AARP Responds to BIO Attack Ad

AARP Spokesman Jim Dau released a statement today in response to new advertising by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), which is advocating for an unreasonable 12-year exclusivity period for brand name biologic drugs.  Such a deal would create a windfall for the brand name biologic drug makers and keep needed prescription drugs out of the hands of patients.  Dau’s statement follows:

“The biologic drug makers are hiding behind the same arguments used by big pharmaceutical companies 25 years ago when they said big pharma would go out of business if they had to compete with generic drugs—and we all know how that turned out.  BIO is going even further this time by asking for a protection deal twice as sweet as big pharma got back then, so the real question is, ‘How much more money do they think they can wring out of patients and taxpayers?’

“We represent 40 million older Americans, who use more prescription drugs than any other part of the population and who also suffer from the chronic diseases that can be treated by biologic drugs.  We understand better than most that these drugs can be helpful, which is why we support letting biologic drug makers continue benefiting from their hard work and make enough to fund the next wave of drugs.  We support protecting the patents on their drugs from competition for five years—even for many drugs that make back their development costs in less than a year.  However, by charging more than $20,000 per year for some of these drugs, bio drug makers are making these cures too expensive for the people that need it.

“Americans should have access to safe, affordable generic versions of important biologic drugs, which is why AARP is working with other consumers and patient advocacy groups on this important issue.  We understand that even the best drug is worthless if a person in need can’t afford to take it.”

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

Contrary to advertisements by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, AARP does not sell or market insurance products, but makes them available through various service providers.

 

 AARP Launches Money-Saving Prescription Drug Resource

Online tool helps people avoid dreaded “doughnut hole”

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

CEO Rand: Americans “will now have a new opportunity to lead a healthier life”

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 .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2009                                      Contact           Jamie Bulen, 603 621 1003

Steve Griffin, 207 523 0648

AARP: Shaheen-Collins Bill Will Keep Americans Healthier and Out of the Hospital

Legislation adds follow-up care benefit for people in Medicare

Manchester — AARP today proudly endorsed the bipartisan “Medicare Transitional Care Act,” being introduced this week by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME).  This critical legislation adds a follow-up care benefit to Medicare to ensure that people who leave the hospital get the care they need to stay healthy and avoid being readmitted.  Such a benefit can help save some of the estimated $17 billion Medicare spends each year on preventable hospital readmissions.    

“It’s unacceptable that in Maine and New Hampshire, 18 percent of people in Medicare who visit the hospital will return within a month because they aren’t getting the follow-up care they need,” said AARP Maine State Director Nancy Kelleher.  “We’re sending home too many people with a handful of prescriptions and no support.  Something as simple as help to set up a medication schedule could be the difference between getting healthy or winding up back in a hospital bed.”

AARP has urged lawmakers to ensure that comprehensive health reform includes a Medicare follow-up care benefit to help people safely return to their homes after a hospital stay, coordinate their health care needs, and prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions.  The legislation introduced today by Senators Shaheen and Collins marks an important step toward a stronger, higher-quality health care system.

The “Medicare Transitional Care Act” would create a new Medicare benefit to coordinate care during a person’s transition from a hospital to their home or other care settings.  With help from a team of nurses, doctors and other professionals, patients and their caregivers would receive critical follow-up care, like instructions for taking their medications, a medical professional to attend follow-up appointments with their doctors, referrals for care, and help to find the equipment and services they may need.

AARP New Hampshire State Director Kelly Clark added: “We’re proud to support this crucial bipartisan legislation, and we look forward to working with Senators Shaheen and Collins to enact this benefit as a part of comprehensive health reform.  We simply cannot afford to keep wasting our health care dollars on preventable readmissions.  This bill is a win-win that would keep people healthier and save money.”

AARP has also endorsed a House companion bill, H.R. 2773, sponsored by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Charles Boustany (R-LA).

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

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.  AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates.  We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org.  AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors.  We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.Virgin Islands.

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For Immediate Release

June 9, 2009                                      Contact:    Jamie Bulen, 603 621 1003

                                                                          Doug McNutt, 603 858 4640 (C)

AARP Engages Nearly 6,000 in Tele-Town Hall

The Long-Term Care (LTC) Legislative Caucus met for the first time on March 31, 2009 with the goal of bringing together interested parties to create a long-term care plan for the state.  The Caucus is open to the public and we encourage you to get involved.  Members of the Caucus shared reports that have been done in the past several years to be used to educate the Caucus, volunteers/advocates and our community. 

If you have any questions, want to get involved or would like additional information about the Legislative Caucus and efforts in your community, please contact Deborah Sprague at 621-1011 or dsprague@aarp.org.     

AARP NH, Long-Term Care Commission Report – February 2009

AARP NH, A Balancing Act: AARP Survey on Long-Term Care Reform in NH – February 2009

Alzheimer’s Association, 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures – Annual 2009

Alliance for Health Reform, Long-Term Care: Options in an Era of Health Reform – March 2009 and Extended Version, April 2009

State Committee on Aging, Community Listening Sessions by NHDHHS & EA – February 2009

NH ELMB, Eldercare in NH – Labor Market  Trends and their Implications – March 2006

EnAGING NH, Executive Summary 2006 EngAGING NH Summit – 2006

NH Long Term Support Systems Transformation, Mission, Vision, Values & Commitments

The Policy Resource Center, Institute for Health, Law and Ethics, Real Choice Systems Change – 2003

NHDHHS, Shaping Tomorrow’s Choices – 1998

The State of NH, Incapacitated Adult Fatality Review Committee – First Annual Report March 2009

AARP Public Policy Institute: Taking the Long View: Investing in Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services is Cost Effective - March 2009

Franklin Pierce Law Center, Institute for Health, law and Ethics, Toward a Community Support System for the Elderly – June 1998

Sue Fox's Consolidated Caucus Notes/Resource Document - May 2009

Long-Term Care Caucus Meeting Minutes - May 18th, 2009

 New Hampshire Long-Term Care Strategic Questions - May 2009

 Oregon Long-Term Care Questions - 2009

 EngAging NH News - May 2009

The Evercare Survey of The Economic Downturn and its Impact on Family Caregiving - April 28th, 2009

 Closing the Long-Term Care Funding Gap:  The Challenge of Private Long-Term Care Insurance - June 2009

Tax Policy Center: The Future of Long Term Care: What Is Its Place in the Health Reform Debate - 2009

The New York Times: Making Homes a Safer Place, Affordably --July 17th, 2009

As Resources Become Available, They Will Be Posted Here. 

Health Insurance Crisis is Hitting 50-64 Age Group Hard!

AARP has made guaranteeing access to affordable health coverage for people aged 50-64 an essential element of health reform. Why?

Americans aged 50-64, who make up nearly half of AARP’s 40 million members, are taking a hard hit in these times of shrinking employer-sponsored health coverage. They have become the fastest growing group of uninsured. The rate at which they have been losing coverage is really alarming -- 36 percent between 2000 and 2009

And in today’s turbulent economy, as more working men and women in this age group are losing jobs with employer-sponsored health care, they are finding it more and more difficult (if not impossible) to get affordable individual coverage. This is -- in large part -- because health insurers consider age and pre-existing conditions when setting their rates.

Seven of every ten Americans in this age group have at least one -- if not several – chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Insurance industry data show that insurers reject between 17 and 28 percent of all applications from people aged 50-64. Those “lucky” enough to find individual coverage must pay, on average, premiums that average three times higher than premiums for those of the same age who have employer coverage. And their out-of-pocket spending for health care is more than twice that of those with employer coverage, despite less generous benefits.

This problem is becoming more serious because our 50-64 population is growing rapidly, thanks to the aging of the baby boomers. Nearly one of every five Americans will be 50-64 by 2015.

AARP is pressing Congress to find a common-sense solution to the coverage gap for 50-64-year-olds. For information on AARP’s efforts to help people in this age group – and on ways you can help – please check out our new web page for health reform @ www.healthactionnow.org