Montana AARP Activists Take Action for Health Reform in D.C.

AARP Health Action Now Day on the Hill a success—Members of Congress receive AARP message loud and clear

Before Congress headed home for its August recess, AARP members went to Washington to make their case for health care reform. As part of its 'Health Action Now' campaign, volunteers, activists and state staff from Montana and across the country converged on Capitol Hill to push for health care reform in face-to-face meetings with Members of Congress and staff.

The activists and volunteers were selected by a combination of state outreach and an online application process, which brought in more than 1,600 applications.

Before meeting with their Members of Congress, the AARP Health Action Now team went through a full day of training that included a briefing on the latest health care reform developments and AARP’s top priorities. Once prepped, staff and volunteers were ready to hit the ground running with AARP’s key asks: affordability for those 50 to 64; no benefit cuts for Medicare beneficiaries; and closing the doughnut hole for Medicare Part D.

The Health Action Now team held over 200 meetings on the Hill. The volunteers and activists were able to put a human face on issues surrounding pre-existing condition exclusion as well as affordability and access to quality insurance and prescription drugs. As AARP staffers lobbied Members of Congress on AARP’s top asks, they were also able to gather real-time intelligence on the status of health care reform in both the House and Senate. This is incredibly important as the situation changes on a moment’s notice.

Initial feedback indicates that Members of Congress and their staff appreciated the personal stories of problems with the current system and also the solutions proposed by AARP.

AARP also learned that while the vast majority of Members of Congress are committed to health care reform, even if they disagree on some of the details, they are receiving a disproportionate number of calls and emails against reform back in their districts. Many have asked for AARP’s help in dispelling the rumors and myths and pushing the case for reform during the August recess. In response to these requests, AARP has been working to get the word out in the media and through grassroots efforts. AARP prepared a fact sheet entitled “Myths vs. Facts about health care reform” that is available on its Health Action Now website.

“As we move into the August recess, it is essential that we push back on scare-mongering tactics out there,” said Bob Bartholomew, AARP Montana State Director. “Throughout the debate on how to fix what’s broken about our health care system, AARP pledges to help folks cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for older Montanans and their families.”