Summary:
This year marks the 59th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid! Medicare and Medicaid, two cornerstone programs of the American health care system, were created under President Lyndon B. Johnson to improve access to health care and health coverage for millions of Americans. Medicare provides health coverage for people aged 65 and older and people with disabilities. Medicaid is the single largest health insurance program in the United States, and provides health coverage to families and individuals, including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities who are either low income or have special health care needs. To celebrate the occasion, several HHS Regional Directors participated in events across their territories to engage with stakeholders and spread awareness about the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Director Michael Cabonargi, who represents HHS in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, celebrated by visiting the Niles Senior Center in Illinois to speak with seniors who are benefiting from the President’s lower cost prescription drug law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which is improving Medicare coverage and lowering costs for millions of seniors.
Region 5 Regional Director Michael Cabonargi with U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) at the Niles Seniors Center
Regional Director Julia Lothrop who represents HHS in Arkansas, Louisiana, New, Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, participated in the Senior Source Benefits Clinic in Dallas, Texas, where they provided valuable information on the Inflation Reduction Act and the new benefits available to people with Medicare.
Renee Perry, COO; Julia Lothrop, HHS Region 6 Area Regional Director; Alixious Brown, Client Benefits Manager; Callia Cox, HHS Region 6 Public Affairs Specialist
Medicare and Medicaid are certainly programs that deserve to be celebrated as they were created to make health care more affordable and accessible for those who need it most. Both programs have evolved significantly over the years, with many improvements aimed at expanding coverage and enhancing care quality. Some of those improvements include Medicare capping the price of covered insulin at $35 per month; making recommended, preventive vaccines free; and for the first time, negotiating directly with participating drug companies to lower the costs of prescription drugs. Medicaid now provides children with continuous health coverage nationwide, expanded services to more schools, and extended postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months. These are just some of the improvements that have been implemented under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris.
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to improving access to health care for all. Medicare and Medicaid are integral to achieving that goal, and this year, we are thankful for 59 years of these life-saving programs. We look forward to what the next 59 years can bring.
