What the New Congress Will Mean for Medicare and Other Issues for Older Adults

Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives will likely confront the future of Medicare and funding for senior services next year, according to Forbes . House Democrats are expected to pass legislation aimed at curbing Medicare drug prices. "I think you need negotiated prices under Medicare, and I think you need the Creates Act and other initiatives that will aggressively bring generics to market," says Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) "There's an area where the President agrees with me and the Democrats, so why not?" Meanwhile, it remains uncertain as to whether House Democrats will try to expand Medicare eligibility, as they are currently considering several "Medicare for all" proposals. Two proposals would make Medicare available to those younger than 65, while the third would establish a universal single-payer government health plan for all. Prior to this, Congress will have to respond to the White House's attempts to reduce Medicare payments to providers and reorganize the payment system to one based on quality of outcomes instead of number of services that doctors and hospitals provide. Democrats have previously backed the migration from nursing communities to community- and home-based care for Medicaid recipients receiving long-term care benefits.