With major changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NCOA is encouraging federal leaders to protect and strengthen key programs that keep older adults healthy.

The services provided through the Older Americans Act (OAA) and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) are still active, but looming FY26 budget negotiations will likely feature deep cuts to federal spending.

That's why we are using stories and data to highlight the value of these programs—and what would be lost if cuts are made.

At its core, MIPPA is about helping people afford health care—and the demand for that help is high. An estimated 20.5 million Medicare beneficiaries live on an income of 150% or less of the federal poverty level. For a 2-person household, that's just $31,725 per year. Imagine trying to afford housing, utilities, transportation, nutritious food, and prescription medications on that budget. 

MIPPA empowers community-based organizations to find people who qualify for help with Medicare costs and connect them with the appropriate programs. The result is more money in people's pockets and better health.

Last year, MIPPA-funded work connected 4.7 million low-income older adults to benefits. All of that was accomplished with a comparatively tiny slice of funding.

But, as you probably noticed, there's still a lot of people who need help.

We often describe the OAA as the backbone of federal aging policy because it powers a wide array of services, including home-delivered meals, health promotion, adult day care, transportation assistance, and even elder abuse prevention.

Data from FY21 show just how popular and widespread OAA services are:

• 17,440,196 meals delivered to older adults at their homes in Florida
• 106,591 hours of adult day care provided in Pennsylvania
• 122,788 one-way trips using assisted transportation in Colorado
• 291,137 hours of personal care provided in Arizona
• 395,778 congregate meals served in Idaho

There are people behind all of these numbers. Without the OAA, they don't have those meals or transportation to get to an appointment. Without MIPPA, they can't afford their prescription medications or Medicare Part B premiums.

In short, older Americans face more difficulties staying healthy without these programs. Policymakers need to know who depends on them now... and who may need them in the future. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to act!

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