2026 Archives: Health and Family

C: AARP submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services supporting the proposed GUARD Model and its goal of lowering prescription drug costs for older Americans. The program aims to reduce program spending by calculating annual drug rebates based on Most-Favored-Nation international pricing standards. AARP emphasized that no older adult should ever have to choose between filling a prescription and paying for basic needs, and highlighted how U.S. drug prices—often far higher than those in other countries—continue to strain seniors living on fixed incomes. In its comments, AARP urged CMS to implement the model with strong transparency, careful monitoring, and clear protections to ensure access, affordability, and quality of care are maintained. AARP also called for safeguards to prevent higher out‑of‑pocket costs or premiums as the model is tested. (PDF)

C: AARP submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expressing support for the proposed GLOBE Model and its goal of lowering prescription drug costs for older Americans. The program aims to reduce program spending by requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay rebates if the U.S. prices of their select drugs exceed specific international pricing benchmarks. AARP highlighted that high prices for Medicare Part B drugs continue to put essential treatments out of reach for too many seniors, especially those living on fixed incomes. In its comments, AARP urged CMS to implement the model with strong beneficiary protections, transparent monitoring, and clear communication so older adults understand how the model works and whether it applies to them. AARP also called for safeguards to ensure access to needed medications is maintained and that cost‑sharing does not increase as the model is tested. (PDF)

S: On February 11, AARP submitted a statement for the record to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health for its hearing, “Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the Prescription Drug Supply Chain.” AARP highlighted how supply chain weaknesses and drug shortages disproportionately harm older Americans who depend on consistent access to medications, delaying care, increasing costs, and threatening health and independence. The statement emphasized that affordable drug access depends on a stable supply chain, noting that high launch prices and repeated manufacturer price hikes continue to drive rising costs. AARP reaffirmed strong support for Medicare drug price negotiation, the Part D out‑of‑pocket cap, and inflation penalties, which are already delivering savings to seniors. AARP also highlighted bipartisan reforms – such as delinking PBM compensation from drug prices – as key steps toward a more transparent, accountable, and consumer‑focused prescription drug system. (PDF)

L: On February 3, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Abe Sutton, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, expressing opposition to the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) demonstration. AARP opposes WISeR's introduction of prior authorization into Original Medicare, warning it could create unnecessary delays and barriers that prevent beneficiaries from receiving medically necessary care—problems already well-documented in Medicare Advantage. The letter also raises concerns about the proposed use of artificial intelligence to influence medical determinations, particularly the plan to pay AI vendors based on how much "savings" they generate, which creates a clear incentive to deny care. AARP argues that medical decisions should remain in the hands of patients and their providers, and that any AI tools used must be fair, transparent, and accountable. While supporting efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, AARP urges CMS to focus on strategies that target bad actors rather than burden innocent patients with denials, delays, or added bureaucratic hurdles. (PDF)

C: On February 2, 2026, AARP submitted comments opposing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposal to repeal the federal nursing home staffing standards. For decades, American taxpayers have been paying for care that many facilities simply are not providing. Rolling back these standards would weaken accountability, undermine program integrity, and allow facilities to continue receiving billions in taxpayer dollars without demonstrating that they have enough staff to care for the residents they are paid to serve. AARP urges CMS to reconsider the repeal. (PDF)

January

L: On Thursday, January 29, AARP endorsed the Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act (S. 3739). The bill, led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), would establish a demonstration program in the Veterans Administration health system to cover over-the-counter hearing aids. AARP has long supported the availability of OTC hearing aids to reduce barriers to hearing health care and help more people hear and communicate effectively. (PDF)

C: On January 26, AARP submitted comments on proposed 2027 changes to Medicare prescription drug programs and Medicare Advantage. Our comments focus on support for the changes being made to the Part D benefit redesign, but we also urge CMS to reconsider several proposals on Medicare Advantage, including changes to the Star Ratings, interactions with agents and brokers, and how carriers notify beneficiaries of their benefits. (PDF)

L: On January 7, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the U.S. House of Representatives expressing AARP’s support for a bipartisan three-year extension of the enhanced tax credits that make it more affordable for people to purchase health coverage on the Marketplaces.  Nearly 5 million Americans aged 50-64 get their health coverage through the Marketplaces and many have seen large increases in premiums since the tax credits expired at the end of 2025. (PDF)

L: On January 5, 2026, AARP sent letters to Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Cornyn (R-TX), and Representatives Tenney (R-NY) and Larson (D-CT), endorsing the Essential Caregivers Act. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, nursing homes across the country faced extraordinarily difficult decisions about visitation. While protecting residents’ health was the priority, prolonged separation highlighted the essential role that family connections play in residents’ well-being. This legislation requires nursing homes and inpatient rehabilitation facilities to permit essential caregivers access during future periods of restricted visitation, establishes limits on full lockdowns, and provides exemptions for end-of-life situations so that no resident is forced to spend their final moments without a loved one by their side. (Senate-PDF) (House-PDF)