>>509101376>Medicare isn't touched in this billOh yes it is and seniors picking up the tab won't forget when they vote
Automatic cuts to Medicare, totaling approximately $500 billion over the next decade, are projected to occur if a recent House reconciliation bill is enacted and Congress takes no further action. These cuts are triggered by the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act (PAYGO) of 2010, which requires automatic spending reductions when legislation increases the deficit.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Triggering Mechanism:
The House reconciliation bill, if passed and not amended, would significantly increase the federal deficit. This increase would then trigger PAYGO, leading to automatic cuts to Medicare and other programs.
Magnitude of Cuts:
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that these cuts could reach $535 billion over the 2026-2034 period, with an initial $45 billion cut in 2026.
Impact on Medicare:
These automatic cuts would affect various aspects of Medicare, including payments to hospitals, physicians, health care providers, and Medicare Advantage plans.
Potential Consequences:
Some sources suggest these cuts could lead to reduced access to care, decreased provider participation, and increased out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries.
Congressional Action:
While PAYGO cuts are triggered automatically, Congress has the power to prevent them by taking action to exclude the cuts from the "scorecard" or by passing legislation to delay or cancel them, as it has done in the past.