Jan's Plans & Pans - February 22, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

As Republicans threaten cuts to Social Security and other essential federal programs, I have now introduced legislation that would expand Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year and ensure Social Security is fully funded for the next 75 years – all without raising taxes by one penny on over 93% of American households that make $250,000 or less. The Social Security Expansion Act will help ensure that Americans can retire with the security and dignity they deserve after a lifetime of hard work.

For a while now, I have told you that Medicare Advantage is not Medicare. I just led 70 lawmakers in a letter calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement reforms to Medicare Advantage (MA) to improve health care for seniors and people with disabilities. Unlike traditional Medicare, MA plans are administered by private insurers and in recent years have been found to be fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse, too often putting corporate interests over patient outcomes. Only Medicare is Medicare.

As an advocate for quality and affordable nursing home care, I am glad to see that the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a new rule proposal that would require nursing homes to disclose more information on their ownership and management than is currently required. For years now, we have seen that private equity firms are purchasing nursing homes, oftentimes putting their own profits above the importance of taking care of our loved ones. We must ensure that there is transparency in who owns long-term care facilities and ensure that nursing home residents and workers are protected.

If you are in my district and need any assistance from a federal agency, whether it be a Social Security problem, an immigration case, or a postal issue, just to name a few, my office is here to help. Head to my website for further assistance and information.

Have a great rest of the week,

Schakowsky Talks with CBS Evening News About Food Safety

Right now, thousands of harmful chemicals in our food are going unchecked and the food industry is regulating itself. Rep. Rose DeLauro (CT-03) and I have previously introduced the Food Chemical Reassessment Act, which would create an 'Office of Food Safety Reassessment' at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study the safety of chemicals and would reestablish a food advisory committee. It is time we put the 'F' back in the FDA.

Beware of Scams and Frauds

This is just a friendly reminder to please report anything you think may be a fraud, scam, or bad business practice.

Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse

Medicare fraud and abuse can happen anywhere, and usually results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone. One of the best ways to detect this type of fraud is to read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or your insurance’s Explanation of Benefits (EOB). If you find a claim or charge for something that you did not receive, is different than what you received, or was not medically necessary, this may be a sign of potential fraud. Please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you think you have experienced fraud.

Reporting Mail Fraud and Postal Fraud

If you are a victim of a stolen, forged, or altered check, you can report this to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by filling out and submitting the Mail Fraud Complaint Form. You may also call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service hotline at 1-800-372-8347 to file a complaint about suspected mail fraud.

Reporting General Frauds, Scams, and Bad Business Practices

For ideas about what you might report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), check out consumer.ftc.gov for more information and advice.

Free COVID-19 Tests Available

Thanks to the Biden administration, you can now get four more free Covid-19 at-home test kits delivered to your door. You can order online via the federally run website COVIDTests.gov. Orders will be mailed by USPS, starting this week.

To receive the kits, you only need to provide a U.S. residential address when ordering. You can register your email address for delivery updates, but that is optional.

If you cannot access the internet or need help placing an order, call 1-800-232-0233 to get help in English, Spanish and more than 150 other languages. Call between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT, Monday to Friday and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT on weekends.