AARP

May 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released the following statement on today’s announcement on the creation of the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team by the departments of Health and Human Services and Justice.

“The skyrocketing costs of health care are hurting Americans’ wallets and the bedrock programs like Medicare that millions of Americans depend on. Too much of that spending is lost to health care fraud. We simply cannot afford to pay for care that is never delivered and equipment that is not needed.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- Washington - AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond applauded President Obama for signing the mortgage relief bill but warned that too many older homeowners still stand at risk of foreclosure. Following is her statement:

“The mortgage relief bill voted out of Congress and signed by President Obama offers some hope for some homeowners, but Congress has yet to give many older homeowners a sensible, affordable and sustainable way to workout their mortgage debt that also takes their other household debt into account. Nine in ten older Americans say they want to stay in their homes for as long as possible, but AARP research shows that even at the end of 2007, a quarter of all foreclosures or delinquencies were on mortgages held by Americans age 50+.    » read more »

Amplified Oversight of the Credit Card Industry Will Help Protect the Rights of Consumers Who Are Experiencing Economic Hardship

May 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – AARP today hailed the passage of the “Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009” as a vital step forward to further protect consumers who are facing serious financial difficulties.

At a time when consumers are increasingly relying on credit cards to pay for basic necessities, this legislation provides a welcome opportunity to improve transparency and accountability within the credit card industry.    » read more »

May 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP today announced its endorsement of the bipartisan “Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation Protection (STOP) Act,” sponsored by Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and John Cornyn (R-TX). This legislation will help curb the billions of dollars spent on Medicare fraud each year. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“The skyrocketing costs of health care are hurting our wallets and the bedrock programs like Medicare that millions of Americans depend on. That’s why AARP is working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to reform the health care system—including cracking down on the fraud, waste and abuse that are driving up costs.    » read more »

May 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC--Two-thirds of transportation planners and engineers have yet to begin addressing older people in their street planning; yet by 2025, 64 million people will be over age 65 according to census projections and by 2030 a quarter of all U.S. drivers will be 65+.

This is the alarm raised by “Planning Complete Streets for the Aging of America” a major new report on roadway safety and the aging of the American population from AARP’s Public Policy Institute. The full report can be found here: http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/transportation/2009_02_str....    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—As the Administration prepares to announce another drop in the lifespan of the Medicare trust fund, AARP’s Health Action Now campaign is insisting that comprehensive health reform include specific measures to cut wasteful spending and lower costs for individuals—all while improving the quality of care. The organization is focusing on reducing waste in Medicare, particularly by reducing costly hospital readmissions and cutting billions of dollars in fraud.

“For most Americans, the biggest roadblock to health care is cost,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “By rooting out the waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, we can improve the health of people in the program, improve access to quality care and save billions of dollars.”    » read more »

“Medicare’s accelerating insolvency… will only be fixed by comprehensive reform in 2009.”

May 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON— AARP Executive Vice President John Rother issued the following statement on today’s release of the Medicare Trustees report.

“This year’s report by the Trustees is yet another clarion call for health care reform.

“Medicare’s accelerating insolvency is largely a result of two problems—an economic recession that is increasing demand on public health programs while lowering revenues, and skyrocketing costs throughout the health care system—that will only be fixed by comprehensive reform in 2009.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released this statement following today’s U.S. Senate vote confirming Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services:

“From public health and food safety, to medical research and health reform, the Department of Health and Human Services touches every American every day. AARP thanks the Senate for confirming Secretary Sebelius today, and for taking a necessary step toward achieving health reform.

“As Congress and the Administration craft critical health reform legislation, Secretary Sebelius and her department will play an important role, both in educating the public and in shaping the new policies that must pass this year.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- Washington, DC – AARP today applauded President Barack Obama for enacting a volunteer service bill that he called for during his candidacy and throughout the beginning of his term. AARP CEO Barry Rand, present at today’s ceremony, released the following statement:

“At a time when many communities are in great need, AARP applauds President Obama for signing the bi-partisan Serve America Act into law. This is important legislation that will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—AARP today applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act, introduced by Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), will create a needed pathway for the approval of safe generic versions of costly biologic drugs. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“Biologic drugs are treating some of the most devastating diseases Americans face, like cancer, anemia and multiple sclerosis. But for too many people, these life-saving medicines are simply out of reach because of their overwhelming price tags.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- Washington - AARP today applauded the Senate and the House of Representatives for taking important steps on legislation that will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities at a time when many Americans are in great need. A statement from AARP Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson on the Serve America Act (S. 277) and the G.I.V.E. Act (H.R. 1388) follows:

“AARP applauds Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Orrin Hatch and Representatives George Miller and Carolyn McCarthy for introducing bipartisan legislation that will usher in a new era of American service.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- As the health care reform debate intensifies across the country, AARP today released three new reports on major issues to health care reform. The AARP reports analyze health plan designs, cost shifting for expensive “specialty” drugs, and the access to coverage for Americans age 50-64.    » read more »

March 5, 2009 -- AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond applauded House passage of the Mortgage Relief Bill and urged the Senate to prevent further foreclosures by quickly taking up the Bill. Following is her statement:

“The bankruptcy provision that passed the House today will allow people at risk of foreclosure, especially older Americans, to rework their mortgages in bankruptcy court and stay in their homes in situations where previous voluntary loan modifications had failed. With rising foreclosures undermining everyone’s property values, this new option will not only help hundreds of thousands of homeowners save their homes, it will help keep everyone’s property values from sliding further.    » read more »

March 3, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Nursing home residents, beds, and occupancy rates have remained nearly constant in the last five years, even though the older population has increased, according to Across the States 2009, Profiles of Long-Term Care and Independent Living, a new state-by-state report from the AARP Public Policy Institute.

Specifically, the report finds that spending for long-term care services is not a primary force behind escalating Medicaid costs. The report shows that on average, Medicaid funds spent on home and community-based services (HCBS) can serve three older people or adults with disabilities for each resident in a nursing home.    » read more »

March 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — AARP today responded to President Barack Obama’s nomination of Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“During his first six weeks in office, President Obama has shown a commitment to solving our health care crisis. We applaud his decision to continue the march forward with his nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.    » read more »