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AARP, Others Push for Health Parity for Puerto Rico

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 17, 2009

Contact: Luci de Haan, (212) 407-3718

AARP, Others Push for Health Parity for Puerto Rico

New York, NY – As lawmakers in Washington prepare to formally debate national health care reform, AARP has joined with top state and Puerto Rican officials today to pledge “Health Parity for Puerto Rico.” The United States is home to some 8 million Puerto Ricans, with approximately four million on the mainland. Of this total, nearly 1,700,000, or more than 40 percent, reside in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut tri-state area.

“One of the main goals of national health care reform is the equal access to quality care for all U.S. citizens wherever they happen to reside,” said Carl McCall, AARP New York’s Volunteer Economic Security Chair and former New York State Comptroller. “This goal cannot be achieved unless and until the four million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico are treated equally under all federal health care programs,” he continued.

To reinforce its support for health parity for Puerto Rico, AARP has launched an online grassroots campaign that provides citizens the opportunity to contact elected officials on the issue. The organization has created two websites that allow citizens to send emails directly to national leaders urging them to treat the four million U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico equally in all federal health care programs. These new websites, www.HealthParityPR.org or www.paridadparapuertorico.org, are part of AARP’s ongoing efforts to advocate for comprehensive, national health care reform.

“If the goal is to use existing programs as building blocks for reform that includes all Americans, parity for Puerto Rico in Medicaid and Medicare is an essential first step,” said Luis M. Balzac, Regional Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. “Trusted voices like AARP recognize this and are helping spread this critical message across the 50 states and to the United States Capitol,” he finished.

Puerto Rico’s health care system is strained because of federal health care funding limitations. Most pressing is the federal funding cap which restricts funding for the Island’s Medicaid program to approximately $250 million per year, while the program spends approximately $1.7 billion on coverage. Puerto Rico is also subject to separate funding formulas in both the Medicare and children’s health care, or SCHIP, programs. These limitations in federal health care investment in Puerto Rico affect the quality of care for all patients and place a financial strain on the government, individuals and families, employers and employees, and public and private providers.

President Obama has proposed health reform that builds on current federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid, while also creating new programs to enable all Americans to have access to health care. In the past, the President pledged to include Puerto Ricans in a reformed health system, as well as to treating Puerto Ricans equally in existing health programs, in some cases through phase-ins of benefits.

The Obama Administration included $634 billion as a “down payment” for comprehensive health care reform in its proposed budget. Since then, House and Senate leaders have been drafting reform legislation and are set to being debating proposals the week of June 21.

For more information on this issue and to learn how you can help achieve Parity for Puerto Rico, please visit www.HealthParityPR.org or www.paridadparapuertorico.org.

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Added: June 17, 2009
Views: 137 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Improving Long-Term Care to Keep New Yorkers in Their Homes

The push to reform health care is picking up steam in Washington, and AARP is at the forefront in seeking affordable health care choices for everyone. One of the most important choices people should have is the opportunity to get care they need to live independently at home. New York AARP volunteers will emphasize this priority as they contact members of Congress about health reform in the coming weeks.

The need for better long-term care is growing, because chronic illness is a growing problem. More than 70 million Americans over age 50 have at least one chronic condition, and the boomer population is increasingly affected. Lack of exercise and poor diet are major culprits. More than ever, medical advances are keeping people alive with chronic problems.

Nine out of 10 adults want to stay in their own homes rather than move to institutions. Yet people with chronic illness often find that home- and community-based support services are uncoordinated, unavailable or hard to find.

As part of health reform, Congress can take important steps to improve long-term care and make it easier for people with chronic conditions to live at home. Funding priorities should be fixed to promote independence. Medicaid, which pays much of the nation’s long-term care bill, spends more on institutional care than for in-home services. Yet every $1 dollar spent by Medicaid to keep someone in a nursing facility could help keep three people in their own home, according to AARP research. That’s why AARP supports the Empowered at Home Act (S. 434), which would expand eligibility for services and provide states with additional federal money so more Americans could receive care at home.

AARP also believes we need to find a way to support family members who are taking care of their older relatives. That’s why AARP supports the Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act (H.R. 468/S. 245), which would provide training and support for family caregivers and improve training for the long-term care workforce.

AARP believes that a better system for long-term care will save money, enhance people’s quality of life, and -- importantly -- help individuals live independently for as long as possible. Help us make this common-sense goal a priority of health reform by joining our efforts at healthactionnow.org.

Added: June 3, 2009
Views: 173 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Take the Divided We Fail Statement

Your Member of Congress needs to know that we are serious about the need for health care reform.

Take action today and drop off the Divided We Fail statement at your Congressman's office. Click here for the Divided We Fail Statement.

If we’re going to win the debate in Congress over health reform, we need people like you to personally show Congress that there are millions of Americans out there who can testify to the fact that our current system costs too much, wastes too much and covers too few.

Given the current economic challenges, it has never been more important to invest in a better, stronger, more efficient health system.

Want to do more from home? Visit HealthActionNow.org

Click here for the Divided We Fail Statement.

Click here to find your local Congressman's office.

Added: May 29, 2009
Views: 118 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

See if the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is Coming to Your Town!

The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour will be visiting over 3,000 communities across the United States and Puerto Rico in 9 customized traveling education and health-screening vehicles. View the latest tour schedule by state or call toll free 1-866-484-TOUR to find a tour stop near you.

http://www.walgreens.com/dmi/bustour/schedule.jsp

Added: May 27, 2009
Views: 146 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Health Reform Now, Improve Care for People in Medicare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2009

Contact

Kristin Legere, (518) 447-6723

Luci de Haan, (212) 407-3718

Health Reform Must Lower Costs,

Improve Care for People in Medicare

AARP works to end preventable hospitalizations, stop Medicare fraud

New York, NY – As the Administration prepares to announce another drop in the lifespan of the Medicare trust fund, AARP’s Health Action Now campaign is insisting that comprehensive health reform include specific measures to cut wasteful spending and control individual costs –all while improving the quality of care. The organization is focusing on reducing waste in Medicare, particularly by reducing costly hospital readmissions and cutting billions of dollars in fraud.

“For most Americans, the biggest roadblock to health care is cost,” said Lois Aronstein, AARP NY State Director. “By rooting out the waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, we can improve the health of people in the program, improve access to quality care and save billions of dollars.”

Putting an End to Preventable Hospital Readmissions

AARP is telling lawmakers that any health reform package must include a Medicare follow-up care benefit, which would help people safely return to their homes or another setting after a hospital stay, coordinate their health care needs and prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions. Such a benefit can help save some of the over $17 billion Medicare spends on largely preventable hospital readmissions and significantly reduce the 20.7%percent of New York State residents in Medicare who are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their first visit.

“Too many Americans are landing back in the hospital because they are sent home without the information and direction they need,” added Aronstein. “We can keep people healthier by making sure they get the right care the first time around.”

AARP is proposing a benefit designed to support people as they move from the hospital to their homes, skilled nursing facilities or rehabilitation centers. Its goals would include delivering the services they need to stay out of the hospital, managing their medications and supporting their family caregivers. Targeting the most at-risk individuals, a team of health professionals would assess patients and their caregivers before leaving the hospital. The team would work with patients and caregivers to develop a plan for appropriate follow-up during and after the transition.

Saving Billions by Stopping Medicare Fraud

AARP is also working with leaders in Congress to fight Medicare fraud throughout the program by stepping up enforcement and prosecution. Rooting out fraud will save billions of dollars for people in Medicare, holding down their premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Aronstein added: “Regardless of where lawmakers stand on the political spectrum, nearly all agree that paying for health care fraud is unacceptable. Medicare needs to be a leader in cracking down on fraud so everyone in the program can save on their health care bills.”

Eliminating wasteful spending by providing a follow-up care benefit is one of many ways we can lower health care costs and improve patient care, especially for individuals with chronic illnesses. A recent report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute, “Chronic Care: A Call to Action for Health Reform,” details the state of chronic care and offers recommendations for improving care for the chronically ill, including transitional care after a hospital stay. The report can be found at http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carequality/beyond_50_hcr.html.

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 34.5 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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Added: May 13, 2009
Views: 363 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Expand Health Care Now!

Your Member of Congress needs to know that we are serious about the need for health care reform.

Take action today and drop off the Divided We Fail statement at your Congressman's office

If we’re going to win the debate in Congress over health reform, we need people like you to personally show Congress that there are millions of Americans out there who can testify to the fact that our current system costs too much, wastes too much and covers too few.

Given the current economic challenges, it has never been more important to invest in a better, stronger, more efficient health system.

Want to do more from home? Visit HealthActionNow.org

Click here for the Divided We Fail Statement.

Click here to find your local Congressman's office.

Added: May 12, 2009
Views: 301 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Stay Covered When You Lose Your Job

In response to growing number of New Yorkers who risk losing health insurance coverage in the current troubled economy, this guide -- the first to help New Yorkers understand how to benefit from the newly enacted COBRA premium assistance --presents practical advice on state and federal protections, and how to exercise them.

Visit United Hospital Fund for more information.

Added: May 6, 2009
Views: 197 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Broken system leaves 7 million older Americans without insurance

Media Contacts: Kristin Legere 518-4447-6723

AARP President Tells Finance Committee Health Care Reform Must Include Affordable Choices for 50- to 64-Year-Olds

Broken system leaves 7 million older Americans without insurance

WASHINGTON — This morning, AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen presented before the Senate Finance Committee’s roundtable on expanding health care coverage. Hansen pressed the committee on the need to address the more than 7 million uninsured Americans aged 50 to 64. Excerpts from her prepared statement follow:

“Comprehensive reform to provide affordable coverage to all Americans could not be more urgent, as coverage losses are snowballing in our current economy…. One recent report estimated that 4 million Americans have lost coverage since the recession began, and as many as 14,000 may be losing coverage every day. This is on top of 46 million who lacked coverage in 2007….”

“Health reform must make affordable coverage choices available to all Americans, especially those aged 50-64 who are not yet eligible for Medicare…. People in this age range who lose job-based coverage often find it impossible to get affordable individual coverage because insurers consider age and pre-existing conditions when setting rates and most Americans in this age range have one if not several such conditions. Industry data show that insurers reject between 17% and 28% of applicants aged 50-64. Those who can find individual coverage tend to receive less generous benefits than those with employer coverage, yet on average pay premiums that are three times higher and total out-of-pocket spending that is over twice that of those with employer coverage.”

“The best way to help 50-64-year-olds is to make coverage affordable for everyone by:

Guaranteeing that all individuals and groups wishing to purchase or renew coverage can do so regardless of age or pre-existing conditions;
Prohibit charging higher premiums because of health status or claims experience;
Providing a choice of qualified plans through an Exchange or Connector;
Providing subsidies based on income so coverage is affordable for everyone;
Addressing costs system-wide through prevention and wellness, care coordination, fighting fraud, waste, and abuse, and revising incentives to reward quality rather than quantity of care; and
Ensuring that any cost-sharing obligations do not create barriers to needed care.”

“…We cannot fix our broken economy if we do not fix our broken health care system, and we will all need to work together in order to succeed. We again commend this Committee’s leadership and look forward to working with both sides of the aisle to make enactment of meaningful, comprehensive health reform a reality this year.”

AARP’s report, “Health Care Reform: What’s at Stake for 50- to 64-Year-Olds?” can be found at http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/i24_hcr.html .

For details on AARP’s health reform campaign, visit HealthActionNow.org .

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 34.5 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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Added: May 5, 2009
Views: 180 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

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, now, 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 – such chronic health conditions 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.And 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, thanks to the aging of the baby boomers, our 50-64 population is growing rapidly. Nearly one of every five Americans will be 50-64 by 2015. So, 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

Added: May 5, 2009
Views: 217 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Announces Specific Goals for Health Reform

Members receive first look at Association’s plans

to bring affordable health care choices to every American on AARP.org

WASHINGTON—AARP today announced six specific elements that must be part of health reform, including closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap and ensuring 50- to 64-year-olds have access to affordable health care choices. AARP members and activists were the first to learn about the announcement when the organization posted its goals on its Government Watch website this morning.

“The next few weeks will be an all-out blitz for health reform,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “As leaders on Capitol Hill hammer out the details of their legislation, we want to make sure they include the priorities that we’re hearing from our members. Any final package must include these critical issues.”

AARP’s health reform campaign will focus on six critical priorities:

1) Guaranteeing access to affordable coverage for Americans age 50-64;

2) Closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap or “doughnut hole”;

3) Creating a Medicare transition benefit to help people safely return to their homes after a hospital stay and prevent costly hospital readmissions;

4) Increasing federal funding and eligibility for home and community based services through Medicaid so older Americans can remain in their homes and avoid more costly institutions as they age;

5) Creating a pathway for the approval of generic versions of biologic drugs to reduce the price of these costly treatments; and

6) Improving the Medicare Savings Programs and the Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) so more Americans can afford the health care and prescription drugs they need.

Tomorrow, AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen will participate in the Senate Finance Committee’s roundtable on health coverage. Four AARP members from states represented by members of the Senate Finance Committee will visit Capitol Hill to discuss with their Senators the struggle of getting and affording health insurance, particularly for people 50 to 64. AARP will also be distributing to the entire Congress booklets of its members’ personal stories—real life experiences that put a human face on why their priorities should be included in any health care reform legislation.

Beginning today, AARP is launching a month-long television and print advertising campaign. The ads use personal stories to communicate the priorities of AARP members to lawmakers in Washington. The campaign will include full-page ads in the Capitol Hill publications CongressDaily, The Hill, Politico and Roll Call, as well as television ads on Face the Nation, Fox News Sunday, Meet the Press and This Week.

AARP will also leverage the power of its state offices across the country over the coming weeks, with events to build support behind comprehensive health reform. Among the events, AARP New York will co-host a health fair to highlight the need for health reform, including coverage for people 50 to 64. Reps. Jason Altmire and Kathy Dahlkemper will join the AARP Pennsylvania office for a town hall meeting, and Rep. Frank Pallone will host a tele-town hall meeting to discuss health reform with New Jersey AARP members.

LeaMond added: “Whether it’s on Capitol Hill, in their district offices or in the media, our lawmakers will hear from AARP this month. We’ve been working for more than two years to set the stage and the time for health reform is now. We’re excited about the work happening in Washington to address the needs of older Americans as a part of comprehensive health reform.”

For details on AARP’s health reform campaign, visit www.aarp.org/makeadifference/advocacy/GovernmentWatch/HealthCare/

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 34.5 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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Added: May 4, 2009
Views: 154 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

My Journals (148)