Medicare

• KHN: The Public Backs Medicare Rx Price Negotiation Even After Hearing Both Sides’ Views

  October 12, 2021: As Congress debates cutting prescription drug costs, a poll released Tuesday found the vast majority of adults — regardless of their political party or age — support letting the federal government negotiate drug prices for Medicare beneficiar...Read more >

• CEOs Against Medicare Price Negotiation Were Paid $400 Million Collectively Last Year

  October 04, 2021: The fight over allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and use the savings to expand guaranteed dental, hearing and vision benefits, continued in earnest on Capitol Hill this week. Executives from 33 pharmaceutical corporations sent a le...Read more >

• Alliance Fighting for Lower Drug Prices as Debate Heats up in Congress

  September 27, 2021: Alliance members in key congressional districts continued their efforts this week to persuade four moderate House Democrats who voted in Committee against allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. House members Stephanie Murphy (FL), Scott...Read more >

• Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Proposal Blocked in Committee

  September 22, 2021: Democratic Reps. Scott Peters (CA), Kathleen Rice (NY) and Kurt Schrader (OR) cast the deciding votes against allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices Wednesday. The 29-29 tie vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee came after a 3-day...Read more >

• Administration Advances Plans for Lower Drug Prices as Congress Works on Ways to Expand Medicare with the Savings

  September 13, 2021: The Biden administration unveiled a detailed blueprint for lowering prescription drug prices last Thursday that includes allowing Medicare to directly negotiate lower drug prices and making those prices available to other insurance plans. The White H...Read more >

• Social Security’s Finances Remain Strong, Annual Trustees Reports Show

  August 31, 2021: The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding the Trustees reports on the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds released today: “Social Security remains strong and so...Read more >

• Apple, Bose and Others Pump Up the Volume on Hearing Aid Options, Filling Void Left by FDA

  August 31, 2021: Spurred by decades of complaints about the high cost of hearing aids, Congress passed a law in 2017 to allow over-the-counter sales, with hopes it would boost competition and lower prices. Four years later, federal regulators have yet to issue...Read more >

• House Passes Budget Resolution Agreement

  August 30, 2021: The House passed a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint on Tuesday with a 220-212 party-line vote, paving the way for Democrats to pass a robust spending package that will invest in families, retirees, and seniors. The package will include allowing Medicar...Read more >

• Retirees Applaud President Biden’s Forceful Call for Action to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

  August 12, 2021: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Can Provide Dental, Hearing and Vision Benefits for Seniors Statement by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding President Biden’s speech today regarding lower prescript...Read more >

• Why Doesn’t Medicare Cover Services So Many Seniors Need?

  August 11, 2021: Sorry, Joe Namath. Despite what you keep saying in those TV ads, under Medicare, seniors are not “entitled to eliminate copays and get dental care, dentures, eyeglasses, prescription drug coverage, in-home aides, unlimited transportation and home...Read more >