The Medicare Rights Center appreciates the potential for Medicare telehealth expansions to increase access to care. We have long supported allowing Medicare beneficiaries to obtain critical behavioral health services, including some furnished by opioid treatment programs, remotely—regardless of where they live and from their own home.

Fall is quickly approaching, meaning more and more schools and parents must decide whether to resume in-person classes amid the continued COVID-19 public health emergency. Importantly, because these choices will have implications for students, school employees, families, and communities, they will require a careful balancing of factors.

Yesterday, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously advanced the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477). Next steps for the bill include consideration by the full House.

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that oversees the Medicare program, released information on the use of Medicare telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Today, the Medicare Rights Center sent congressional leaders a letter of support for the BENES Act (S. 1280/H.R. 2477) signed by all living former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (previously the Health Care Financing Administration) Administrators, Republicans and Democrats.

On June 1 and again this week, the Medicare Rights Center submitted comments in response to two rules from the Trump administration that made changes to Medicare policy and coverage during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Today, opponents of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—which include 18 states and the Trump Administration—must file opening briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court in the next stage of their attempt to dismantle the health care law.

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released preliminary data on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on people with Medicare. It confirms that older adults are at high risk of infection and serious illness, and that the virus is disproportionately impacting communities of color.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a harmful final rule that removes key Affordable Care Act (ACA) protections against discrimination based on sex stereotyping and gender identity.

The coronavirus public health emergency continues to put older adults and people with disabilities at significant risk. Federal policymakers have made important strides in responding to the outbreak, but more must be done to help people with Medicare.