Briefing Outlines How Federal Budget Cuts Will Harm Older Adults

On Wednesday morning, the Alliance for Aging Research hosted a morning briefing with The Hill, “Health Safety Net Programs: Will Older Adults Fall Through?” Concerns about federal budget, staffing, and programming cuts took center stage while opportunities were also discussed.

Federal health policy has seen major shifts leaving millions of families and older Americans with new questions about their healthcare access. Speakers explained their perspectives on the impact of federal health agency RIFs; how proposed cuts in Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs will affect older Americans; and opportunities for positive change, such as PBM accountability and the EPIC Act’s “pill penalty” fix.

Nearly 600 registered for both the virtual livestream and in-person event, combined, with 75 attending the in-person event at the Columbus Club at Washington, DC’s Union Station.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Member, House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health, spoke about how sweeping cuts will impact older adults. “This will be really tough for seniors if these cuts go through. 98 percent of those using SNAP are children, the elderly, and disabled,” she said. “We need to legislate, litigate, and activate.”

Following her comments, the program’s Sponsor Segment featured a conversation between Scott Frey, Alliance Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, and Adina Lasser, Alliance Director of Public Policy and Government Relations. The two discussed the Alliance’s concerns, advocacy priorities, and opportunities to insight change.

Alison Barkoff, Former Acting Assistant Secretary and Administrator of the Administration for Community Living and Professor, George Washington University, shared her insight on ACL specifically. “We have seen impacts happening already,” she said, adding that reductions in staff have many programs struggling. The changes have caused delays in services for some and waiting lists for others such as Meals on Wheels. Limited monitoring at institutions for abuse in neglect are of particular concern. “Cuts to ACL mean costs to other programs.”

Moderated by Julia Manchester, National Political Reporter, The Hill, a panel discussion featured:

• Natalie Kean, Director of Federal Health Advocacy, Justice in Aging: “1 in 5 people with Medicare also have Medicaid. They cannot get access to health care or meet their basic needs without both programs.”
• Sue Koob, CEO, Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA), encouraged older adults to meet with legislators and reporters to discuss the real impacts of cuts to these programs.
• Peter Rubin, Executive Director, No Patient Left Behind, spoke about the need to ensure that a pipeline of innovation continues and that the savings is applied to patients at the pharmacy counter.
• Edwin Walker, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: “My advice for young folks is to understand that this is not just a seniors issue. It’s an everyone issue.” He added that federal cuts to older adult benefits are going to force young adults to care for older adults which will disrupt their careers and plans.

(Editor’s Note: While tireless efforts were made to include a Republican member of Congress as part of this program, schedules did not align. Instead, a video highlighting several Republican members of Congress speaking to these issues in news clips was shown during the briefing.)

Read related coverage in The Hill.

Photos by Ralph Alswang.