AARP Kansas honored its 2009 outstanding community service volunteer during a luncheon banquet at the Fanchon Ballroom in Hays on October 1, 2009.  The banquet was part of the annual Western Summit sponsored by the Hays AARP chapter.  Each year, AARP, the nonprofit membership organization for people 50 and over, presents its most prestigious award, the Ethel Percy Andrus Award for Community Service, to an individual or individuals who, through volunteer service, significantly enhance the lives of those in their community. This award symbolizes that individuals have the power and ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

There's been a lot of confusion about what's involved in health care reform, and even more confusion about who is supporting what. At AARP, our core goal remains the same. We are fighting for our members today, just as we've fought for them for the last 50 years. Today, that means we're fighting to protect the Medicare benefits you’ve earned. To guarantee that you’ll never be denied coverage because of your health or age. To prevent anyone from coming between you and your doctor. And to make sure patients don’t take a backseat to insurance companies.

WASHINGTON—AARP CEO Barry Rand released this statement following President Barack Obama’s address to Congress:

AARP, AMA and ANA Jointly Release New Data

WASHINGTON – New polling released today shows that Americans 50-plus remain concerned with the current health care system, underscoring the need for reform.

Data released jointly today by AARP, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA), show that about half of people over 50-years old are concerned that there won’t be enough nurses or doctors to provide care in the future, and two-thirds of those polled are either very or somewhat concerned that the current system limits their ability to see the doctor of their choice.

“The fact that we need to strengthen our health care system may have been lost in some of the media coverage over the last several weeks, but this survey of Americans shows that the need is as great as ever,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond.  “Tonight the President will address Congress, and while AARP hasn’t endorsed any of the bills, it is critical – especially based on this polling – that any solution ensures that people can see the health professional they want, when they want – particularly for people on Medicare.”

The polling found that nearly nine in ten people (87 percent) believed it was important for doctors to be reimbursed adequately so they continue to accept patients on Medicare.

"This summer we’ve heard a lot of misinformation about health reform proposals on the table. The poll we’re releasing today reminds us that people have serious concerns with the health system in place now: The status quo is unacceptable,” said AMA Immediate Past President Nancy H. Nielsen, M.D. “Currently, 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance, and the Medicare physician payment formula threatens seniors’ access to care by projecting steep cuts just as the baby boomers enter Medicare.  We need to cover the uninsured, implement insurance market reforms and repeal the flawed Medicare formula to ensure all Americans access to the care they need.”

The poll also revealed that most people believe there are not enough nurses to support the current health care system, and that the nurse shortage will remain a problem in the near future.

“Two-thirds of the poll respondents are sensing what we have recognized for the last decade – that we are experiencing a critical nursing shortage and that it will worsen as the rates of registered nurse retirements and aging Baby Boomers requiring health services each increase,” said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. “Health care reform must ensure that the RN workforce is sufficient to make universal access to quality care a reality, not just theory. We can catch up with growing demand through increased investments in nursing workforce development and educational programs.”

Also of note – more than three-fourths (78 percent) are worried that some day either they or someone they know might incur a health care cost that wouldn’t be covered by their health insurance.

The telephone survey was conducted from September 4-7, 2009 by Woelfel Research, Inc. The RDD sample consists of 1,001 United States residents at least 50 years old. The results from the study were weighted by age and gender.  The margin of sampling error is ±3.1%.

The executive summary of the polling is available at: http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/health/hcreform/articles/hcr_concerns.html

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President John Rother released this statement in response to today’s report by the Department of Health and Human Services, “America’s Seniors and Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare.”

“Older Americans are keenly aware of the high cost and inefficiencies of our current health care system.  As today’s report notes, a couple today needs to save $300,000 just to cover their health care bills in retirement.

“Too often, people age 50 to 64 find themselves unable to purchase affordable insurance because of a preexisting condition, or simply because of their age, making them the fastest growing group of uninsured Americans.  And each year, millions of people in Medicare fall into the doughnut hole—a costly gap in their prescription drug coverage—or struggle to find a doctor willing to take new Medicare patients.

“Health care proposals pending in Congress would guarantee every American has a choice of affordable, dependable health coverage, close the Medicare doughnut hole, pay doctors in Medicare fairly and take major steps to combat the skyrocketing costs of health care.

“We look forward to working with the Administration in the coming weeks to create a health care system that strengthens Medicare, protects patients and makes insurance fair for everyone.”