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“These bills represent hope for 50-64 year old Arkansans who are uninsured as well as for the state’s Medicare beneficiaries.”

“These bills represent hope for 50-64 year old Arkansans who are uninsured as well as for the state’s Medicare beneficiaries.”

The following are excerpts from a speech on health care reform made by Dr. William "Bill" Hall, AARP Board member, at the 2009 Long-term Care Policy Summit in Little Rock in September 2009.


As many as 7 million of all persons age 50-64 are uninsured today - nearly 70,000 right here in Arkansas. And people in Medicare,  which includes one of every five Arkansas residents, are spending 30 percent of their income on health care.

As we've listened to our members about their health care concerns, we've heard a great deal of confusion, frustration, anger, and desperation. They have been pretty clear about what they would like to see us achieve for them.

Too many of our members have been denied coverage because they have a pre-existing condition. Others have fallen victim to insurance companies that charge expensive rates they couldn't afford. AARP strongly supports the House of Representatives-sponsored provisions to limit age rating to no more than a 2-to-1 ratio.

AARP also supports providing subsidies to individuals up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Without these subsidies, many of our members will not be able to afford coverage or the cost sharing for covered care.

We have made it clear that any final health care reform plan must use savings from removing waste, fraud, and inefficiency in Medicare to: 1. close the Part D "doughnut hole"; 2. pay doctors more fairly so our members will continue to have access to the doctors they want; 3. covering more preventive services such as cancer screenings; and, 4. keep premiums and out-of-pocket costs fair.

Also, health care reform must protect consumers and choices by making sure no one will get between them and their doctor:  not insurance companies -- not the government -- and that no one will tell them which doctors or treatments they should have.

And health care reform should ensure that all Americans know that if they lose their job or change jobs, they will be able to get affordable, quality health insurance.

AARP has endorsed the Medicare Transitional Act, which would assist individuals and provide family caregivers in managing medications and treatments and provide resources and support. It would save Medicare dollars and reduce the number of Medicare beneficiaries who are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their discharge

Enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds for home and community-based services could provide incentives for states to make short-term investments that save money and improve lives

Congress should focus on improving the quality of care and reducing costs for individuals who are "dual eligibles" - eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Some say that health care reform is too expensive and we can't afford to fix it. The fact is if we do nothing to fix health care, in the next seven years families with Medicare or employer-based health coverage will likely see their premiums nearly double again and the share of family income spent on health care will nearly double.
The fact is, AARP believes we can't afford not to fix health care.

 

AARP is focused on improving the health and quality of life in all communities, including the black community. Find out more about what AARP has to offer the African American community by visiting www.aarp.org/black_community. You’ll find a wide selection of health education material there plus much more.

Called “I Participate,” the Entertainment Industry Foundation hopes to make service a part of who we are as Americans--and AARP’s Create The Good is sharing the spotlight.

TV ads and network shows which aired in October pointed viewers to iparticipateusa.org, which features a prominent link to the newly redesigned CreateTheGood.org Web site.

AARP has produced a Create The Good public service announcement starring country singing celebrity Faith Hill. Chances are you did if you watch primetime TV during EIF week in October. About 70 network daytime and primetime shows featured a service theme as part of their story lines. (See Bulletin Today’s “On Prime Time – a Push for Volunteers.”)  

Twenty AARP Volunteers in Central Arkansas were briefed on latest developments in health care reform (HCR) and trained on the newest message framework by Associate State Directors Herb Sanderson and Pat Jones. Separately, volunteers Billie Dougherty, Dwayne Van Sickle, and James Brooks. Associate State Director for Outreach Lou Tobian took the HCR message on the road to two regional health expos (1800 employees of the City of Little Rock and 125 seniors at the Cabot Senior Health Fair).Staff and volunteers also made HCR presentations to an alumni association, the Mountain Home Chapter, and the Arkansas Long-Term Care Balancing Advisory Group.

Right after dinner on September 1^st, 100,000 Arkansas households received a phone call. The caller was AARP Arkansas, and AARP’s live guest was U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D). The topic was improving access to affordable, quality health care.

By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap.

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