Minnesota Poised to Lead Nation in Health Reform

Our health care system costs too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money. That’s why AARP, on behalf of our 40 million members nationwide (700,000 right here in Minnesota), believes Congress must pass health care reform that provides all Americans with affordable health care choices.

Throughout the summer, AARP is calling on Congress and the President to find common sense solutions this year that will lower prescription drug costs and provide affordable health choices to Americans age 50 to 64. Every member of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation is getting visits and calls from AARP members.

Minnesota has a good start on health reform—and our efforts at the state level are being touted as an example for national reform. With AARP’s support, the Minnesota Legislature passed several measures over the past two sessions that began to stem the tide of rising costs, and empower consumers to improve the quality of their health care. More than 5,500 AARP members contacted lawmakers last year to weigh in on health care reform.
 
Several provisions that passed here in Minnesota should be part of a larger national debate:

• A “health care homes” provision will help Minnesotans with chronic diseases receive more coordinated care.
• Publishing data on providers will help consumers compare costs and quality.
• Public health investments will help fight obesity and smoking.

Standards will be set for electronic health records to make them interoperable among providers and providers will be required to e-prescribe by 2011.

Affordability standards will be set for MinnesotaCare, ensuring that the premium does not exceed 8 percent of an individual’s income. Standards will also be developed for the private market that will help ensure that no Minnesotan is priced out of the health care market.

Similarly, AARP is calling on Congress to provide Americans age 50 to 64 with a choice of health care plans they can afford—even people with pre-existing conditions. We’re fighting to ensure that people in this age group can get adequate coverage for no more than 10 percent of their income (5 percent if they are low income), including both premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

At the national level, AARP believes any national health care reform bill must address the following six priorities:

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

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

3) Creating access to generic versions of biologic drugs used to treat cancer and other serious diseases to reduce the price of these costly treatments;

4) Preventing costly hospital readmissions by creating a follow-up care benefit in Medicare to help people safely transition home after a hospital stay;

5) 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; and

6) Improving programs that help low income Americans in Medicare afford the health care and prescription drugs they need.

Minnesota’s efforts can lead the nation on reform. Join us as we work with the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to urge them to adopt comprehensive reform that continues this home-grown progress. Visit www.healthactionnow.org to get involved.