AARP Online Community: AARPNH - Mr. and Mrs. Smith Go to Washington

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Mr. and Mrs. Smith Go to Washington

Health Action Now Weekly Update

Special Lobby Day Edition: July 31, 2009

Mr. and Mrs. Smith Go to Washington

This past week, over 150 AARP volunteers, activists and state staff from all over the country came to Washington DC to participate in Health Action Now Day on the Hill. The activists and volunteers were selected by a combination of state outreach and an online application process, through which we received over 1600 applications.

Before meeting with their Members of Congress, our state colleagues went through a full day of training that included a briefing on the current state of play, framing the asks and the art of an effective congressional visit. Once prepped, staff and volunteers were ready to hit the ground running with our key asks: affordability for those age 50 to 64 years old, including age rating; no benefit cuts for Medicare beneficiaries; and closing the doughnut hole for Medicare Part D.

Volunteers and staff had over 200 meetings on the Hill, many of which were with Members of Congress. From our reports, Members and their staff appreciated the message of no benefit cuts to Medicare beneficiaries as it will help them sell health care reform to their older constituents. Additionally, our volunteers and activists were able to put a human face on issues surrounding affordability, especially age rating. As our colleagues lobbied Members on our top asks, they were able to derive real time intelligence on the status of health care reform in both the House and Senate. This is incredibly important as the situation is changing a moment’s notice.

We learned that while the vast majority of Members of Congress are committed to health care reform, even if they disagree on some of the details, they are receiving a disproportionate amount of calls and emails against reform back in their districts. Many have asked for AARP’s help in dispelling the rumors and myths and pushing the case for reform during the August recess. In response to these requests, we will be holding town halls, tele-town halls and other avenues with Members during the August Recess.

Countless individuals contributed to making Health Action Now Day on the Hill a tremendous success - from our state volunteers, activists and staff who took time out of their schedules to come to DC, to our Health Team and Congressional Relations lobbyists who accompanied our state colleagues on their Hill visits, to several members on the Health Care Reform Core Team and to everyone on the Advocacy Resources team in GRA who were responsible for the logistics. Planning and executing this week’s activities show the true power and dedication of AARP on both the state and national levels. This is evidenced even further by the shear numbers in engagements on our Health Action Now Website—1.2 million and counting. If numbers speak volumes then we are writing the book.

As we move into the August recess, it is essential that we push back on scare-mongering out there and strongly sell the case for health care reform to AARP members and 50+ Americans in general. Only with their buy-in will we be successful in enacting meaningful reform.