doctors to become hospital employees, promoting hospital price transparency, deregulating paperwork and creating more transparency in the market for prescription drugs.
When will Medicare start telemedicine?
Beginning in 2020 , Medicare Advantage plans and Next Generation ACOs (see below) may seek and obtain waivers to use telemedicine for the monitoring and treatment of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions. If things go well, expect more liberalization in the future. Liberating ACOs.
Is the Trump administration changing Medicare?
The Trump administration is making fundamental changes to the Medicare program. These reforms are every bit as radical as the changes we have seen in federal policy governing employer-provided coverage and the market for individual insurance. Further, it seems likely that the changes initiated so far are only the beginning ...
Can MA plans pay for telehealth?
But MA plans cannot pay their own doctors to conduct remote consultations with their patients.
Who is suing to block the rule change?
The American Hospital Association is suing to block the rule change. But this illustrates something important about the powers of the executive branch. Many of the reforms described here would have been done by Congress – but for the influence of powerful special interests.
Can doctors bill Medicare for Skype?
The CMS is acting aggressively to change that. As of January 1 of this year, doctors in MA plans and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) can now bill Medicare if they use the phone, email, Skype and other technologies to consult with patients remotely to determine if they need an in-office visit.
What did Pelosi and Schumer say about Trump's executive order?
In a joint statement, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, warned that Trump's executive order would "endanger seniors' Social Security and Medicare.".
Do Democrats support Medicare expansion?
To the contrary, many Democrats currently support expanding Social Security and Medicare. Addressing the concerns on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the president was not trying to defund the programs. "He will protect Social Security and Medicare, as he has pledged to do many, ...
Is there a payroll tax holiday?
Democratic and Republican lawmakers had largely dismissed the idea of a payroll tax holiday in stimulus talks with the White House. Workers currently pay a 6.2 percent payroll tax out of every paycheck, which would be deferred under the executive order through the end of 2020.
Does Trump have the power to rewrite the payroll tax law?
"President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law. Under the Constitution, that power belongs to the American people acting through their members of Congress," Sasse said.
The payroll tax funds Medicare and Social Security
The federal government imposes a 15.3% levy on wages known as the payroll tax. It's evenly divided between employers and workers, and most of it goes to fund Social Security. It also helps to finance Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people over the age of 65 and for younger Americans with disabilities.
Medicare and Social Security's finances are already shaky
Economists from the left-leaning Center for American Progress warned on Thursday that Trump's push to enact a payroll tax cut could further erode their shaky finances.
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Trump usually includes new material in major speeches. Not tonight
President Trump spoke for roughly 70 minutes on Thursday, one of the longest convention speeches in modern history.
Trump speech missing several of his favorite talking points
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Fact check: Trump repeats out-of-context Biden comment to mislead on police stance
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"We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves and gowns to our frontline health care workers.
Trump mentions Kenosha, not Jacob Blake
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