House Panels Kick Off Hearings On Slowing Medicare, Social Security Spending
Among the proposals that will be discussed and debated are increasing Medicare premiums for higher-income seniors and raising the program's eligibility age. Meanwhile, Politico details the health industry gains and losses likely to stem from President Barack Obama's budget plan, which was released last week.
The Washington Post: Republicans Embrace Obama's Offer To Trim Social Security Benefits
This week, two House subcommittees plan to hold hearings on "reforms to protect and preserve" programs for retirees, starting with Obama's proposal to apply a less generous measure of inflation to annual increases in Social Security benefits. Also on the table are higher Medicare premiums and reduced benefits for better-off seniors, and a higher Medicare eligibility age (Montgomery, 4/15).
Politico: President Obama's Budget: Impact On Health Care
The health care sector saw some huge gains and losses in last week's White House budget presented by President Barack Obama. It will not pass the Congress or become law, but the document underscores White House priorities. And if grand bargain negotiations resume this year, the document could become the floor, exciting some health players and making others nervous (Haberkorn and Norman, 4/16).