Regional News From the AARP Bulletin
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-11-09 10:27:19.805410-05:00
December 2007
Help wanted – If you have time, energy and interest in solving state and national problems, AARP Colorado wants you. Volunteers are needed in all seven of the state's congressional districts before the political party caucuses in February, and will assist in AARP's Divided We Fail campaign. Candidates are being urged to propose specific plans that provide health care and lifelong financial security for all Americans. Volunteers will participate in advocacy or community service. Call 1-866-554-5376 toll free or e-mail coaarp@aarp.org.
October 2007
Care sharing – Caregivers can get tips on how to set up a support network for themselves and the people they are helping at the Colorado Share the Care Conference Oct. 27 in Arvada. AARP Colorado is cosponsoring the forum with the Life Quality Institute, founded by Hospice of Metro Denver to advance palliative care services and education. After an opening speech by Elinor Ginzler, AARP’s director of livable communities strategy integration and coauthor of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide, small groups of participants will review case studies and discuss their experiences.
The event is free, but only 250 participants will be admitted. To register, call 1-877-926-8300 toll free.
June 2007
To the rescue... When the AARP ElderWatch project cautioned an 80-year-old Colorado man to keep a $4,200 check he had tried to send to Canada, the project was just doing its job: preventing financial exploitation of older Coloradans. The FedEx driver who picked up the check recognized the address as that of a foreign lottery scam and alerted ElderWatch, which is administered by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. “When we called the victim and explained that he would surely lose his money, he was embarrassed but relieved that people went the extra mile to help him,” says Amy Nofziger, AARP ElderWatch project coordinator.
To learn more about ElderWatch or to sign up for consumer fraud alerts, go to http://www.aarpelderwatch.org/public/.
May 2007
Energy savings on tap... Gov. Bill Ritter, D, has signed a law allowing the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to reduce utility rates for low-income people. AARP Colorado supported the measure as a way to help older Coloradans on fixed incomes stay warm in the winter without forgoing medications or other essentials.
At least 35 states consider residents’ financial needs when designing utility rates and energy efficiency programs. Under previous law, public utility companies in Colorado charged all customers equally.
To find out about 10 programs that help low-income Coloradans, go to the Benefits Checkup QuickLINK at http://www.aarp.org/money/lowincomehelp/quicklink/.
April 2007
Cutting Rx costs... Two measures to reduce prescription drug costs—long supported by AARP Colorado—are now in the works.
By executive order, Gov. Bill Ritter, D, has established a preferred drug list for the state’s Medicaid program and instructed the agency that administers Medicaid to negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers, allowing the state to provide drug coverage at much lower cost.
In addition, the legislature has established a Colorado Cares Rx program to provide discount drug prices for about 264,000 uninsured state residents. Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the program will help individuals with income up to $30,630 a year and couples with income up to $41,070 a year. “This is about helping hard-working Coloradans who make too much to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford health insurance,” says A.W. Schnellbacher, AARP Colorado’s volunteer legislative coordinator. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/co.
February 2007
Stories wanted... To help the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform craft proposals to cover the uninsured and make health care more accessible and affordable for everyone, AARP Colorado wants to hear from people who have had negative experiences with the state’s current system. Have you, a friend or a family member struggled to get affordable health insurance? Are you unable to pay for your medications? If so, and if you’re willing to share your story, contact Morie Pierce Smile at mpiercesmile@aarp.org.
The 24-member commission, established by the state legislature last year, is holding monthly hearings and will file its final report by Nov. 30. AARP Colorado has contributed $15,000 to support the committee’s work and is participating in its public meetings.
—Reports by David Runkel
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