A Legacy of Service, A Committment to Others

In recognition of his tireless work on behalf of his community, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and AARP, William (Bill) H. Harned is the receipent of AARP Kentucky's 2009 Andrus Award for Community Service.

 AARP’s commitment to volunteer service can be traced back to the life and vision of our founder, Dr.Ethel Percy Andrus. From the beginning, her motto, “To serve, not to be served,” has shaped our community service efforts at the national, state, and local levels. Each year, AARP honors the legacy of Dr. Andrus with the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, our most prestigious and visible volunteer award.

The 2009 Andrus Award for Community Service recognizes unique individuals, one from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who have demonstrated the power to make it better in their communities in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision and commitment to volunteer service, and that inspire others to volunteer.

Bill’s service includes citizen advocacy on state and federal issues, protecting andeducating consumers from financial fraud, supporting retired educators, grandparents raising grandchildren, and fighting budget cuts to long term care initiatives supporting home and community-based services. His leadership is especially recognized for defending Medicare and Medicaid recipients. Most recently, Governor Steve Beshear appointed Bill to serve on the Consumer Advisory Council.

AARP Applauds House for Moving Health Care Reform Forward

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued this statement following today’s (10/29/09) introduction of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the House of Representatives:

“Today, the House brings us one step closer to a decades-long goal of repairing America’s broken health care system. AARP commends the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and the committee chairs for making progress on an issue that has ended in failure too many times before.

“The Affordable Health Care for America Act will strictly limit insurance companies from discriminating against older Americans because of their age, while making other critical reforms that will make insurance available to every American, regardless of gender or medical history. At the same time, this bill brings improvements to the Medicare program by closing the dreaded prescription drug doughnut hole and adding new benefits to make preventive care more affordable.

“In the coming days, AARP will carefully review this comprehensive bill to determine precisely how it will affect the health care of all older Americans. The urgency for health reform continues to grow, and we cannot afford to delay action.

“We look forward to continuing our work with members of the House and Senate to pass a health care bill this year that protects and improves Medicare and makes quality health coverage available to Americans of all ages.”

For more information on AARP’s health care reform effort, please visit http://www.aarp.org/health/articles/health_reform_get_the_facts.html

Senate Finance Committee Passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act

Legislation passed today is yet another milestone in the long journey to health care reform

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released this statement following the Senate Finance Committee’s passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act:

“We applaud the Senate Finance Committee for taking another important step toward fixing what’s wrong with our health care system.  Under the leadership of Chairman Baucus, the legislation reported today moves us even closer to providing much-needed relief to millions of older Americans who still face challenges accessing affordable, quality health care services. 

“The Senate Finance Committee bill makes important improvements to the Medicare program by increasing preventive benefits, making sure Medicare’s doctors do not face a pay cut this year, and most notably for AARP members—by reducing drug costs for seniors who fall into the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole, a costly gap in prescription drug coverage.   Too often, those who fall into this coverage gap stop taking their prescription drugs because they simply can’t afford to.  While we applaud this assistance with drug costs in the doughnut hole, we urge the Senate to go further to meet the President’s pledge to completely close the doughnut hole.  With the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, we believe this bill should be improved so that it can help millions of older Americans afford their needed medications and avoid more intensive and costly care later in life.

“The bill also makes some improvements on age-rating, a discriminatory practice that allows insurers to charge exorbitant, age-based premiums to older Americans.  Unfortunately, the bill will still allow insurance companies to charge older Americans premiums that are four times more than premiums for younger Americans, making it difficult for older Americans to afford health coverage.   We hope the final Senate bill will be improved in this area. 

“Finally, we strongly support provisions in the Senate Finance bill to expand home and community-based services (HCBS).  The vast majority of Americans age 50 and over want to live in their homes and communities as long as they can.  HCBS provisions are not only cost-effective, but can also help slow the growth in health care spending and keep millions of Americans out of nursing homes and in their own homes.

“The legislation passed today is yet another milestone in the long journey to health care reform.  We look forward to continuing our work with Chairman Baucus and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to further strengthen the bill, and we will continue to fight for reform that protects benefits for people in Medicare, improves health care affordability, and improves the health of every American.”

# # #

What the Health Care Debate is Really About

(The following is a Letter to the Editor published in the Courier-Journal (10-12-09) from Bill Harned a volunteer member of AARP KY's Executive Council. See related articles on the Courier-Journal website at http://topics.gannett.com/Health+Care+Reform/?template=courier-journal)

Sen. Mitch McConnell is right to be troubled about what health care and prescription drug costs are doing to families and employers budgets. As the health care debate drags on, everyone is getting a little numb from the rhetoric — but the most important days of the whole debate are in the next few weeks. And it's time to remember why we're having this debate in the first place.

It's not about Republicans and Democrats; it's about working people who can't afford health care, the unbelievable increases in health care and drug costs. It's about the fact that other countries are providing better health care for much less money and the idea that surely we can do better. It's about kids getting the health care they need and seniors continue to receive Medicare they deserve. It's about families not having to worry that an illness will send them into bankruptcy or that the loss of a job will end their health insurance coverage.

Those are just a few of the reasons we're in this debate. We've seen the special interest lobbyists digging in to try to derail reform. Politics have taken it over and volume has tried to replace thoughtful and real dialogue. But this issue is too important to give up on — and start over.

I hope all our members of Congress seize this historic opportunity to fix our broken health care system.

BILL HARNED
AARP Kentucky
Executive Council

Contact Senator Mitch McConnell

Washington Office
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224-2541
Fax: 202.224-2499

Contact Senator Jim Bunning

Washington Office

316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202.224.4343
Fax: 202.228.1373

KY's Department for Public Health Launches Toll-free Flu Hotline

Kentucky is preparing for the flu season and the Dept. for Public Health announces launch of new toll-free hotline. Get answers and information related to the swine flu (H1N1 virus) as well as seasonal influenza. 

KY's toll-free number is 1-877-843-7727 and operated from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. More Kentucky information on seasonal and swine flu at  http://healthalerts.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

More flu information you need is available at the AARP Bulletin http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/diseases/articles/swine_flu_cases0.html

New Report Proves Ending Age Discrimination Saves Money, Covers More Americans

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President John Rother issued this statement following the release of today’s Urban Institute report on health insurance age-rating :

“Age-rating is just a wonky way to describe how insurance companies use age as an excuse to charge older Americans excessive premiums.  Today’s report by the Urban Institute shows that denying older Americans affordable coverage is not only unfair, it could also increase the cost of health reform if it is not strictly limited.

“We should be working toward a fair system where all Americans can afford coverage to get and stay healthy.  AARP has been fighting for years to abolish age-rating entirely.  This year we have an opportunity to make great progress towards that goal with health care reform that tightly limits age-rating, which today can force older Americans to pay much higher rates just because of their age.

“Today’s report shows that tighter age-rating limits actually reduce the cost of reform by billions of dollars while providing affordable coverage options to millions who would remain uninsured under wider limits.

“AARP will continue our fight to make quality health care affordable to every American, regardless of age.”

For more information about AARP’s fight to limit health insurance age-rating, please visit www.aarp.org/getthefacts

 AARP Supports $250 Emergency Relief in 2010 For Older Americans

 Contact Senator Mitch McConnell

Washington Office
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224-2541
Fax: 202.224-2499

Contact Senator Jim Bunning

Washington Office

316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202.224.4343
Fax: 202.228.1373

Universal Design: Home for the Next 50 Years

3'rd Annual Metro Louisville Aging in Place Council Roundtable

October 13, 2009 (Seating is limited, register early)

Special Presentation & Workshop by:
John Salmen, AIA
Universal Designers & Consultants, Takoma Park, MD

Renowned expert and practitioner of Universal Design who has specialized in barrier free and universal design for more than 30 years. See more on John Salmen at http://www.mlaipc.org/news.html.

• Recognize how Universal Design can be applied at all scales,from where a project is located in its community to the selection of kitchen cabinet hardware.

• Identify the differences between accessibility compliance and universal design.

• Discuss examples of universal design features and products that can be integrated into a home design to allow aging in place by enabling flexibility and independence of the residents and their guests.

• Explore the relationship between universal design and sustainable design and integration into a residential design.

Registration required:

Register online at http://www.mlaipc.org/udregister.html and mail payment or completed form with payment to: MLAIPC, ATTN: Jackie, 2911 South 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40208.

When:

Tuesday,
October 13, 2009
8:00 am to Noon

Where:

Egan Leadership Center, Spalding University
4th & Breckinridge Streets
Cost:$25 ($15 for MLAIPC members)
Students free

More:

• Coffee and light breakfast served
• Optional: $12 for box lunchavailable at noon
• Confirmation is not complete until payment is received.
• All checks must be received by registration deadline,Tuesday, October 6th.
• Approved for AIA Continuing Education credits (qualifies for HSW/SD credit)
• Funded in part by the Access Center Partnership Fund

Contact:

For more information and directions, call (502) 548-1239 or visit www.mlaipc.org.

Seating is limited! Register by October 6th http://www.mlaipc.org/udregister.html (Checks only please, cannot accept credit cards)

Louisville Metro Area Residents Invited to Dispose of Expired Prescription Medicines Safely

What can you do with old medicines? Louisville Metro Police, Louisville Metro Solid Waste, Senior Pharmacy Solutions and TRIAD are teaming up to provide opportunities for Louisville residents to safely dispose of their unused medication products.

Toss them safely and free at these locations below:

Thursday, October 8, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Our Mother of Sorrows Church
770 Eastern Pkwy, Louisville, 40217  (near the intersection of Preston Street)

Friday, October 9, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 
Location: Park Terrace                   
9700 Stonestreet Road, Louisville 40272

Saturday, October 10, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Middletown Christian Church  
500 North Watterson Trail, Louisville 40243

Saturday, October 10, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Sponsored by AARP Mt. Washington Chapter #4613
Location: Mt. Washington Police Department
180 Landis Lane (off original section of Highway 31)
Mt. Washington, KY 40047

What to bring?

• Expired or unused medications
• Bulk or loose tablets and capsules
• Unsealed tubes of creams, ointments, etc.
• Medications that should have been kept cold but were not
• Unsealed syrups, eye drops, nasal sprays, or inhalers

What to do?

• Remove labels or cross out personal information
• Place any tablets and capsules into a zip-lock bag
• Place vials into a seperate bag or secure container 
• Place bottled liquids and tubes of medication into separate leak-proof bags

Learn more about the best way to protect the environment and the dangers of tossing, flushing or burning old medicines at http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions/articles/tossing_old_meds.html

AARP Applauds New House Bill -“Medicare Premium Fairness Act” (H.R. 3631) - to Help Seniors Struggling in Tough Economy 

 

By a vote of 406 to 18 the House of Representatives (9/24/09) passed the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (H.R. 3631) that will hold Medicare premiums steady for all beneficiaries for the next year. All Kentucky's House members voted in support of H.R. 3631.

According to AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond, “As health care costs continue to soar despite lower inflation throughout the economy, older Americans are hit particularly hard. Retirees have seen their savings wiped away by market losses while their health care bills continue to climb. People in Medicare today spend nearly a third of their income on health care. The lack of a cost-of-living update in Social Security means that millions more in Medicare could see their health care costs rise further out of reach."

“By holding Medicare premiums steady for all beneficiaries for the next year—premiums that have doubled since 2000—[this] bill would help ensure that health care is more affordable for people in Medicare—without burdening taxpayers or future generations with new spending," added LeaMond.
 

More information is available at: www.healthactionnow.org and www.aarp.org