Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Obama Order On Immigrants Could Extend Medicare Benefits
The Washington Post: Illegal Immigrants Could Receive Social Security, Medicare Under Obama Action
Under President Obama’s new program to protect millions of illegal immigrants from deportation, many of those affected will be eligible to receive Social Security, Medicare and a wide array of other federal benefits, a White House official said Tuesday. ... Federal law says that people who pay the [payroll] taxes [for those programs] and are deemed “lawfully present in the United States” can collect benefits under those programs when they become eligible. They may also receive survivor and disability benefits. “If they pay in, they can draw,” White House spokesman Shawn Turner said by e-mail. (Tumulty, 11/25)
The Hill: Obama Order Extends Benefits To Immigrants
Illegal immigrants protected from deportation under President Obama's executive action will be eligible for Medicare and other benefits once they enter the federal system. The sweeping White House announcement last week means that up to 5 million people will be considered lawfully present in the United States despite having entered the country illegally. (Viebeck, 11/25)
In other Medicare news, Republicans in the House of Representatives offer a suggestion to fix complaints about hospital observation care coverage.
Modern Healthcare: House GOP Seeks Overhaul Of Short-Stay Hospital Payments
House Republicans are circulating a proposal to overhaul the way Medicare pays hospitals for short stays, including a plan to eliminate the widely criticized “two-midnight rule.” The timing of the document, described as a “discussion draft” might seem strange. It arrives in the middle of a lame-duck session .... And it was put forward by the House Ways and Means Committee, which will have a new chairman when the House reconvenes in January. But close watchers of Washington healthcare policy say they believe it's an important marker that could provide insight into the contours of the Medicare debate. (Demko, 11/25)
