President’s Forum

The NRLN’s Series 2022, Episode #4 video/podcast, Preparation for Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is available in the center column on this NRLN website home page. My objective for this video/podcast is to emphasize the importance of being prepared for the enrollment period October 15 – December7 and to provide tips on how to do that so you can get the…

Discussion with Senator’s Medicare Staff Member The NRLN regularly has discussions with Congressional staff members to advise Representatives and Senators on Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) issues. Such was the case on September 2 when Alyson Parker, NRLN Executive Director, and I had a conference call with the Medicare policy expert for a chairman of a Senate Committee. We brought…

Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports 2022 The Trustees for Social Security and Medicare issued their annual reports on Thursday, June 2, 2022. Social Security has 66 million beneficiaries and Medicare covers nearly 64 million people in 2022. Key information in the reports for current and future retirees included: Social Security: The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund, which…

The NRLN has produced Video/Podcast Series 2, Episode 3 for 2022 – Congress Must Take Action to Reduce the Price of Prescription Drugs. In this episode, Ed Beltram, NRLN VP-Communications, and I address the high cost of prescription drugs, how an Rx discount card provides savings, NRLN lobbying efforts to reduce drug prices, and House and Senate bills we support.…

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NRLN President’s Forum – ACO REACH Is Lipstick on a Pig Based on earlier messages you may be aware that the NRLN opposed the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center’s (CMMI) Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs) which threatened to destroy original Medicare. Under pressure from the NRLN, other Medicare advocacy groups and a few members of Congress, CMMI has announced…

Direct Contracting Threatens Medicare’s Future The NRLN announced its opposition to the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) Direct Contracting program’s threat to Medicare with an Action Alert on December 7, 2021. More than 8,700 letters were sent to President Biden and members of Congress to urge them to stop CMS’ dangerous action to destroy Medicare. The Action Alert is…

Although the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) played a major role in founding the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association in 2009, DSRA never officially joined as a dues-paying association of the NRLN. Instead, the DSRA board had good reason to use its’ financial resources to litigate for the restoration of its pension plan. NRLN’s by-laws restrict it to fixing the inadequacy…

The Trustees for Social Security and Medicare released their 2021 reports on August 31. In recent years the reports had been released in April. Apparently, more time was needed to compile the reports to include the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the associated recession and projected outlook for the programs. Social Security Report This year the total annual cost of…

Walmart is doing what Congress and Medicare should be doing to reduce prescription drug prices. Walmart announced on June 29 that it is working directly with the manufacture, Novo Nordisk, to provide a new brand of analog insulin at a much cheaper price for patients without insurance. The drug is available in Walmart pharmacies and will be in Sam’s Club…