Rx Watchdog Report: Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Brand Name Prescription Drugs Used by Medicare Beneficiaries—2002-2007
Changes in prices charged by manufacturers to wholesalers and other direct purchasers for the brand name drugs most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries are examined in this series of AARP Public Policy Institute reports.

From Work to Retirement: Tracking Changes in Women’s Poverty Status
Although poverty among older adults is lower than that of other age groups, poverty is twice as high among older women as among older men, and three times as high among older African American women as among older white women. This study by AARP’s Public Policy Institute demonstrates how poverty status among women changes over the life course and is influenced by race, marital status, health status, work experience, and poverty in earlier life.

The Saver's Credit: What Does it Do For Saving?
The Retirement Savings Contribution Credit, or “saver’s credit” has great potential to effectively target a retirement savings tax incentive to low- and middle-income taxpayers, including a substantial number of filers over age 50, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute paper by Lisa Southworth and John Gist.

Who is Ready for Retirement, How Ready, and How Can We Know?
Although at least half of baby boomers are on track to a comfortable retirement, substantial numbers are not. The gap between haves and have-nots is likely to be greater than in previous generations, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie Korczyk, which analyzes recent literature on retirement income adequacy with a focus on boomers.

The Impact Of Higher Energy Prices On Winter Heating Costs: Many Consumers Over Age 65 To Be Hit Hard
Rising heating expenditures by low-income consumers far exceed available resources for low-income energy assistance programs, according to this Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, in which Ann McLarty-Jackson and Neal Walters examine the impact of higher energy prices on the winter heating costs of consumers age 65 and older, and analyze how these costs vary with geographic location and fuel type.

Valuing the Invaluable: Caregivers and the Economic Value of Caregiving, by State, 2006
The unpaid contributions of family caregivers are not only the foundation of America’s long-term care system but are, as this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Mary Jo Gibson and Ari Houser demonstrates, an important component of the U.S. economy, with an estimated economic value of about $350 billion in 2006.

Sources of Income for Women Age 65 and Older
Without Social Security, half of all women over 65 would live in poverty, according to this Public Policy Institute Data Digest in which Ke Bin Wu analyzes the poverty rates of women age 65+ in the U.S. and the distribution by race/ethnic group of their income sources.

State Taxation of Social Security and Pensions in 2006
State taxation of retirement income can add a significant amount to the total tax burden of older Americans. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief, David Baer summarizes state personal income tax treatment of Social Security benefits and pension income for tax year 2006.

Guarding the Guardians: Promising Practices for Court Monitoring
Methods for helping courts effectively monitor adult guardianships to ensure the welfare of some of the most vulnerable people in our society are identified in this AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) Research Report by Naomi Karp of PPI and Erica Wood of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging. These promising practices enable courts to detect abuses and sanction guardians who demonstrate malfeasance.

Reverse Mortgages: “Niche Product or Mainstream Solution? Report on the 2006 AARP National Survey of Reverse Mortgage Shoppers”
Results of the first survey of homeowners who have considered a reverse mortgage, both those who have taken out these loans and those who have decided against them, are presented in this AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) Research Report by Donald L. Redfoot of PPI, Ken Scholen of the AARP Foundation, and S. Kathi Brown of AARP Knowledge Management.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: A Critical Resource for Low-Income Households
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the most important source of assistance for low-income households coping with rising energy costs; yet because of inadequate funding, many eligible households go without assistance. Written by Ann McLarty Jackson and Christopher Baker, this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet discusses funding for LIHEAP and participation in the program.