Washington, DC—Our organizations represent older adults and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare and Medicaid for life-saving health care. We condemn the House’s passage of devastating cuts to Medicaid and Medicare that will harm millions of beneficiaries and their families. We urge the Senate to reject these cruel cuts to essential health care.

The legislation includes drastic cuts to Medicaid that will harm Medicare beneficiaries and all older adults and people with disabilities who receive long-term care in nursing facilities and at home. The bill also mandates harsh work requirements for adults up to age 65, which in reality function as cuts to Medicaid by another name. Many Medicaid beneficiaries who will be kicked off of Medicaid due to the red tape of work requirements are people with disabilities, older adults, and their caregivers.

The legislation also delays implementation of the historic nursing home staffing rule that would have improved care for residents and supported nursing home workers. Research estimated that the staffing rule would save 13,000 residents’ lives each year. Postponement will jeopardize the health, safety, and lives of nursing home residents.

The bill rolls back rules that help low-income individuals enroll in programs that assist with their out-of-pocket Medicare costs—a direct assault on the lowest-income Medicare beneficiaries. It also sets a chilling precedent of actually terminating Medicare coverage for certain immigrant beneficiaries who have paid into the Medicare program and are currently enrolled.

Finally, the bill, as written, threatens Medicare’s sustainability by triggering massive future cuts to the program. Nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts would be required, with an estimated $45 billion occurring as soon as fiscal year 2026.  

By callously stripping away critical health and long-term care, this legislation undermines Medicare and will inflict real pain, real suffering, and even death on older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. We call on the Senate to push back on this cruelty by rejecting the legislation.

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The Center for Medicare Advocacy, established in 1986, is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan law organization that provides education, advocacy, and legal assistance to help older people and people with disabilities obtain access to Medicare and quality health care.

Justice in Aging is a national organization that uses the power of law to fight senior poverty by securing access to affordable health care, economic security, and the courts for older adults with limited resources.