Chair’s Letter to Congressional leadership urging that Congress to pass a clean debt limit increase. Benefits and services crucial for aging with health and independence such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Older Americans Act services, Elder Justice Act protections, and housing, food, transportation, and utility assistance should not be threatened.
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Chair’s Letter on Administration Vacancies
Chair’s Letter to the Administration calling for filling the leadership vacancies within the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Administration for Community Living (ACL).
Chair’s Letter on 2022 Lame Duck Session
As Congress convenes for the 2022 lame duck session, the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) reinforces its top priorities in the areas of appropriations and community services, health, income security, and lifting the debt ceiling, with a Chair’s Letter to House and Senate leadership.
Chair’s Letter on Final FY23 Labor-HHS Appropriations
As Congress convenes for the 2022 lame duck session, the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) reinforces its common FY23 appropriations priorities and advocates for Health and Human Services and Labor Department and related agencies investments in programs and services for older adults with a Chair’s Letter to House and Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies leadership.
Chair’s Letter on Final FY23 THUD Appropriations
As Congress convenes for the 2022 lame duck session, the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) reinforces its common FY23 appropriations priorities and advocates for Housing and Urban Development Department investments in programs and services for older adults with a Chair’s Letter to House and Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies leadership.
Chair Comments on 2022 Section 1557 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
On behalf of the members of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), the Chair submitted comments on the latest Section 1557 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to the Director for the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The current regulatory interpretation of Section 1557, the nondiscrimination protections in the Affordable Care Act, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. This NPRM proposes to strengthen 1557 by extending these protections to persons identifying as LGBTQ+, persons with limited English proficiency, and older adults. Furthermore, the proposed rule would: require health insurance carriers or entities receiving federal dollars comply with 1557; apply the protections to Medicare Part B; and strengthen the process related to religious freedom objections.
Sign-On Letter on Retirement Savings Package Priorities
LCAO letter expressing the coalition’s support for key provisions that will improve retirement savings opportunities in the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act of 2022, the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement to Supplement Healthy Investments for the Nest Egg (RISE & SHINE) Act of 2022, and the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (Secure 2.0).
LCAO Statement on Support for Senate Inflation Reduction Act Proposals to Reduce Health Care Costs for Older Adults
Contact:
Simona Combi
Public Relations Manager
National Council on Aging
simona.combi@ncoa.org
571-572-3982
Statement of Ramsey Alwin, Chair of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, on Support for Senate Reconciliation Proposals to Reduce Health Care Costs for Older Adults
Arlington, VA, August 2, 2022—The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) supports the Senate budget reconciliation proposals in the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce Medicare prescription drug costs and continue expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies.
Specifically, the coalition supports the Senate prescription drug provisions to:
- Allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices
- Limit drug price increases
- Cap annual out-of-pocket costs at $2,000, including a smoothing mechanism to limit costs each month
- Reduce premiums and cost-sharing for low-income beneficiaries
We also support proposals to provide zero cost-sharing for vaccines and cap monthly insulin costs at $35 per month.
These provisions will go a long way in making prescription drugs much more affordable for millions of older adults, including those with the lowest incomes for whom expensive medications are out of reach.
LCAO also supports the Senate proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act premium subsidies for an additional three years. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “[A] 64-year-old Marketplace enrollee making just over four times the poverty level in West Virginia or Wyoming would have to pay more than 40% of their income for a silver plan if they lost access to the ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] subsidies. That would amount to an increase of over 380% in their premium payment.”
In addition, we urge the Senate to include an investment in Medicaid home and community-based services, for example, by extending American Rescue Plan funding for these important services.
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The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations is a coalition of 68 national nonprofit organizations concerned with the well-being of America’s older population and committed to representing their interests in the policy-making arena. The chairing organization for the 2022-2023 year is the National Council on Aging. Learn more at https://www.lcao.org/. Follow @LCAgingOrgs.
Chair’s Letter on FY23 Budget and Appropriations
The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) is a coalition of national nonprofit organizations concerned with the well-being of America’s older population and committed to representing their interests in policy-making arenas. Many of the federal programs under the jurisdiction of your Appropriations Subcommittees are critical to helping millions of older adults age with dignity, health, and independence in their homes and communities and providing vital support to their family caregivers.
Chair’s Letter on COVID-19 Supplemental Funding
The undersigned members of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) are writing to urge Congress to swiftly and fully fund the White House’s request for supplemental appropriations to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. We thank Congress for taking action on previous COVID-19 relief funding, including on some provisions for which LCAO previously advocated.