Late Saturday night the U.S. House of Representatives passed critical health care reform legislation that would strengthen Medicare for seniors and end discrimination by insurance companies that prices millions of Americans out of affordable health coverage.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) makes prescription drugs more affordable for seniors by closing the dangerous gap in Medicare drug coverage and allowing the program to negotiate lower drug prices. It adds cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits. In addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.

For all Americans – especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find affordable insurance – this plan strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage based on a person’s health history or gender. For those who still cannot find affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase insurance.

“We applaud Representative Earl Pomeroy for supporting this crucial legislation,” said Janis Cheney, AARP state director in North Dakota. “This bill will help millions of older Americans get the health coverage they need, while strengthening Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations.”

AARP notified the 111^th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its nearly 40 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members.

“When Americans understand the issues and where their lawmakers stand, they can make smart decisions. AARP will be there to give our members, as well as all Americans, the most accurate information we can,” Cheney said.

AARP members can see how their representatives voted on health care reform by going to www.aarp.org/governmentwatch. AARP’s Government Watch is a one-stop online portal that will be tracking and publicizing every designated key vote on issues facing Americans age 50-plus.   A “Key Vote Summary” highlighting votes on these issues will be published at the end of each congressional session.

Since we began our latest battle for comprehensive health care reform more than two years ago, AARP has fought for a health care bill that provides quality, affordable health coverage options for all Americans and protects Medicare for seniors and for future generations.

We have read the House of Representatives’ Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961), and we can say with confidence that they meet our priorities for protecting Medicare and reforming our health care system.

For the more than 45 million Americans in Medicare – 84,000 in North Dakota alone – the House plan completely closes the dangerous gap in prescription drug coverage known as the doughnut hole, adds cost-free preventive benefits like cancer screenings, cracks down on waste and fraud and protects the traditional Medicare benefits people in the program rely on.

For all Americans – including our younger members who often struggle to find affordable insurance (an estimated 13,000 in North Dakota between the ages of 50 to 64 are uninsured) – the House plan makes coverage more affordable by strictly limiting how much more insurance companies charge based on age. Americans will also no longer be denied coverage based on health history or discriminated against because of gender, and those who still cannot afford insurance on their own will receive help to purchase affordable coverage.

In addition, the House plan begins to repair the country’s outdated system of long-term care with new provisions to help people prepare for their long-term care needs and live in their own homes as they grow older.

While AARP is pleased to see that H.R. 3962/H.R. 3961 include many of the proposals that are most critical to protecting Medicare and ensuring Americans age 50+ have access to stable, affordable health care, we know the fight isn’t over. That’s why we’re going to keep working with members of the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are included in any final health care reform bill.

And, as the legislative process moves forward, we’ve let Congress and the Administration know that we will fight with the strength of our nearly 40 million members against any proposal that would hurt rather than help Medicare and older Americans’ access to affordable, quality health care.

We will continue to provide the information you need to decide for yourself what the health reform will mean to you. For information on the latest developments, go to www.aarp.org/getthefacts.

AARP will make an important Health Care Reform announcement today at 10:30 a.m. Central Standard Time. You can watch it live by clicking here: http://bit.ly/HCRlive.

The North Dakota Department of Human Services and the North Dakota Department of Commerce want to remind individuals and families concerned about winter heating costs that help is available.

The two agencies work together with county social service offices and community action agencies to assist low-income households with heating-related needs.

The federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by Human Services can pay for part of the heating costs of qualifying households, as well as weatherization services and furnace repairs.

According to Human Services officials, the state LIHEAP program paid an average of $919 in heating energy costs per participating household last year.  The program typically pays fuel vendors directly. 

Saving money on heating also involves conservation measures. The Commerce Department administers the federal Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, which works to increase the energy efficiency of homes owned or occupied by low-income persons.

An energy auditor visits qualifying households to determine the best weatherization options to reduce energy costs and ensure safety. The program may pay for caulking, weather stripping, insulation in attics, walls, and floors; appropriate home repairs, and furnace repair or replacement.

To avoid duplication, Human Services contracts with Commerce for weatherization and furnace repair and replacement services. The Department of Commerce’s Community Services Division, in turn, works closely with the local community action agencies that provide many of the direct services.

Each program has different criteria. The LIHEAP program has income and asset limits to ensure help goes to those most in need. To qualify, a household can earn up to 60 percent of the state median income, which for a family of three equals $33,860 per year.

People can apply for LIHEAP heating assistance at their county social service office.  Applicant information is confidential.  An application is also available online at www.nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn00529.pdf and can be completed and returned to a county office.

Last heating season, the state LIHEAP program helped just over 16,000 North Dakota households.  Tribal LIHEAP programs also served state residents.

Criteria for the Commerce Department’s Weatherization Assistance program are slightly different.  A family of three earning up to $36,620 may qualify. A list of qualifying income levels and other information are on the Web at www.communityservices.nd.gov/energy/weatherization-assistance/.

People can apply for Weatherization Assistance online at www.communityservices.nd.gov/energy/weatherization-assistance/weatherization-application/.

Individuals who do not qualify for either of these government programs should contact their utility companies for an energy audit and recommendations and to set up a balanced payment plan to spread heating costs throughout the year. They can also contact the Community Action Agency in their area for other possible assistance.

Medicare Part D enrollment period has started. Seniors are starting to receive phone calls from a woman and man who claim to be from Medicare. They team up to request the Medicare number, Social Security number, bank account numbers and credit card numbers.

The scam works like this: A female caller: “This is (name), and I’m calling from Medicare. Your file has been flagged for Part D enrollment or a change in Medicare, and I’m calling to verify your Medicare needs.” While on the phone, the caller tries to collect your Medicare number. Once the Medicare number is collected, the Medicare beneficiary is transferred to a male caller. He verifies the information and transfers the call to a third person. This third step is used to convince the senior into revealing bank account numbers and credit card numbers, often with a series of misleading questions bent on “verifying your information so you can keep your health coverage” or “enroll in Part D for 2010.”

A few beneficiaries have reported they did give the callers their Medicare, Social Security, bank account, and credit card numbers. Once these fraudulent people have your personal information it is easy to re-populate that information to whatever forms that are necessary to access services, summit false claims, drain bank accounts or commit ID theft for their own gain. Within 15 minutes after a call of this type is made to a victim, a new purchase can be charged to your card.

Victims believe they are getting a call from Medicare. Medicare does not call beneficiaries to request personal information. If anyone receives such a call, HANG-UP. Don’t be pressured to provide information or buy something. Do not give out Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers over the phone.

You may report these calls to the State Health Insurance Counseling program at 1-888-575-6611, or 1-800 MEDICARE. Also report this type of call to your bank and credit card provider right away.

Reprinted from the November issue of the North Dakota Insurance Department RxConnector.

With the arrival of the novel H1N1 (“swine flu”), many people are understandably confused about how to protect themselves against the flu this year. AARP is working with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to encourage older Americans to protect themselves and those in their care by getting vaccinated.

Experts say that, this year, a seasonal flu vaccination for people 50 and over is as important as ever. Even before novel H1N1 became a threat, flu claimed an average of 36,000 lives and hospitalized more than 200,000 Americans every year. Health authorities have long recommended that people 50 and over get a seasonal flu vaccine each year.

Experts also recommend people 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccination, which they can get at the same time as their seasonal flu vaccination. Pneumococcus is a bacteria that can cause a range of conditions, including pneumococcal pneumonia, blood infection, and meningitis. Young children and people over 65 are the hardest hit.

Both pneumococcal and seasonal flu vaccines are available now. Have you gotten yours?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older Americans are less likely to get sick from novel H1N1, perhaps due to exposure to a similar virus many years ago. However, they are more likely to suffer serious complications – and even death – from seasonal flu. Vaccination is the first line of defense, but good hygiene habits, like frequent hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough are also important. If you get sick, antiviral medications are also available to help treat the flu.

“We must not get distracted by H1N1 – we must remember our annual seasonal flu vaccination,” said Dr. Susan J. Rehm, Medical Director of NFID. “Pneumococcal vaccination is also important, and now is a great time to get both vaccines.”

Last year in North Dakota , 44.5 percent of adults age 50-64 and 73.2 percent of adults 65+ got vaccinated for influenza. In North Dakota 68.4 percent of adults 65+ have received the pneumococcal vaccine.

Vaccination will help more Americans stay healthy this fall and winter, so that we can keep moving – at home and at work.

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are free for anyone in Medicare and are available now at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and health departments in our area. For more information, speak with your healthcare provider or visit www.aarp.org/flu or www.nfid.org . For up-to-date information on flu activity in North Dakota , visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm .

Today the U.S. Senate blocked critical legislation to protect access to doctors for the 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare. The Medicare Physician Fairness Act (S. 1776) would have replaced today’s broken doctor payment system, which calls for a 21.5 percent cut in physician pay in January. The bill failed to pass a key procedural vote in the Senate today.

“We are disappointed that Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan voted to block this important Medicare bill from open debate and an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. This bill would permanently replace the broken Medicare physician payment system so people in the program could continue to see their doctor,” said AARP North Dakota spokesperson Lyle Halvorson.

AARP strongly supports the Medicare Physician Fairness Act, introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). This legislation permanently repeals Medicare’s flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) physician payment formula, which has required repeated Congressional action to prevent unwarranted cuts that could harm access to doctors for people in Medicare. Repealing the SGR will stop an unprecedented 21.5 percent pay cut that otherwise will occur in January 2010, and additional cuts in future years.

AARP notified the 111^th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its 40 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members.

“We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issues and position taken by their elected officials. AARP intends to ensure that its 86,000 members in North Dakota get that information,” Halvorson said.

The late Frances “Fran” Koppang, Bismarck, has been selected by AARP to receive North Dakota ’s 2009 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. The award is the membership organization’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award for community service and symbolizes that individuals have the power and ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

AARP North Dakota selected Koppang for her significant volunteer service and for the impact she had on the lives of others and on her community.

Koppang was an active volunteer, not only for AARP, but other organizations as well. She was a volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide and Driver Safety Training programs. She also volunteered for the North Dakota State Health Insurance Program, MedCenter One, Thrivent for Lutherans, and Faith Lutheran Church.

“Fran was an active community volunteer, never turning down an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many others,” said one of her nominators, Muriel Peterson, Bismarck. “Fran inspired others by the example she set through her own commitment and dedication to volunteerism. She actively encouraged others to become involved in volunteer opportunities and her enthusiasm to help others was infectious.

Koppang’s volunteer positions often benefited low-income families and seniors seeking health and support services. As an example of her volunteer advocacy, she spent hours researching, making telephone calls, and writing letters trying to win Medicare’s approval to pay for dental surgery for a person with uncontrolled diabetes. Until the dental infection was resolved, the person could not have other needed medical surgery.

The AARP Andrus Award for Community Service recognizes members and volunteers who, through volunteer service, are significantly enhancing the lives of individuals age 50 and over. The award will be formally presented to Koppang’s family at a 2 p.m. Oct. 2 ceremony at Faith Lutheran Church in Bismarck .

“This award acts as a symbol not only to our members, but people of all ages, that we can all work together for positive social change,” says AARP North Dakota State President David Peterson . “AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions AARP volunteers make to their communities, neighbors, and the programs they serve.”