Misleading myths cloud health debate
(Princeton Packet © 08/06/2009) 

Click on the link above to see a new Letter to the Editor from an AARP member.

Throughout the debate on how to fix what’s broken about our health care system, AARP pledges to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your family.  When we see special interests using scare tactics, we’ll make sure you’re given the facts so you can make informed decisions about health care reform. Check out AARP’s blog this week, which is highlighting some of the most common myths being spread about health care reform and the facts that prove them wrong.

AARP Reacts to Senate Decision to Put Off Health Care Reform Vote

Washington – AARP today reacted to the Senate’s decision to put off voting on health care reform legislation until after the August recess.  A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“AARP is disappointed in the failure to reach agreement on passing comprehensive health care reform until after the August recess.  The millions of people impacted by high drug costs and those that can’t get adequate health insurance because of age or a pre-existing condition need help now.  An August of waiting will not lower costs, increase access or improve quality.  Few understand the enormous challenge of this task better than AARP.  We have been working to reform health care for more than 50 years and we know this is difficult.  But Congress needs to get this done.  American families simply cannot afford Washington’s stalemate any longer.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 13, 2009

Contact

Jim Dau or Jordan McNerney

202-434-2560

AARP Responds to Senate HELP Committee Vote
on Generic Biologics

WASHINGTON—AARP Spokesman Jim Dau released the following statement following the Senate HELP Committee’s vote to pass an amendment that would give brand name biologic drug makers a 12-year period of exclusivity until generic versions would be allowed to enter the market: 

"We are disappointed at tonight's vote.  While we applaud many of the aspects of the HELP Committee's overall bill, AARP has great difficulty supporting legislation that would delay the availability of safe, affordable generic biologic drugs and impede consumer access to these life-saving drugs.

"We'll continue to work with the HELP committee members, as well as their counterparts on the Finance Committee and in the House, to ensure that any final health care reform legislation meets the needs of our members.  Bringing generic versions of biologic drugs has long been—and remains—one of our key priorities."

For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, visit http://www.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 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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http://images.burrellesluce.com/image/81/81_2781&site=81

Please click on the link, above, to see a recent Letter to the Editor from our state president, Sy Larson, on FamilyCare:

Click on the link below to see a new Letter to the Editor on the AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

06/29/09

Contact

Douglas Johnston, Manager of Advocacy

609-865-3761 or djohnston@aarp.org

Jane Margesson, Communications Director

609-571-0526, jmargesson@aarp.org

AARP Applauds State Budget Decisions for Older New Jerseyans

Urges Governor to Ensure Future Funding for Family Care

TRENTON: AARP New Jersey is applauding the State for making correct, moral choices regarding the final New Jersey budget. Representing 1.4 million residents in the GardenState, earlier this month AARP publicly announced support of several critical measures. The State’s budget has addressed these measures completely including the precedent-setting appropriation of 5 million for NJ SHARES and funding of property tax rebates for those 65 and older. 

“Property tax rebates are critical for older adults who are struggling every day in this state,” said Sy Larson, AARP New Jersey State President. “Many of our members are fraught with financial woes because of property taxes, double-digit healthcare and prescription drug inflation, and increasing utility bills. They are depending on the property tax rebates and NJ SHARES to make ends meet. AARP salutes Governor Corzine and our legislative leaders for these rebates and for restoring additional funding for rebates for many of our younger, low and middle-income members. Recent progress on slowing the increase of property taxes can and must continue for all New Jersey residents.”

At one point, the State was considering implementing co-pays for Medicaid recipients and AARP’s GardenState membership immediately voiced their opposition. Said Larson at the State House today: “AARP recognizes that the State made the right decision in eliminating proposed Medicaid co-pays on prescription drugs. Enforcing co-pays would have been a case of the State irresponsibly balancing the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it. AARP is very pleased to see that this will not be the case.” According to The Rand Health Insurance Experiment, considered the definitive study on the negative results of imposed co-pays, medical visits by low-income individuals drop by as much as 41% when they are responsible for co-pays.

AARP is also publicly thanking the State for the keeping the FamilyCare program enrollment open under the original household income limits. Earlier this year,  Governor Corzine had proposed cutting over $9 million from the program which would have rendered ineligible an estimated 17,000 parents who otherwise would have been able to receive proper health care.

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“AARP thanks our state legislature and Governor Corzine for doing the right thing and making correct, moral choices regarding this year’s budget,” said Larson. “However, we remain concerned that FamilyCare funding will be in jeopardy once again later in the year. As more and more people are losing their jobs, AARP believes that funding must continue for this vital health insurance program. The State should guarantee that FamilyCare funding will continue for those who need it most in the months ahead.”

Recognizing that the budget decisions in 2009 may have been especially difficult due to the current economic climate, AARP is publicly supporting those legislators who were willing to take the courageous step on both the FamilyCare and Medicaid co-pay issues. “AARP applauds Senator Vitale and all those who supported the state budget resolution to restore FamilyCare funding,” stated Larson. “AARP proudly stands with those legislators who had the courage to support the resolution and the elimination of Medicaid co-pays. It was the right thing to do.”

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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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AARP, Others Push for Health Parity for Puerto Rico

N ew 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 400,000 reside in New Jersey.

“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 Jim Dieterle, AARP New Jersey State Director. “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.ParidadParaPR.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.HealthParityPuertoRico.org or www.ParidadParaPR.org .

AARP Endorses Bill to Help Americans Get Care in Their Own Homes and to

Reduce Costly Medicaid Bias

  “Empowered at Home Act” Co-Sponsored by Congressman Frank Pallone

WASHINGTON D.C. — More than one million Americans are living in nursing homes, but many would prefer to receive the services they need in their own homes, where they would be more comfortable and potentially save the health care system money in the long run.  Unfortunately, many Americans who want to be cared for at home cannot be because of a costly institutional bias in Medicaid, which pays for 63% of New Jersey’s nursing home residents.  While state Medicaid programs are required to provide nursing home care, home and community-based services that are often less expensive are optional, leaving them first in line to be cut in a poor economy.

AARP is working with members of Congress to end this bias that forces too many Americans out of their homes and costs us all too much.  The Association today endorsed the “Empowered at Home Act” (H.R. 2688) sponsored by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) , which would provide incentives and greater opportunities for states to expand access to home and community-based services.  AARP has also endorsed a bipartisan companion bill in the Senate sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

“Representatives Pallone and DeGette, along with their Senate colleagues, are true champions of health reform,” said AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen.  “Their common sense legislation will give more Americans a chance to live comfortably in their homes, instead of in often more costly institutions.  AARP is proud to endorse the ‘Empowered at Home Act,’ and we look forward to working with Representatives Pallone and DeGette as well as Senators Kerry and Grassley, to enact this legislation as one of the most important parts of health care reform.”

Research by AARP’s Public Policy Institute has found 89 percent of people 50-plus want to remain in their homes as they age.  Greater access to home and community-based services, along with the help of properly supported family caregivers, could make this goal possible for hundreds of thousands of people who otherwise face life in costly nursing homes.  AARP estimates that on average, Medicaid can care for three people with home and community-based services for the same cost as one person in a nursing home.

“This bill takes needed steps to provide greater access to home and community-based services (HCBS) for the millions of individuals who receive long-term services and supports (LTSS) through Medicaid, including those with multiple chronic conditions,” said AARP New Jersey State President Sy Larson. “AARP thanks Congressman Pallone for his leadership, and we look forward to working with his office as well as members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation.”

More information on home and community based care is available in AARP’s latest fact sheet at http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/homecare/fs_hcbs_hcr.html .

For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, including long-term care, 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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Please click on the link below to see a letter written by AARP NJ Advocacy Manager Douglas Johnston thanking our US Senators for supporting the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act:

Senate commended for passing Serve America Act |
(Brick Township Bulletin © 05/29/2009)