September 23, 2020

TASK FORCE ON AGING & FAMILIES APPLAUDS VICTORY FOR SENIORS IN CONTINUING RESOLUTION

WASHINGTON – Following the passage of H.R. 8337, which includes provisions to prevent an up-to-$50 per month hike in Medicare Part B premiums, the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging & Families (TFAF) leadership released the following statement:

“Throughout this Congress, House Democrats have never lost sight of our commitment to fight skyrocketing health care costs for the people, especially those most vulnerable to cost increases, like older Americans on a fixed income,” said the leadership of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families. “House Democrats’ bill to fund the government will save our nation’s seniors from an up-to-$50 per month hike in their Medicare Part B premiums, brought on by the Trump administration’s reckless misuse of the Medicare Part B Trust Fund as its own slush fund. Tough measures included by House Democrats in the spending bill will keep seniors, Americans with disabilities and others with qualifying health conditions from having to refill the Trust Fund through higher premiums in 2021. 

We applaud House Democratic negotiators for fighting to keep down Medicare Part B premium increases, though this near-crisis for our seniors was avoidable but for the recklessness of the Trump administration. House Democrats ensured that providers had access to $175 billion in March so they had the tools needed to address the pandemic. Instead of utilizing these critical funds, the Trump administration raided the Medicare Part B Trust Fund to assist providers, leaving seniors in the lurch. It is disappointing but not surprising behavior from an administration that last month proposed destabilizing the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds through a reckless payroll tax scheme.

House Democrats recognize that this is not the time to be jacking up health care costs on our seniors.”

House Democrats’ Task Force on Aging & Families is led by Co-Chairs Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Conor Lamb (D-PA) in addition to Vice Chairs Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Ted Deutch (D-FL). 

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