Commentary by Betsy McCaughey “rife with gross, cruel distortion

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President John Rother issued the following statement in response to recent commentary by Betsy McCaughey in various media outlets on health care reform measures passed or currently being considered by Congress.

 “Betsy McCaughey’s recent commentary on health care reform column in various media outlets is rife with gross—and even cruel—distortions.

 “Ms. McCaughey has again launched her customary broadside attack against comparative effectiveness research.  She describes this term as ‘code’ for ‘limiting care based on a patient’s age.’  In fact the term for that is ‘age rating,’ a practice used by insurance companies to discriminate against older Americans against which AARP is vigorously fighting, and we look forward to her next column to help the cause.

 “‘Comparative effectiveness research,’ on the other hand, is a technical term that just means giving doctors and patients the ability to compare different kinds of treatments to find out which one works best for which patient.

 “Some estimates say that only about half of all therapies that patients receive have been backed up by head-to-head comparisons with alternatives.  While our country spends more than $2 trillion a year on health care, we spend less than 0.1 percent on evaluating how that care works compared to other options. “This research has been around (although sadly not enough) for decades, enjoying support from political leaders of both parties, doctors, patients, and consumer advocacy groups.

“The main opponents of this research are those groups with a vested interest in a health care system that wastes billions of dollars each year on ineffective or unnecessary drugs, treatments or tests.  Given Ms. McCaughey’s position as a Director of a medical device producer, I would hope that any potential conflict of interest has not influenced her commentary.

“More concerning, Ms. McCaughey’s criticism misinterprets legislation that would actually help empower individuals and doctors to make their own choices on end-of-life care. 

“This measure would allow Medicare to pay doctors for taking the time to talk with individuals about difficult end-of-life care decisions.  It would help provide people with better information on the positives and negatives—both physical and financial—that different treatments can mean for them and their families. 

“Facing a terminal disease or debilitating accident, some people will choose to take every possible life-saving measure in the hopes that treatment or even a cure will allow them more time with their families.  Others will decide that additional treatment would impose too great a burden—emotional, physical and otherwise—on themselves and their families, declining extraordinary measures and instead choosing care to manage their discomfort.  Either way, it should be their choice.

“This measure would not only help people make the best decisions for themselves, but also better ensure that their wishes are followed.

“To suggest otherwise is a gross, and even cruel, distortion—especially for any family that has been forced to make the difficult decisions on care for loved ones approaching the end of their lives.

“AARP is committed to improving the quality, effectiveness, and affordability of health care for our 40 million members and their families.  We will fight any measure that would prevent individuals and their doctors from making their own health care decisions.  We will also fight the campaign of misinformation that vested interests are using to try to scare older Americans in order to protect the status quo.  Profits should never be allowed to come before people in this debate.”

WASHINGTON—AARP CEO A. Barry Rand delivered the following remarks on July 16, 2009 at the White House Middle Class Task Force Town Hall in Alexandria, Va., during a discussion with Vice President Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle, on how health care reform will lower costs, cut waste, and improve quality for seniors from across the country. 

 Rand’s remarks as prepared for delivery follow:

“Good afternoon everyone and welcome. I’m happy to be here with so many of our AARP family.  Mr. Vice President, I want to thank you for hosting this Middle Class Task Force Town Hall and focusing in on ‘How Health Care Reform Will Help Seniors.’  Because as we all know, older Americans, like everyone else, need health care reform.

“So many of you have shared your stories with AARP and asked that we send them to Congress and to the White House to make sure Washington understands how important health care reform is—to you, to all Americans.  

“Today, you have the chance to make your voice heard—the chance to talk about the challenges you are facing, whether it’s falling into the doughnut hole or being denied coverage because you have a pre-existing condition. Your stories are why AARP has made health care reform a top priority.  

“Thankfully, Congress is moving forward with legislation that will address many of the concerns of older Americans. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives introduced a health care reform bill, and the Senate is working hard to get a bill out before the August recess.

“Congress is moving forward because they know what we know:  our current health care system is not sustainable—not just for individuals, but also for employers and government. 

“At AARP, we believe all Americans should have affordable health care choices.  But our current system costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money. 

“This has to change.  For too many people, lack of affordable, quality health care is closing the door on your American Dream—forcing us, forcing you, forcing them to choose between their health and other necessities.  We hear this from our members every day, and you will hear some of those personal stories from people here today.

“Affordable health care is critical for financial and retirement security. One of the main reasons people go bankrupt is because they can’t pay their medical bills.

“For families and workers, the loss of jobs has been compounded by pay cuts and reduced insurance coverage.  Among the most vulnerable are people 50-64 who lack employer-sponsored insurance. For too many of them, the individual insurance market is often unavailable at any price due to their exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

“As many of you know first hand, people on Medicare face extremely heavy burdens. They spend, on average, six times more of their income on health care than those with coverage through employers. We need health care reform in order to hold down costs and to keep Medicare strong now and strong for future generations.

“I joined President Obama and Congressional leaders when we announced an agreement to cut Medicare’s Part D coverage gap—the doughnut hole—in half.  This is an important start.  But we must do more to improve Medicare, such as:

* Further close the Part D “doughnut hole” coverage gap and reduce the costs of prescription drugs;

* Protect patients’ access to their doctors;

* Crack down on waste, fraud and abuse that’s driving up the cost of health care and causing medical errors and poor care

* Prevent dangerous, costly and avoidable re-hospitalizations; and

* Improve quality through better care management that coordinates chronic, acute, and long-term care services, and ensures that patients have access to the full range of support they need.

“For people not yet eligible for Medicare, there are a number of steps we must take to make health care more affordable, we must:

* Prevent insurance companies from pricing policies based on pre-existing conditions or age; 

* Limit people’s premiums and out-of-pocket costs;

* Provide people with stable coverage that can not be taken away if they lose a job or experience life’s other ups and downs; and finally,

* Lower drug prices.

“These steps will improve health care for everyone. AARP is working hard—with the Administration—including Secretary Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle.  And we’re working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle—to achieve meaningful health care reform that improves quality, improves the way care is delivered, and makes it more affordable. 

“We all have a stake in health care reform.  And right now, Congress is making important decisions. 

“I urge you to be informed…I urge you to be involved, and…I urge you to be engaged in this issue.  You can make a difference.  Together, we can make sure that every American has access to affordable, quality health care for generations to come.”

For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, visit http://www.aarp.org/governmentwatch.

KU researcher studies older adults as they downsize material possessions

State Health Care Briefs 2009: Why Health Care Reform is Important is now available on AARP Policy & Research.

http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/state_hcb_09.html

This set of State Health Care Briefs provides a one-page overview of facts on health care data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

 

AARP Thanks President, Senate Leaders for Helping to Close the “Doughnut Hole" 

WASHINGTON—This morning, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand delivered the following remarks at the White House announcement of a new agreement to substantially fill the Medicare Part D coverage gap:

“Thank you Mr. President.  AARP is proud to stand with you and Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd to announce that the gap in Medicare’s drug coverage, known as the ‘doughnut hole,’ will be substantially filled for millions of middle income Americans as part of health reform.

“I want to applaud Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd, who continue to be champions for this issue and have always fought for people struggling to make ends meet.  We are honored to stand with you today.

“Senator Baucus, your strong leadership of the Senate Finance Committee coupled with your creativity is what led to the development of this unique solution.  We also support your Finance Committee’s process and look forward with optimism to its next steps.

“Bottom line: without you, Chairman Baucus, we certainly would not be here today.

“When the President issued his clarion call for all parties to come together and address the issues of health care reform, AARP, representing over 40 million members, was proud to be one of the first to step forward.

“Today’s announcement will mean that struggling Americans who have been looking for help in their pocketbooks just to stay healthy, and who say that one of their single largest drivers of health care costs is prescription drugs—Americans in Medicare’s ‘doughnut hole’—will have their brand-name drug costs cut in half.  That’s a 50 percent reduction in drug costs.

“Too many Americans who fall into the coverage gap stop taking their medications because they simply cannot afford them.  They will now have a new opportunity to lead a healthier life.

“Mr. President, every American who is burdened by the high cost of health care or has inadequate access to our health care system—every business that is fighting to be competitive and save American jobs knows that health care reform cannot wait.

“This is an early win for reform and a major step forward.  It is a signal the process is working and will work.  But AARP is not done.  We will continue to work with you, Mr. President, and the House and the Senate to protect the people who rely on Medicare, to further lower drug costs, and to have guaranteed access to coverage for all Americans.

“Together, we will complete the mission for comprehensive health care reform.  Thank you for your leadership on this issue, Mr. President.”

 For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, visit http://www.aarp.org/governmentwatch.

AARP crowned Michael Petrina Jr., 64, of Arlington, Virginia, the winner of the AARP National Spelling Bee, June 20. Petrina won the championship by correctly spelling “woad” and out-spelled 45 other spellers from more than 25 states who competed in the record-breaking Bee that lasted 46 rounds.