Legislation

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Washington, DC (November 12, 2024) – RetireSafe issued the following statement regarding the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States of America.

“We extend our congratulations to the newly-elected President of the United States, Donald Trump. Moving forward, RetireSafe is eager to work with his Administration to promote healthcare policies that will protect America’s aging population. Although we have reached the end of a tough election season, the real work lies ahead as we pursue a pro-patient agenda that will better the lives of our nation’s seniors. This includes protecting and strengthening Medicare and addressing policies that disrupt and worsen seniors’ access to high-quality healthcare.

RetireSafe urges President-elect Trump to work alongside the new Congress to enact legislation that ensures access to essential medications. Seniors, many of whom are on fixed incomes and require multiple medications to treat various conditions, need leaders who will champion their healthcare needs and concerns. This includes protecting and preserving Social Security and Medicare, which allow them to access their much-needed medications.”

Current Bills

H.R.8717 – You Earned It, You Keep It Act

This bill aims to eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits starting in 2025, increasing retirees’ disposable income. It is funded by raising the Social Security payroll tax cap for higher earners, which will extend the program’s solvency and significantly reduce federal debt​.

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RetireSafe believes that Social Security benefits should never be taxed. Senior citizens have paid into Social Security their entire working lives and should not have their earned benefits taxed. The Social Security Trust Fund is depleting. By 2034, Social Security beneficiaries will only receive 78% of their promised Social Security benefit. The You Earned It You Keep It Act would extend the solvency and eliminate the tax on Social Security.

H.R.7142/S.3832: Alternatives to PAIN Act

This bill aims to increase access to non-opioid pain management treatments for seniors by reducing costs and removing barriers like step therapy and prior authorization under Medicare Part D.

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This bill would not take away any opioid options that physicians deem appropriate, but ensure non-opioid medications and practices are accessible. RetireSafe understands that appropriately prescribed opioids can improve the quality of life of chronic pain and post-surgery patients, but it is just as important for non-opioid options to be accessible under Medicare Part D.

H.R.542: Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act

This bill aims to improve and expand the VA Home and Community-Based Services program, increasing funding caps for noninstitutional care and enhancing support for caregivers to ensure more veterans can receive care at home rather than in institutional settings​.

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RetireSafe wants seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible. The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023 would expand home and community-based services, allowing veterans to be treated in the comfort of their own homes. This is particularly helpful for veterans who disabled or not mobile. Getting to and from doctors’ appointments for checkups and treatments can be taxing for seniors. Expanding home health care in the VA would allow seniors to continue to be treated while improving their quality of life.

S.127: Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act

This bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by prohibiting deceptive pricing schemes, requiring detailed reporting of their transactions, and granting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce these regulations​.

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Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) act as a middleman between pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, driving up costs and pocketing money for themselves. This bill would eliminate spread pricing when PBMs charge payers more than they pay the pharmacy for medication and pocket the profit. Eliminating spread pricing would help keep drug costs and insurance premiums lower. The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2023 would also create transparency in PBM practices. PBMs would be required to disclose the cost, price, and reimbursement of prescription drugs and pass the rebate to the payer. RetireSafe believes that PBM transparency would lower drug prices and lift the burden of prescription drug prices for seniors.

S.3974: Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act

This bill aims to increase Social Security benefits for seniors by changing the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculation to better reflect the actual expenses of older adults, especially healthcare costs, using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E).

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Currently, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security uses a formula that accounts for wage earners instead of senior citizens. It is known that people over the age of 65 spend more on healthcare
expenditures than the average working person. This bill would change the formula from the Consumer Price Index Wage Earners (CPI-W) to the Consumer Price Index Elderly (CPI-E) allowing for a boost in COLA for Social Security beneficiaries. COLA needs to accurately reflect the cost of healthcare for older adults.

H.R.8702/S.4518: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act

This bill aims to streamline the prior authorization process under Medicare Advantage plans by requiring electronic systems that provide timely, transparent decisions, thus ensuring seniors receive necessary care without unnecessary delays​.

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This bill will create an electronic prior authorization system for all Medicare Advantage plans. Often, routine prescription drug refills or services are held up by paperwork, delaying care for seniors. The system will streamline the prior authorization process by making real-time decisions for requests that are routinely approved. Improving Senior’s Timely Access to Care Act would ensure seniors’ access to care faster.

H.R.8574: 340B Affording Care for Communities and Ensuring a Strong Safety-Net Act
(340B ACCESS Act)

This bill aims to ensure the 340B program effectively supports underserved communities by improving access to affordable medications and healthcare services, and by making practical changes to enhance the program’s efficiency and transparency​.

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Currently, the 340B hospitals are receiving discounted prescription drugs (through contract pharmacies) to use in the 340B charity care program. Many of these hospitals are not passing along the savings, which has caused 340B hospital profits to increase while the level of charity care has declined. This bill would create transparency and safety-net components to ensure these hospitals are providing charity care to those who are eligible.

H.R.2377/S.1000: Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA)

This bill seeks to ensure sustainable Medicare reimbursement rates for clinical laboratory services by using statistically valid data sampling from various types of laboratories, aiming to protect patient access to testing and support innovation in laboratory diagnostics.

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Starting in January 2025, there will be Medicare cuts up to 15 percent for 800 tests/laboratory services. Without laboratory services and tests, clinicians would be unable to diagnose and identify health issues in Medicare beneficiaries. This would delay and even cause the absence of treatments for seniors. SALSA would ensure payment stability for laboratories and CMS and establish payment rates based on statistical sampling of private sector rates.