AARP Announces 2009 State Legislative Priorities
By: State: Iowa | Source: AARP.org
Basic protection from consumer fraud, access to adequate, affordable health care and long term care, and affordable and accessible housing top the list of priorities AARP Iowa will be working on during the 2009 legislative session.
AARP has focused on passing the Consumer Right of Action for the past several years to help establish stronger consumer protections for Iowans who believe they are victims of fraud.
"Passage of the Consumer Right of Action is AARP's top legislative priority," said Anthony Carroll, AARP Iowa Associate State Director for Advocacy. "Iowa is the only state in the union that does not allow its citizens the right to take legal action against perpetrators of fraudulent business practices, and 2009 marks the embarrassing 10-year anniversary of Iowa's being the only state without such a basic law protecting consumers," said Carroll. Arkansas passed their law in 1999.
Another major priority for AARP Iowa in 2009 is health care, including protecting Medicaid and implementing the health care reform benchmarks established in Iowa's 2008 health care reform bill.
For every dollar Iowa cuts in Medicaid, the state loses $1.68 in federal matching funds. Medicaid not only provides a safety net to the increasing numbers of people suffering the hardships of job loss, disability and lack of access to insurance, it also provides essential economic benefits to local communities. Medicaid cuts cause a ripple effect with lost jobs, and lost revenue to providers and other businesses, and tax revenue for and state and local governments.
AARP health care advocacy supports economical ways the state can shepherd continued improvement of health care in the state. Specific areas AARP supports are promoting and improving health care transparency through continued collaboration between providers, purchasers, and consumers; and increasing quantity, quality, and compensation of Iowa's health workforce, including Iowa's Direct Care workers.
With regard to long-term care, AARP is advocating for three key priorities: Adequate funding for identified unmet home and community service needs of older Iowans; Supporting the work of the single point of entry task force to improve access to long-term care information; and Recognizing and supporting efforts to improve quality care in Iowa's long-term care institutions such as the Accountability Measures for Nursing Facilities.
AARP is also supporting efforts that focus on making communities more livable including. These include ensuring adequate affordable housing (including rental options) exists in areas devastated by natural disasters, and encouraging awareness and usage of building and rebuilding options that make homes easier for all Iowans to live in longer, such as universal design concepts.
AARP sets its annual state legislative priorities consistent with national policies approved by the association's Board of Directors. Priorities are based on the needs of Iowa residents as expressed in surveys of our 405,000 members and information gathered at AARP sponsored forums and events throughout the year. To learn more about supporting AARP's efforts during the legislative session and throughout the year, call the Iowa State Office toll-free at 866-554-5378 and ask for Connie Eastman or email ceastman@aarp.org.
Related Articles
preview