Applications Set Record For 9 Year Old Program; New Hospital-Health Care Honor Established

Four Texas-based employers made AARP’s 2009 list of Best Employers for Workers 50 and Over announced today by AARP CEO Barry Rand.

MEI Technologies, based in Houston; San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, based in San Antonio; and the University of St Thomas in Houston join an impressive list of 50 Best Employers honorees from around the country.

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston has been recognized on the Hospitals-Health Care list of Best Employers for Workers Over 50. The university was one of only 15 health care and hospital institutions nationally to make this list.   

More than 200 employers applied for Best Employers honors, the highest total in the nine year history of the program designed to highlight exemplary policies toward aged 50 and over workers.

“We are delighted that these employers have been selected,” said Bob Jackson, AARP Texas State Director, “They offer a number of progressive policies in their approach toward older workers,” he added.

A separate hospitals and health care Best Employers honor roll was established by AARP for the first time this year. AARP decided to set up a separate category in order to acknowledge efforts in the health care field to creatively deal with shortages in qualified workers that have faced the health care industry for years.

Any U.S.-based employer with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply for the Best Employers award. Candidates are vetted to ensure that practices meet the needs of mature workers. Key areas of consideration include: recruiting practices, opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and retirement benefits and retiree work opportunities.

AARP The Magazine will feature the 2009 Best Employers in its November-December issue, available in homes September 24. The article will be found online then at www.aarpmagazine.org.

For more information on the 2009 Best Employers, please go to www.aarp.org/bestemployers. Included is background on each employer’s workforce practices and a description of the selection process.

MARSHALL, TX – The Wiley College debate team, which gained national prominence through the movie “The Great Debaters” in 2007, will argue the pros and cons of the most talked about domestic issue of the day – health care reform – at a free event September 15 in Marshall.

Sponsored by AARP, the event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Caddo Hall in the Marshall Civic Center, 2501 East End Boulevard.  It will feature four Wiley College debate team members, two of them presenting a case for reforming the current system and two others arguing for the status quo.

“The decisions being made in Washington today will have long-lasting consequences across generations,” said Bob Jackson, AARP Texas state director. “We’re thrilled to partner with Wiley College to have these bright young minds bring their unique perspective to the national health care conversation.”

As part of the ceremonies, AARP will present a check for $2,500 to the Wiley College debate team.  A reception will conclude the evening’s activities, with light refreshments provided.

September marks the start of football, more temperate weather and various laws passed by the Texas Legislature that should help seniors.

Earlier this year, AARP Texas worked with lawmakers to create new protections around certain investment products, like annuities, as well as Medicare related products and long-term care policies.  These new protections will ensure that insurance agents are better prepared to represent complex insurance products, stem growing fees associated with annuities and require long term care insurance rates to be reviewed and approved by state regulators. Following are some of the laws that became effective on September 1, 2009 or thereafter:

HB 739 (Quintanilla/Ellis) will place additional continuing education requirements on insurance agents that sell Medicare-related products (except for Medicare supplemental policies).  The bill is effective September 1, 2009, but doesn’t apply for agent license issue or renewal until April 1, 2010. 

• HB 1294 (Eiland/Ellis) will require insurance agents to receive additional hours of training to sell annuities in Texas.  The bill also bans the misleading use of “senior specific” designations.  The bill becomes effective September 1, 2009, but the agent training will not apply to license issue or renewal until April 1, 2010.  The senior specific designation ban will become enforceable January 1. 2010.
   
• HB 2456 (Eiland/Watson) will give TDI the ability to develop certification and education programs/requirement for agents selling complex insurance products.  The bill becomes effective September 1, 2009. 
   
• HB 1919 (Kent/Ellis) will ban the sale of certain annuities that have maturity dates beyond 10 years after purchase or 70 years of age of the annuitant, whichever is later.  The bill becomes effective September 1, 2009.  However, the new requirement will be made on annuities purchased on or after June 1, 2010.
   
• SB 963 (Smithee/Ellis) will require all long term care insurance rates to be filed with and approved by TDI.  The bill becomes effective September 1, 2009.

For over fifty years, AARP's mission has been educating and engaging in the issues most important to you, our members. With over 40 million members we understand the importance of debate. Even when some members don't agree with our advocacy positions, it is critical that we make sure those differences of opinion are based on facts, not myths designed to derail a long overdue effort to fix what's wrong in our health care system.

Doing nothing is not an option. But any reform must not get between a patient and their doctor. It must not cut Medicare benefits. It must not allow insurers to continue to line their pockets by covering only the healthiest and the youngest.

AARP is committed to making sure health care reform will do the following for our members:

Lower Drug Costs and Strengthen Medicare: Close the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole," ensure patients' access to their doctors, and crack down on fraud and wasteful spending;

Protect Your Health Care Choices: Make sure you can choose your doctor, your health insurance plan and where to receive care;

End Discrimination by Insurance Companies: Prevent insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing condition or using age to price Americans age 50-64 out of affordable, quality health insurance; and

Guarantee Stable, Affordable Coverage: Ensure you have the security of knowing that if you lose or change jobs, you will be able to get affordable, quality health insurance.

Since July 1st, when we started seeing a rise in phone calls and emails here at AARP as a result of the health care debate, we have lost approximately 50,000-60,000 members. While we are encouraged that almost 1.8 million people have either joined AARP or renewed their memberships over that same time span, we take the loss of any member seriously. ‪We don't want to see you, our members, leave for any reason, and understand that even when we all have the facts reasonable people may agree to disagree on the proposals being put forth by Congress.

AARP's strength has always been our members, and we're working hard to represent them as best we can. Each of our policy positions have been carefully considered and are set by our all-member volunteer board of directors based on input from our members.

We're also working to dispel several of the myths and lies that have warped the health care reform debate, targeting older Americans in particular with horror stories about euthanasia and rationed care. We believe that, at a time when a lot of the information about health reform surfacing on the Internet, cable news and talk radio simply isn't true, it's important that each of our members are armed with all the facts about this very important debate.

As we continue to fight on your behalf and work to fix our health care system, we are bound to have different opinions among our members. We respect each opinion and choice you make, and will do our best to represent the individuals who have, with their membership, shown that the collective voice of 40 million members working together have the power to make our health care system better - for themselves and for generations to come.

Sincerely,
A. Barry Rand

AARP remains hopeful on a long term solution

AUSTIN, TX – After running down the clock for weeks, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) today finally punted when it came time to provide immediate relief to Texans who face electricity disconnections in the midst of record-breaking temperatures.

The commissioners denied a petition filed by AARP and Rep. Sylvester Turner that would have required the disclosure of available discounts for low-income households in monthly electric bills and temporarily prohibited cancellation fees charged to customers who seek to switch to new providers with lower rates. The PUC, however, will take up the issue in the fall as a possible permanent rule.

“We’re disappointed that the commissioners missed an opportunity to bring real relief to vulnerable Texans this summer,” said Bob Jackson, AARP Texas state director.  “Triple- digit temperatures are common in Texas well into September, so this delay will leave many Texans at risk before fall temperatures begin to kick in.”

Jackson, however, was hopeful that the PUC will address the issue once and for all through a permanent rule.  “It is their responsibility as regulators, and no one else’s, to make sure that the market is functional and responsive to the needs of ratepayers.  We look forward to working with them to see that this is done.”

Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested.

The Austin office of AARP Texas is now looking for a part-time communications intern to work 10-12 hours per week.

The position can be customized to fit your interests and strengths but may include:

- Researching background for press releases and articles, including interviewing people, finding credible statistics and more

- Writing press releases and articles for print and Web publication

- Helping find news, photos, links and other interesting things to share through our social media presences-- Twitter, Facebook and aarp.org

- Making media calls to promote events and press releases

- Accompanying staff to various events

The position is currently unpaid but offers the opportunity to earn college credit as well as gain published clips, valuable experience and glowing references. Upperclassmen and graduate students preferred but this position could also be a good fit for the right freshman or sophomore.

To apply, please send your resume and any writing samples that you may have. Please also specifically mention any experience you have with the above areas in the body of the email.

For more information, or to apply, contact Ashley at aschmidt@aarp.org.

This piece was sent to papers around the state today.

by Mary Scott, AARP State President

So you don’t want to see any changes to health care? Well, imagine your health insurance premiums doubling over the next 10 years, the Medicare trust fund going bankrupt and the number of uninsured Texans continuing its meteoric rise. That’s what you will have without meaningful health insurance reform.

Special interests defending the status quo are employing an array of scare tactics, half-truths and outright deception in trying to convince us that the system is not in critical condition.

The reality is that -- with health care costs eating up 16% of our gross domestic product (GDP) and the rising cost of medical care taking a toll on millions already struggling in this economic crisis -- we cannot truly fix our economy until we fix health care.

As a dynamic organization of 40 million members with a long history of fighting for quality health care for all Americans -- including protecting and strengthening Medicare -- AARP has been targeted by those intent on slamming the brakes on any attempts to reform the system. We have not yet endorsed any of the bills moving through Congress but our organization is committed to making health care reform a reality. For too long, our country has settled on a health care system that costs too much, wastes too much and leaves too many without care.

Unfortunately, the myth machine is out in full force today. Rather than addressing the issues with constructive dialogue, some would rather spend their energies misleading Americans. Let’s take a few of their distortions head on.

Rest assured, AARP does not now, and never will, support a proposal that jeopardizes Medicare. Rather, we’re fighting for reform that preserves access to our doctors and assures they will be paid fairly by Medicare, while reducing waste and fraud. And we’re working with members of both parties to close the Part D coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” for prescription drugs. Reform will help curb skyrocketing prices throughout our health care system, including Medicare.

Make no mistake, there is no provision anywhere to allow Medicare to pull the plug or make you sign a piece of paper forcing you to determine how you want to die. Saying otherwise is inexcusable and cruel. Rather, the provision would allow physicians to be paid for time spent counseling and answering questions about things like “advance directives,” “living wills,” “durable powers of attorney,” hospice care. It’s entirely voluntary and completely up to each patient.

Let’s be clear, despite what those trying to scare off seniors would have you believe, nothing in any of the proposals would lead to rationing of care for older Americans or anyone based on age. And should it ever come up, AARP would lead the fight to kill it.

Contrary to the rhetoric of some fringe groups, health insurance reform is no backdoor attempt at creating “socialized medicine,” where government directly owns hospitals and employs doctors. Rather, the aim is to implement a system much like members of Congress have today. People can choose from a range of quality, affordable private health plans, either offered by their employer, or by the state or federally supervised insurance “exchange.” Plans will have to accept everyone regardless of health or age, and have strict limits on cost-sharing so coverage is affordable for all.

AARP was founded by a retired school teacher who was outraged at seeing a former colleague destitute and living in a chicken coop. For the last 50 years, we’ve been successful by organizing older Americans to make sure that elected officials from the U.S. Congress to City Hall hear the voices of people who have been forgotten in the past.

We have the chance right now to take the steps that will make us healthier, both collectively and individually. It’s an historic opportunity, and AARP will continue to work with any person, any organization, and any political party to see this through.

This letter was submitted to both the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

How can you possibly be a "stale mate" for health care in America ?

We voted for change that is long past due, and you are being flies in the ointment. Don't you care that millions of Americans don't have health care?

Oh, yes, I remember... you're not affected... you have the best care in America . Don't you get it? Just because you can go to the finest doctors whenever you choose doesn't mean all Americans can. Now get off the fence, get to work and get this thing passed. And don't even think about going on any kind of break until this is done. How could you in good conscience leave without passing health care and have a good time when a girl is dying of leukemia because of lack of health care? You have the power to do something about health care. And we Americans want you to get this done, now.

I have confidence there's enough brain power in Washington to iron out the details... quit politicizing.
And I know that health insurance lobbyists and campaign monies affect your decisions, but don't sacrifice Americans to line your coffers!!!

Get on this issue as though it is your daughter who is dying and needs medical attention. I bet you wouldn't hesitate then.

A passionate, concerned American,

Wanda Zamorano
Irving, TX

AUSTIN, TX – Citing an "imminent peril to the public health," AARP today joined Rep. Sylvester Turner of Houston and three other consumer groups in petitioning the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to adopt an emergency rule giving consumers new tools to avoid dangerous electricity disconnections this summer.

The petition asks the PUC to temporarily prohibit cancellation fees for customers who seek to switch to a new provider with lower rates.  It also seeks the required disclosure of available discounts for low-income households in monthly electric bills.  Joining AARP and Rep. Turner in the petition were One Voice Texas, Texas Legal Services Center and the Texas Ratepayers Organization to Save Energy (Texas ROSE). 

The PUC turned down an initial petition filed on June 23 by AARP and Rep. Turner, but some of the PUC commissioners comments, coupled with recent heat-related deaths and the fact that August – historically one of the hottest months in Texas – still lies ahead, made it necessary to come back to the PUC with an amended petition. 

"We ask the PUC to show some compassion and act promptly to protect the public welfare and safety before more tragedies occur," said Bob Jackson, AARP Texas state director. "While the brutal summer heat wave may take a break here or there, the worse may be yet to come and many Texans remain at risk." 

Following up on comments made by PUC commissioners earlier in July, the petitioners asked that August and September electricity bills include a public service notice about a state mandated discount on electricity bills for households at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines. The groups termed "unacceptable" that possibly hundreds of thousands of income-eligible Texas households currently do not receive the discount, which is funded by the state’s System Benefit Fund. 

Also, the petitioners asked the PUC to require electric providers to suspend termination fees on customers’ electricity contracts for the August and September 2009 billing periods.  Customers are often required to pay $200 to $300 to switch to a more affordable retail electricity provider.  The PUC commissioners themselves in a July 2 public meeting encouraged consumers to switch to retail electric providers that offer lower rates to help them better afford their bills. 

"Many electricity customers simply do not have $200 to $300 to pay for the privilege of switching," the petition noted.  "Without the relief… telling customers subject to these fees to just switch to another lower-priced provider to help them manage bills during this heat wave is a hollow statement."