Minnesota Bulletin State News
By: States: Minnesota Source: AARP.org Date Posted:
March 2008
Take notice – As lawmakers in Ohio and Minnesota consider health care reform during their current legislative sessions, AARP Ohio and AARP Minnesota will share findings from recent surveys showing that members overwhelmingly support expanding affordable coverage. More than half of Minnesota respondents said that improving access to affordable, quality health care should be a top priority for the governor and legislature this year. In Ohio, nine in 10 respondents said it is either extremely or very important to make health care more affordable for all residents. For more findings from the two surveys, visit www.aarp.org/mn and www.aarp.org/oh.
January/February 2008
Unmasking hidden charges – Gearing up for a legislative fight for cellphone reform, AARP Minnesota is asking members to share their horror stories about cellular service. AARP will present these stories to lawmakers in February, pointing to the need for legislation to outlaw misleading contracts and lousy coverage. To share your story about problems with cellphone service, call 1-866-554-5381 or e-mail aarpmn@aarp.org.
November 2007
Compare prices – A new Web site, http://www.minnesotarxconnect.com, can help consumers compare prices for 400 brand-name, generic and alternative medications sold at pharmacies across the state. The state Department of Human Services updates the site regularly to reflect price changes and, if generics are available, posts information about them next to their brand-name counterparts to aid in comparison shopping.AARP Minnesota has teamed up with the state Board on Aging to spread the word about the program and help consumers save money. “Since prices can vary greatly from one pharmacy to the next, the website can help the more than 600,000 Minnesotans who pay out of pocket for their meds and for whom every penny counts,” says Michele Kimball, AARP state director.
October 2007
For the record – AARP Minnesota will host several town hall forums this month to give voters a chance to hear from elected officials and community leaders about issues related to health care and financial security. The forums are part of the national Divided We Fail campaign, which encourages candidates to clearly explain how they plan to strengthen Social Security, protect pensions, bolster retirement savings and provide quality, affordable health care for all.The law targets communities with fewer than 5,000 residents outside urban counties, especially those that are underserved or completely without meal programs. Local area agencies on aging will contract with local restaurants, cafes, churches, senior centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities to provide the meals. For more information, call AARP Illinois at 1-866-448-3613 toll free.Forums will be held in St. Cloud, Oct. 5; Duluth, Oct. 10; Alexandria, Oct. 19; and other cities not scheduled at press time. The events are free, but participants must register in advance. For details, go to www.aarp.org/mn or call 1-877-926-8300 toll free.
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