Medicare

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, has re-introduced legislation proposing a constitutional amendment that would require Congress to pass a balanced budget. Shelby is concerned with our nation’s growing national debt, which has soared past $22 trillion. Shelby has introduced similar legislation each Congress since joining the Senate. “While our national debt continues to climb, it … Continued

Congressman Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, reintroduced the Retirement Freedom Act HR2108 on Thursday, which would allow senior citizens to opt out of Medicare without losing their Social Security benefits. Companion legislation was introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah. “This bill would empower seniors by giving them more control over their healthcare decisions,” … Continued

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, announced that members of the Alabama congressional delegation have sent a letter to Administrator Seema Verma of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to encourage the agency to use the proposed rule for the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) in fiscal year 2020 to provide relief from the … Continued

Thursday, on the opening day of the 116th Congress, Alabama Republican Congressman Bradley Byrne introduced a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution, House Joint Resolution 6. The bill marks the first piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Byrne in the 116th Congress, which officially convened on Jan. 3. “We must balance the budget, … Continued

I generally don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I have a few times, but not too often. The last New Year’s resolution I made was in 2012, about this time of the year, just before the world became 2013. I had just seen Les Miserables, the big-budget movie musical, and I loved it. I’ve seen the … Continued

U.S. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, issued a warning about the potential for a “Debilitating National Insolvency and bankruptcy that robs America of the prosperity and peace we have long enjoyed” following the release of the Treasury Department’s preliminary Fiscal Year 2018 deficit projection of $779 billion and the Comptroller General’s statement that America’s fiscal path is … Continued

The Alliance for Retired Americans announced that they have endorsed Democrat James Lee Auman for U.S. Congress in Alabama’s 4th congressional district. The Alliance represents more than 4.4 million retirees, including 68,337 in Alabama. The Alliance wrote: “[we believe] that [Lee Auman’s] election to the House of Representatives will enhance the quality of life for … Continued

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-Selma) and Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) have introduced H.R. 6269, a bipartisan bill to prevent upcoming Medicare cuts to reimbursements for ambulance service providers. In order to pay for better reimbursement rates, the legislation reduces reimbursements for fraudulent ambulance service providers, specifically targeting providers who primarily provide non-emergency transportation. Rep. Sewell … Continued

A friend asked her Facebook followers this question on Independence Day: “On this beautiful 4th of July, I am just wondering what freedom means to you?” It’s a great question, and one well worth thinking about. One person wrote: “The right to think for myself is one thing.” Another quoted Nelson Mandela: “For to be … Continued