AARP Joins Bipartisan Effort to Prevent Identity Theft of Medicare Beneficiaries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2011

CONTACT:
AARP Media Relations, 202-434-2560

AARP Joins Bipartisan Effort to Prevent Identity Theft of Medicare Beneficiaries

WASHINGTON – AARP today endorsed the Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2011 in a letter to U.S. Senators Mark Kirk and Ron Wyden as well as U.S. Representatives Jim Gerlach and Earl Blumenauer. The bill will create a secure Medicare identification card pilot program for beneficiaries located in five geographic areas nationwide. This bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation introduced today will replace paper Medicare cards with secure cards that carry the personal information electronically of individuals in the program.

Excerpts of the letter of support from Joyce A. Rogers, AARP Senior Vice President, are below:

“On behalf of AARP’s millions of members, we are pleased to endorse the Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2011. Your legislation will create a secure card pilot program under the Medicare program.

“Older Americans are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of identity theft. Your legislation will pilot a program to replace the current paper Medicare card with a smart card that would store the beneficiary’s personal information electronically on a computer chip, and would require both beneficiaries and providers to confirm receipt of services at the time services were provided. Similar technology currently exists for Department of Defense personnel.

“Your legislation not only provides enhanced information security, but will also help to reduce fraud in the Medicare program by verifying the identity of both Medicare beneficiaries and providers. Medicare dollars should be spent on necessary services and not lost to fraudulent activities.”

For a copy of the full-text of the letter, please contact AARP Media Relations by phone at (202) 434-2560 or via email at media@aarp.org.

About AARP:
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.