Seniors

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap.    » read more »

Remarks By The President On The Medicare Part D "Doughnut Hole" And AARP Endorsement

June 22, 2009 -- Diplomatic Reception Room -- THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, first of all, I want to thank Barry Rand for the introduction, but also AARP, the organization he so ably represents, for coming together with us on this critical issue today.

Last week, in my address to the American Medical Association, I spoke about the urgent need for health care reform and what will be required to achieve it. And one of the things that will be required, I said, was that everyone in our health care community is going to have to come together and do their part.    » read more »

CEO Rand: Americans “will now have a new opportunity to lead a healthier life”

June 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—This morning, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand delivered the following remarks at the White House announcement of a new agreement to substantially fill the Medicare Part D coverage gap:

“Thank you Mr. President. AARP is proud to stand with you and Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd to announce that the gap in Medicare’s drug coverage, known as the ‘doughnut hole,’ will be substantially filled for millions of middle income Americans as part of health reform.

“I want to applaud Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd, who continue to be champions for this issue and have always fought for people struggling to make ends meet. We are honored to stand with you today.    » read more »

Statement from President Obama on Agreement to Bring Down Drug Prices for Americans Seniors

June 20, 2009 -- "I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between Senator Max Baucus and the nation's pharmaceutical companies that will bring down health care costs and reduce the price of prescription drugs for millions of America's seniors.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON— AARP Executive Vice President for Social Impact Nancy LeaMond commended the partnership announced today by HUD, DOT and EPA to apply a series of “livability principles” to federal transportation, environmental protection and housing spending.

AARP has long advocated for livable communities that have affordable and appropriate housing options, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options which together facilitate personal health independence and engagement in community life.

LeaMond said:    » read more »

Grants Will Continue Collaboration with VA to Support America’s Veterans

June 4, 2009 --
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki today announced a landmark collaboration to help the families of older Americans and Veterans with disabilities of all ages care for their loved ones in the community.

This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve and has as its ultimate goal a nationwide home and community-based long-term-care support program to serve older Americans and veterans of all ages.    » read more »

“Empowered at Home Act” would reduce costly Medicaid bias

June 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—More than one million Americans are living in nursing homes, but many would prefer to receive the services they need in their own homes, where they would be more comfortable and potentially save the health care system money in the long run. Unfortunately, many Americans who want to be cared for at home can’t because of a costly institutional bias in Medicaid, which pays for nearly two-thirds of the country’s nursing home residents.

While state Medicaid programs are required to provide nursing home care, home and community-based services that are often less expensive are optional, leaving them first in line to be cut in a poor economy.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Rep. Valerie Longhurst and Sen. Patricia Blevins joined with advocates Wednesday to call for greater protections for senior citizens and Delawareans with disabilities.

Markell thanked Longhurst and Blevins for introducing House Bill 165, which will give the public online access to the Adult Abuse Registry. Delawareans seeking to hire someone to help care for their elderly loved one could easily go online and check the job applicant’s name against the registry. HB 165 is scheduled to receive a committee hearing later this month.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced his proposal to raise the income limit for the Lottery-funded PACENET prescription drug benefit for older Pennsylvanians, providing help to an additional 30,000 people who have little or no drug coverage now.

“As older adults struggle to make ends meet in these challenging economic times, providing comprehensive prescription medication coverage is more important than ever. It is my goal for everyone in Pennsylvania to have sufficient drug coverage and this is another step in making that happen,” Governor Rendell said. “I urge the General Assembly to quickly approve this proposal and help our older citizens.”    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- As lawmakers return to Washington to tackle health care reform, AARP is pressing them to improve the country’s long-term care system as a part of comprehensive reform. Millions of older Americans rely on Medicaid for the long-term services and supports they need, but the program’s bias toward institutional care prevents most from getting more affordable care where they want it: their own homes.

“It’s shameful that so many people are forced into nursing homes when we could improve their quality of life and typically spend less money by caring for them at home,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “As we overhaul the health care system, we need to build on win-win solutions that expand choices and could save billions of dollars.”    » read more »

Force Seniors and People with Disabilities Out of Their Homes and into Institutions

May 26, 2009 -- Los Angeles/Sacramento, CA -- Seniors, people with disabilities and the people who provide the care that permits them to live at home launched a statewide effort today to fight back against Governor Schwarzenegger's sharp and deep budget cuts with a 48-hour vigil at the State Capitol, a class-action lawsuit, and a new television and print ad campaign featuring President Barack Obama.

SEIU Ad Buy Features President, Affected Senior and Caregiver    » read more »

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 »

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.—This week, Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced a more expansive, comprehensive version of their Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act with Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tom Carper (D-DE) as original cosponsors. This important legislation would provide the tools and resources necessary to drastically improve care at the end of life.    » 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 »