 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Spending on Social Security, Medicare projected to jump |
A congressional report released Wednesday paints a dire picture, with federal funds for Social Security and Medicare expected to become insolvent in the next 10 years if no action is taken. |
The Congressional Budget Office found in its report that the money spent on Social Security and Medicare will likely double by 2033, with expenses being driven up by the rising cost of medical services and an increasing number of people becoming eligible for these programs. Maintaining Social Security and Medicare is a contentious issue, made all the more blatant when President Biden drew boos from Republicans during his State of the Union address by stating some GOP lawmakers — not a majority, he specified — want the programs to sunset. Both Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have stated the two programs are off the table. House Republicans have listed multiple areas where they would like to see cuts, including from several provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act, but Medicare and Social Security have been left out of these proposals. "Social Security and Medicare are earned benefit programs that must be saved and strengthened," the House Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), said in a press release last week, accusing Democrats of failing to secure these federal programs. Democrats have in turn accused Republicans of trying to cut these programs. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) repeated this accusation shortly after the CBO released its projections. "There now appears to be a growing effort among Republicans to use this crisis they started to end Medicaid as we know it, following through on the extreme cuts and restrictions Donald Trump attempted to impose as president," Wyden said. The two parties are at loggerheads when it comes to solving this issue. Republicans have proposed raising the eligibility age to receive benefits while Democrats have brought up potential tax hikes on higher incomes. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) plans to question the CEO of Moderna during a hearing next month about the company’s plans to quadruple the price of its COVID-19 vaccine. Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Wednesday called Moderna the “poster child” for corporate greed and high drug prices. As chairman, Sanders has said he wants to focus on the cost of … |
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| Former President Trump on Wednesday attacked new Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, his former United Nations ambassador, for her previous support of cutting Medicare and Social Security. In an email titled “The Real Nikki Haley” sent minutes after her official campaign launch event, the Trump campaign noted Haley supported former Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) plan to eliminate Medicare and turn it into … |
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| Lab results show that a new “on-demand” male birth control drug can temporarily prevent sperm from maturing and swimming in mice. The study, which was published Tuesday in Nature Communications, found that the drug stops sperm from maturing and swimming within 30 minutes after it was injected into lab mice. About 2.5 hours after the injection, sperm began to regain mobility, and by 24 hours later, the mice had regained … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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A new bill introduced by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) aims to increase transparency around disability-related complaints for air travel passengers. |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Medicaid expansion bill glides through committees in the state House of Representatives (North Carolina Health News)
- A leading anti-abortion group is feuding with Republicans over revising Tennessee's abortion law (WPLN)
- Utah abortion clinics will close in 2024 if new bill is passed (Salt Lake Tribune)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Armed with hashtags, these activists made insulin prices a presidential talking point (Kaiser Health News)
- Vape maker Elf Bar wants to donate to the American Cancer Society, but it doesn't want tobacco money (Stat)
- Three years into the pandemic, nursing home residents are still in Covid's crosshairs (Politico)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) labeled former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley a "Bush in heels," likening the newly-minted presidential candidate … Read more |
| A federal judge on Wednesday denied former President Trump's "quid pro quo" offer to provide his DNA in a case accusing him of sexual assault, slamming … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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