Advocacy
Advocacy Spotlight: Protecting Access to Care for Older Adults In July, Congress passed H.R. 1, the Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025. The name may sound complicated, but the effects of this law are simple and serious. It makes large cuts to Medicaid and adds new rules that will also affect Medicare and other important programs. More than 12 million Americans are “dually eligible,” meaning they depend on both Medicare and Medicaid. In Arizona, nearly 250,000 people fall into this group. Many are older adults or people with disabilities living on less than $20,000 a year. Most manage more than one health condition. Cuts to Medicaid and extra paperwork could put them at risk of losing services that help them live safely and with dignity. One major concern is the reduction in funding for in-home and community services. These programs include home care, adult day centers, and personal help to make it possible for older adults to stay at home instead of moving into a nursing facility. When states lose funding, these services are often the first to be cut. In the past, this has meant longer waitlists, fewer people served, and big cuts in support. Other changes in the law will shorten the time older adults can receive retroactive Medicaid coverage, add new steps to eligibility reviews, and create work requirements for some
At PCOA, we remain committed to protecting access to care for older adults in Pima County. We encourage you to stay informed, share your story, and reach out to decision makers. Your voice matters. Together, we can help make sure that programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act continue to support older adults today and in the future. What You Can Do • Stay Informed: Sign up for updates from Justice in Aging, USAging, and Kaiser Family Foundation to get reliable information about policy changes. • Reach Out to Your Representatives: Visit usa.gov/elected-officials to find your lawmakers. Tell them how Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act services support you or your loved ones. • Share Local Impact: Talk about the value of meals, caregiver support, and in-home services in Pima County. Personal stories make a difference. • Invite and Engage: Encourage lawmakers to visit local programs and ask family, friends, and providers to add their voices too. Want to learn more about advocacy opportunities through PCOA? Visit pcoa.org/advocate or contact us at advocacy@pcoa.org to get involved.
adults. While older adults are exempt from the work rules, the extra paperwork for states can affect everyone. Even small changes such as more frequent eligibility checks can lead to mistakes or delays that interrupt coverage. Not all these changes will happen right away. Some are already in place, while others will roll out over the next few years. This timeline gives community members time to learn, prepare, and speak up. States still have choices in
how they apply certain rules, and national groups are working to keep older adults informed and protected. Justice in Aging (justiceinaging.org), USAging (usaging.org), and Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) (kff.org) provide resources to help older adults, caregivers, and advocates understand what these changes mean and how to respond.
Page 10 | November & December 2025, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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