Regional News From the AARP Bulletin
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-11-09 10:27:19.805410-05:00
January/February 2008
Self-empowerment – The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence has launched a website to make it easier for consumers to become active participants in their own health care. The website provides tools residents can use to find a doctor, prepare for medical appointments or surgery, and compare hospital quality and patient satisfaction ratings. In addition, the site offers tips on taking medications safely and updates on health care issues.
The partnership includes medical, advocacy, public health, business and other organizations. AARP Massachusetts serves on the council guiding the effort. "Motivating patients and caregivers to become actively engaged in their own health care is one of the best ways to improve the safety and effectiveness of care," says Deborah Banda, AARP state director.
Visit the site at www.partnershipforhealthcare.org.
December 2007
Street smarts – AARP Massachusetts volunteers recently worked with the Institute of Transportation Engineers to conduct a safety audit of three major intersections in Cambridge. The audit is one of four that will be conducted nationwide to help engineers and planners design roads and intersections that are safer for pedestrians — especially for those with hearing, vision or agility problems.
The group commended the city for safety but suggested several low-cost, high-impact improvements such as better-synchronized signals and audible countdowns at crosswalks; benches or shelters at bus stops; and clearer markings for bicycle lanes. For more information, go to www.aarp.org/ma.
October 2007
Never again – AARP Massachusetts is backing legislation that would require hospitals to reduce hospital-acquired infection rates to zero and to publicly report so-called “never events” — devastating or lethal medical errors such as operating on the wrong body part or transfusing the wrong blood type.
At least 100,000 Americans die in hospitals each year from medical errors and hospital-acquired infections. A recent report concluded that infections picked up in hospitals could be adding as much as $473 million in medical costs annually in Massachusetts.
AARP Massachusetts testified in favor of the health care transparency bill (HB 2226/SB 1277) at a hearing in September and is urging passage of the measure to improve patient safety. To support the legislation, call the State House at 617-722-2000 and ask to speak with your state senator and representative.
September 2007
Open enrollment – Prescription Advantage, the state-sponsored prescription drug program that supplements Medicare Part D, now offers continuous open enrollment. Previously, eligible residents could sign up only within a year after their 65th birthday or during certain limited enrollment periods.
Prescription Advantage helps pay for premiums, deductibles and copayments. Individuals with annual income up to $51,050 and couples with income up to $68,450 may be eligible. “We encourage Medicare beneficiaries to check out Prescription Advantage and find out if it's right for you,” says Deborah Banda, AARP Massachusetts state director.
To find out more, call Prescription Advantage at 1-800-243-4636.
— Reports by Will Yandik
July 2007
Crowded field... Six candidates are seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, D, who resigned after representing Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District for eight terms. In July AARP Massachusetts begins a voter education drive that will publicize each candidate’s platform on health care and long-term financial security.
Voters’ guides outlining candidates’ positions will be available Aug. 6, and AARP Massachusetts will hold candidate forums in the district before the Sept. 4 primary. The state office will repeat the process after the primary, providing guides for the special general election on Oct. 16.
To request a copy of the 5th District voters’ guide, call 1-866-448-3621 toll free or visit www.aarp.org/ma.
June 2007
Consider all factors... Under draft regulations for Commonwealth Choice, part of the state’s plan for universal health coverage, as many as 60,000 state residents may be excused from having to buy insurance this year because they can’t afford the premiums. The law creating the plan required all residents to show proof of insurance by July 1 or lose the personal exemption on their 2007 income taxes.
The draft regulations define “affordability” on a sliding scale based on family size and income but not age, even though the cost of premiums increases with age. “Premiums for a 55-year-old person may cost twice as much as for a 37-year-old, placing coverage for the older person out of reach,” says Deborah Banda, AARP state director.
The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority is expected to finalize the regulations this month and will revise them annually. “We urge the Connector to pay closer attention to age when revisiting the definition of affordability,” Banda says.
May 2007
To your health... Eligible state residents can now sign up for Commonwealth Choice, a new insurance program created by the state’s landmark health care reform law that requires all residents 18 and older to have health insurance by July 1. AARP Massachusetts urged the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, which administers the program, to make sure the plans are affordable and include prescription drug benefits.
The insurance program offers four levels of coverage—premium, value, basic and young adult. Premiums vary based on a person’s age, as well as by the health plan and benefits package selected. For more information, call the Connector Authority toll free at 1-877-623-6765 (or 1-877-623-7773 for people with hearing loss), or visit www.mass.gov/connector.
April 2007
All for one... Gov. Deval Patrick, D, has put civic engagement front and center with a proposal to challenge citizens of all ages to give a year of service to their communities through the Commonwealth Corps. The goal is to recruit 250 volunteers initially and build the corps to as many as 1,000 volunteers within the next five years. In addition, lawmakers are considering a bill that would coordinate community service through a single state agency. The legislation would create a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities for residents who want to give time to mentoring students, working in food banks, helping the elderly or rebuilding parks.
“Volunteering offers older people opportunities to stay connected to their communities while serving as resources for each other and the commonwealth,” says Deborah Banda, AARP state director.
March 2007
Fun times ahead... AARP Massachusetts is calling for 800 volunteers to help out and have fun at Life@50+ | AARP’s National Event and Expo. The event will feature celebrity speakers and entertainment, seminars and hundreds of exhibits on technology, travel and recreation. It will be held Sept. 6-8 at the new convention center on Boston’s scenic waterfront.
Volunteers will help set up, take tickets and usher guests to presentations and exhibitors to booths. In exchange, they will receive free parking and meals, as well as free admission. Most shifts involve walking or standing for three to four hours with limited opportunities for breaks. To volunteer or to learn more, call 1-866-448-3621 toll free, e-mail ma@aarp.org, or visit www.aarp.org/ma.
February 2007
Wish list...As newly elected Gov. Deval Patrick, D, prepares his 2008 budget proposal, AARP Massachusetts is encouraging him to provide full funding for and consumer protections in programs critical to the health and well-being of older Bay Staters. The list includes: Prescription Advantage, the state’s prescription drug assistance program, which works in conjunction with Medicare Part D; long-term care services, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home and community-based care; retraining grants to help workers remain employed past traditional retirement age; the Money Management Program, which helps people continue to live independently; and Councils on Aging and senior centers throughout the state. In addition, AARP is advocating for full funding to carry out the state’s health care reform law.
January 2007
Gotcha covered...The Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program—Massachusetts’ ambitious plan to provide health insurance for all Bay State residents—begins its second phase of enrollment on Jan. 1. Uninsured individuals with annual income between $9,800 and $29,400 can now sign up for subsidized or reduced-cost health insurance. Those with annual income of less than $9,800 began enrolling last fall. AARP Massachusetts serves on the program’s health care cost and quality council. To enroll, residents must complete a Medical Benefit Request form, available at many community centers, health clinics and hospitals. To request a form by mail or to learn more, call the program toll free at 1-877-623-6765.
December 2006
Equal choice... A new Massachusetts law makes it easier for many Bay Staters on fixed incomes to receive long-term care without moving out of their homes. State residents who meet certain clinical criteria and have annual income of less than $20,580 and assets less than $10,000 are now eligible for home and community-based care.
Massachusetts currently spends $1.6 billion a year in Medicaid funds to care for a daily average of about 32,000 people in nursing homes. Under the Equal Choice law, the state can now spend some of that money on providing care for individuals in their own homes and communities, which is often less expensive than nursing home care. The law could save the state as much as $134 million over the next five years.
AARP Massachusetts supported the measure and lobbied lawmakers to give consumers more choices. Nearly 94 percent of AARP Massachusetts members think it’s important to be able to live at home as long as possible, a recent AARP survey found.
November 2006
What exodus?... Only half of Massachusetts employers foresee worker shortages on the horizon, and less than 20 percent have prepared for a boomer retirement exodus, according to an AARP survey of more than 400 businesses in the Bay State.
The baby boom generation is 78 million strong, and the first wave of boomers turned 60 this year. Even so, most of the state’s businesses have not devised strategies to keep older workers on the job.
Only 13 percent of the employers surveyed offer incentives such as flexible work options or the opportunity to gradually phase out of work into retirement. A third of the employers offer no retirement benefits, and of those that do, the majority do not provide retiree health benefits or defined benefit pension plans.
AARP Massachusetts has called attention to the issue of an aging work force by sponsoring employer forums, advocating for worker retraining grants and recognizing AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50.
—Reports by Will Yandik
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