Medicare Blog

what is trump doing about medicaid and medicare

by Kirsten Mosciski Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How will trump's health care reform plan change Medicaid?

But Trump is envisioning changing Medicaid altogether; his budget proposes transforming the current pay-as-needed system to a block grant, where states are given a capped lump-sum fund that doesn’t grow with increased need or rising costs. The budget proposes a $1.2 trillion “Market-Based Health Care Grant.”

Will Trump’s budget plan affect Medicare recipients?

But those specifics aside, there’s another reason that Trump’s budget plan is unlikely to have an impact on Medicare recipients – it has almost no chance of becoming reality. Democrats control the House, and an election is on the horizon. What the budget provides is a blueprint for what Trump would try to accomplish if given the opportunity.

Is the Trump administration helping States verify Medicaid coverage?

The Trump Administration is encouraging states to add complexity to their systems for verifying Medicaid coverage.

What are the effects of the Trump administration’s Medicaid restrictions?

Restrictions it has put in place administratively have already cost many thousands of people their health coverage and access to care and could harm millions more. The Trump Administration issued guidance in January 2020 inviting states to seek demonstration projects — known as waivers — that would radically overhaul Medicaid coverage for adults.

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What did Trump do for Medicaid?

A spokesperson for the federal government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the agency was “committed to ensuring that eligible children are enrolled and retained in coverage” and it spent $48 million in grants for outreach and enrollment effort last year.

How much will Medicare cost in 2021?

$148.50The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $148.50 in 2021, an increase of $3.90 from $144.60 in 2020.

Is Medicare coming to an end?

Let's get right to the point: Medicare is not going “broke” and recipients are in no danger of losing their benefits in 2026. However, that does not mean Medicare is healthy. Largely because of the inexorable aging of the Baby Boomers, program costs continue to grow.

Is Congress trying to cut Medicare Advantage?

Most of Congress warns CMS against any Medicare Advantage cuts, calls for benefit flexibility. A large swath of House and Senate lawmakers is pushing the Biden administration not to install any cuts to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in the coming 2023 rates.

What changes are coming to Social Security in 2022?

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022. Read more about the Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment for 2022. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $147,000.

How much does Social Security take out for Medicare each month?

The standard Medicare Part B premium for medical insurance in 2021 is $148.50. Some people who collect Social Security benefits and have their Part B premiums deducted from their payment will pay less.

What would happen if Medicare ended?

Payroll taxes would fall 10 percent, wages would go up 11 percent and output per capita would jump 14.5 percent. Capital per capita would soar nearly 38 percent as consumers accumulated more assets, an almost ninefold increase compared to eliminating Medicare alone.

What changes are coming to Medicare in 2022?

Changes to Medicare in 2022 include a historic rise in premiums, as well as expanded access to mental health services through telehealth and more affordable options for insulin through prescription drug plans. The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans dropped while access to plans grew.

What big changes are coming to Medicare?

The annual Part B deductible will be $233 this year, an increase of $30. For Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalizations, hospice care and some nursing facility and home health services, the inpatient deductible that enrollees must pay for each hospital admission will be $1,556, an increase of $72 over 2021.

Are Democrats trying to cut Medicare Advantage?

Sadly, as part of their push for the $5 billion socialist Build Back Better agenda, Democrats proposed spending $285 billion to pull beneficiaries away from Medicare Advantage—despite its popularity among seniors—into an outdated single-payer system that rewards volume over value.

Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?

If they don't say under budget, they end up losing money. Meaning, you may not receive the full extent of care. Thus, many doctors will likely tell you they do not like Medicare Advantage plans because private insurance companies make it difficult for them to get paid for their services.

Is Medicare holding payments for 2022?

The House passed its own extension earlier this month, but the Senate version included several changes. A major difference was the Senate took out a provision that also prevented a 4% Medicare payment cut from taking effect in 2022. Because the Senate altered the bill, the House must pass the moratorium again.

What is the cost of Medicare Part B for 2022?

$170.10The standard Part B premium amount in 2022 is $170.10. Most people pay the standard Part B premium amount. If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount, you'll pay the standard premium amount and an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).

How much is the Medicare deductible for 2022?

$233The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $233 in 2022, an increase of $30 from the annual deductible of $203 in 2021.

Will Medicare premiums increase in 2022?

CMS is still assessing other current and projected Medicare Part B costs to inform the premium recommendation for 2023, which will be announced in Fall 2022 consistent with the statutory process. In November 2021, CMS announced that the Part B standard monthly premium increased from $148.50 in 2021 to $170.10 in 2022.

What changes are coming to Medicare in 2021?

The Medicare Part B premium is $148.50 per month in 2021, an increase of $3.90 since 2020. The Part B deductible also increased by $5 to $203 in 2021. Medicare Advantage premiums are expected to drop by 11% this year, while beneficiaries now have access to more plan choices than in previous years.

How much will the Social Security cut?

In all, the cuts to Social Security amount to $25 billion over the next 10 years, cutting roughly $10 billion from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, which the administration says will be found through cutting down on fraud — a common conservative talking point.

How much is Medicare cut?

But $269 billion of that figure is reclassified under the Department of Health and Human Services, bringing the Medicare cuts to $575 billion. As Vox explained, the administration says it will achieve these cost reductions by targeting wasteful spending and provider payments and lowering prescription drug costs.

How much will Trump spend on Medicaid in 2020?

Over the next 10 years, Trump’s 2020 budget proposal aims to spend $1.5 trillion less on Medicaid — instead allocating $1.2 trillion in a block-grant program to states — $25 billion less on Social Security, and $845 billion less on Medicare (some of that is reclassified to a different department). Their intentions are to cut benefits ...

What are the changes to Medicaid and Social Security?

But when it comes to Trump’s proposed changes to Medicaid and Social Security, the intent is unambiguous: These are cuts to benefits. The 2020 budget’s Medicaid reforms include adding work requirements and repealing Medicaid expansion and one of the most successful policies within the Affordable Care Act.

Does Medicare Part D raise out of pocket costs?

Medicare Part D is the only area of these reforms that could raise out-of-pocket drug prices for some while lowering it for others. Otherwise, premiums, deductibles, and copays would largely be left unaffected. Unsurprisingly, the Federation of American Hospitals is not a fan of this part of Trump’s budget proposal.

Will Trump cut Medicare?

President Donald Trump’s 2020 budget breaks one of his biggest campaign promises to voters: that he would leave Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare untouched. “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid,” Trump told the Daily Signal, a conservative publication affiliated ...

How long does the Biden administration have to reverse the decision?

The Biden administration, however, is expected to oppose the approval, which lasts 10 years. While incoming officials can reverse the decision, the state can request a hearing to challenge that determination. The overturning of approvals has rarely, if ever, happened.

How much does the federal government pay for medicaid?

Funding for Medicaid, which covers more than one in five Americans, is now open-ended, with the federal government paying more than 60% of total Medicaid costs and states shouldering about 40% of the bill.

Does Tennessee have Medicaid?

Tennessee is one of a dozen states that has not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act. Block grant opponents, however, say that the arrangement could lead to Tennessee reducing enrollment or benefits to enhance its potential savings and stay under the cap.

Is Tennessee getting a modified block grant?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Friday granted Tennessee's request to turn its federal Medicaid funding arrangement into a so-called modified block grant. It is the first state to receive such permission and is similar to a guidance the agency issued in early 2020.

When is Pelosi's next news conference?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speak during a news conference, on Capitol Hill, Feb.11, 2020 in Washington, D.C. "Don’t get in front of an audience and say I’m here to protect Medicare and Social Security … and put a budget like this forward," Pelosi told reporters on Tuesday.

When is the next press conference for Alex Azar?

7, 2020 , in Washington, D.C.

When is the State of the Union speech?

President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Nancy Pelosi look on. There’s no doubt the president’s budget plan would whack away at federal spending on health care over ...

Does the President's proposed budget include work requirements?

President's proposed budget includes work requirements as a condition of eligibility for #Medicaid for non-exempt adults.

Did Trump touch Medicare?

President Donald Trump said he wouldn’t touch Medicare before pitching a budget plan that would do exactly that, along with steep cuts to Medicaid.

Who said the Kaiser plan cuts the growth in Medicare spending without actually cutting benefits for current enrollees?

Tricia Neuman , a policy expert at the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, said the administration is right that the plan cuts the growth in Medicare spending without actually cutting benefits for current enrollees.

Fact check: 'Record' job gains still leave the U.S. labor market in worse shape than Great Recession

On the last night of his party’s convention, President Trump bragged about “record” job gains in recent months, but the 9.1 million jobs he touts come with some qualifiers.

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

While President Trump launched attack after attack on Joe Biden, he left out a number of his favorite topics of criticism in his acceptance speech.

Fact check: Trump claims Biden wants to 'close all charter schools.' That's false

"Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and close all charter schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for Black and Hispanic children," Trump claimed on Tuesday night.

Fact check: Trump repeats out-of-context Biden comment to mislead on police stance

President Trump, arguing that Americans wouldn't be safe under Joe Biden, repeated a claim Mike Pence made Wednesday, quoting the former vice president as saying, "Yes, absolutely," as a response to whether he'd broadly support cutting funding for law enforcement.

Fact check: Trump boasts of delivering PPE early in pandemic, doesn't mention ongoing shortages

"We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves and gowns to our frontline health care workers.

Trump mentions Kenosha, not Jacob Blake

Midway through his speech Thursday, Donald Trump mentioned Kenosha, Wisconsin — but did not make mention of Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by the city's police.

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.".

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.

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.

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, ...

Who is Patrick Chovanec?

Patrick Chovanec, an economic advisor at Silvercrest Asset Management and an adjunct professor at Columbia University, explained the concerns about the executive order on Twitter. "Here's the problem: payroll taxes go exclusively to fund Medicare and Social Security, and however much they dislike those payroll taxes, ...

Who is Rashida Tlaib?

Representative Rashida Tlaib, a progressive Democrat from Michigan, shared a similar assessment. "Just so we're all clear on this, payroll taxes fund social security and to some extent Medicare. These systems, which have helped generations retire and live, are already underfunded.

How much did Louisiana save in 2017?

Since then, Louisiana topped 500,000 enrollees last year and reported savings of $199 million in 2017 and $350 million in 2018 because the federal government picked up a much larger share of the state's health care tab for the poor. This change could challenge those outcomes.

Which states have block grants?

Still, block grants could be attractive to the growing number of states — most recently Idaho, Utah and Nebraska during the 2018 election — where frustrated voters have pursued ballot initiatives to expand Medicaid, as their Republican legislatures had chosen not to pursue it themselves.

Will the Trump administration take legal action on Medicaid?

The Trump administration is expected to see legal action, as most critics argue that this kind of overhaul to Medicaid funding would have to be taken to Congress for approval.

Can states cap the cash they receive from the federal government at a lump sum based on enrollment or a number

Under the new option, states can choose to cap the cash they receive from the federal government at a lump sum based on enrollment or a number negotiated with the CMS. That would likely be attractive to red states that want to limit spending, maintain greater flexibility, limit the size of the overall program and share in ...

Did the GOP repeal Obamacare?

Republicans have tried to provide states block grants in lieu of traditional Medicaid funding in the past, most recently through failed legislation in 2017, when the GOP tried to repeal and replace Obamacare. They also failed to pass a bill during President George W. Bush's administration that would have changed the funding formula.

How much does Medicare pay for Part B and D?

Medicare’s high-income premium surcharges will carry even more of a bite for wealthier enrollees. Those making more than $500,000 a year ($750,000 for couples) will pay 85 percent of the actual costs of Part B and D in 2019, up from 80 percent this year. Most Medicare enrollees pay premiums that equal about 25 percent of these costs.

When will Medicare waive late enrollment penalties?

To help them with this transition, Medicare has waived late-enrollment penalties until the end of September.

How much is the penalty for Part D?

Right now, that’s roughly $30 a month, so the penalty would be 30 cents for each month you are late.

How long have people been bumped against the cap?

People with persistent therapy needs have bumped against these caps for more than 20 years, and Congress has regularly eased those rules. While claims above current cap levels may be subject to review, people who legitimately need extensive therapy will not have to depend on year-to-year congressional fixes.

Does Medicare give discounts to Part D?

People with commercial health insurance regularly get manufacturer discounts, which can save them thousands of dollars a year on costly medications. Medicare prohibits such manufacturer discounts , and while pharmaceutical companies do provide hefty discounts to Part D insurers, they are not passed along to consumers.

Do insurers use Part D discounts?

Part D insurers generally oppose the change, saying that the industry currently uses the discounts to subsidi ze Part D premiums, and that all consumers would face sharply higher premiums if discounts were shared with the relatively small number of consumers who need expensive medications.

When will the coverage gap end?

The much-maligned coverage gap (or donut hole) in these plans has been shrinking for years under the Affordable Care Act, and was supposed to end in 2020, at which time consumers in the gap would pay no more than 25 percent of the costs of their drugs. That end date was moved up a year to 2019.

What is the Trump Administration doing about telehealth?

The Trump Administration today announced expanded Medicare telehealth coverage that will enable beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility.

When will Medicare start paying for telehealth?

Beginning on March 6, 2020 , Medicare—administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—will temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services for beneficiaries residing across the entire country.

Who can offer telehealth to Medicare?

A range of healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers, will be able to offer telehealth to Medicare beneficiaries. Beneficiaries will be able to receive telehealth services in any healthcare facility including a physician’s office, hospital, ...

Can a beneficiary receive telehealth services in their home?

In addition, the beneficiary would generally not be allowed to receive telehealth services in their home. The Trump Administration previously expanded telehealth benefits.

Does Medicare have virtual check ins?

Over the last two years, Medicare expanded the ability for clinicians to have brief check-ins with their patients through phone, video chat and online patient portals, referred to as “virtual check-ins”.

When will doctors bill for 2020?

Clinicians can bill immediately for dates of service starting March 6, 2020.

Does Medicaid have to reimburse for telehealth?

No federal approval is needed for state Medicaid programs to reimburse providers for telehealth services in the same manner or at the same rate that states pay for face-to-face services. This guidance follows on President Trump’s call for all insurance companies to expand and clarify their policies around telehealth.

How long will Trump shrink the federal government?

President Trump is proposing to balance the federal budget within 15 years, “shrink” the federal government and extend food stamp work requirements to Medicaid and housing programs in a $4.8 trillion spending plan being released Monday.

Why did Trump declare a state of emergency?

Trump declared a state of emergency in February 2019 to move money from military construction projects and counternarcotics programs to get more money. The administration has shifted $6.7 billion from those programs and plans to divert another $7.2 billion this year.

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