What We’re Reading: MA Reimbursement Cuts Reduced; Social Security, Medicare Shortfalls; CDC Teams Sickened

CMS Announces Lower MA Cuts Than Expected

The US government announced on Friday that cuts of reimbursement rates for health insurers offering Medicare Advantage (MA) coverage would be lower than expected, at an average of 1.1%, according to Reuters. CMS announced its expected total payments for 2024 would increase by 3.3% from 2023, or around $13.8 billion. These revisions are to be implemented over the next 3 years, with estimated cuts to be smaller in the first year.

Social Security, Medicare Expected to Fall Short Over Next Decade

The annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report released on Friday warns that these financial safety nets for millions of older Americans will fall short of money to pay full benefits over the next decade, according to The Associated Press. The report states that Medicare, which covers 65 million older and disabled Americans, will be unable to pay full benefits for inpatient hospital visits and nursing home stays by 2031 and that Social Security will be unable to pay out full benefits to its 66 million retirees by 2033.

CDC Teams Get Sick Following Ohio Train Derailment Investigation

The CDC has announced that team members sent to investigate the aftermath of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, became briefly ill in March, according to The Hill. Similar to symptoms reported by some residents in the area, 7 of 15 investigators experienced sore throat, headache, coughing, and nausea, stated a CDC spokesperson. It remains unclear whether exposure to chemicals and hazardous materials from the derailment are linked to these symptoms, which resolved for most team members who were then able to continue working within 24 hours of feeling sick.