Investments and Cuts for Senior Programs in Federal Budget Request

President Obama released his budget request for 2013 on Tuesday and it calls for investments in some senior programs, but also some cuts. Designed to reduce the deficit by about $3 trillion dollars over ten years using both spending cuts and revenue increases, the Administration’s plan calls for some investments to Administration on Aging:

• Elder Justice Act to provide first time funding for an adult protective services program.
• Alzheimer’s Demonstration Grants to restore most of the funding cut last year for this program.
• Funding for new Section 202 Housing for the Elderly
• Funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which funds nutritious food packages for seniors at food banks

The budget calls for cuts in funding to such programs as Community Services Block Grants (which supports anti-poverty organizations), prevention and public health fund, and low-income home energy assistance program to help with the high cost of home heating.

The NCOA is concerned about three proposals in the President’s budget that would shift costs onto Medicare beneficiaries (2017) to seniors who are already struggling to pay for healthcare. This includes the Part B Deductible, the Home Health Copay, and the Medigap surcharge.

To read more about the budget and the issues specific to seniors, click here.