Center for Medicare Advocacy

Advancing Access to Medicare and Healthcare

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Justice in Aging and Medicare Rights Center Urge the Senate to Reject Harmful Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare

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Our organizations represent beneficiaries who rely on Medicare and Medicaid for life-saving health care. We are appalled by the House passage of devastating cuts to Medicaid and Medicare that will harm millions of beneficiaries and their families. We urge the Senate to reject these cruel cuts to essential health care.

The legislation includes drastic cuts to Medicaid that will impact older adults and people with disabilities who receive long-term care supports and services (LTSS) in nursing homes and at home. The bill also includes work requirements, which in reality function as cuts to Medicaid by another name. Many Medicaid beneficiaries who will be kicked off of Medicaid due to work requirements are people with disabilities, older adults, and those who are working as caregivers, but who get caught up in red tape and administrative requirements.

The legislation also delays implementation of the historic nursing home staffing rule that would have improved care for residents and supported nursing home workers. Research estimated that the staffing rule would save 13,000 residents’ lives each year. Postponement will jeopardize the health, safety, and lives of nursing home residents.

The bill rolls back rules that help low-income individuals enroll in programs that assist with their out-of-pocket Medicare costs—a direct assault on the lowest income Medicare beneficiaries. It also sets a chilling precedent of actually terminating Medicare coverage for some beneficiaries who have paid into the Medicare program and are currently enrolled.

Finally, the bill as written threatens Medicare’s sustainability by triggering massive future cuts to the program. Nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts would be required, with an estimated $45 billion occurring as soon as fiscal year 2026.  

By callously stripping away critical health care, this legislation will inflict real pain, real suffering and even death on older adults, people with disabilities and their families. We call on the Senate to push back on this cruelty by rejecting the legislation.