shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Have you heard about the new $40 million campaign in Washington, Health Care for America Now, that's pushing for health care reform and universal insurance coverage for the upcoming presidential election? On the AARP Bulletin, you can see the article, "Coalition pushes for health care reform", where it explains:

"Health Care for America Now's stated goal is 'quality, affordable health care for every American.' The coalition has set out to ensure that health care reform remains a top priority in the presidential and Congressional elections."

Sounds oddly familiar, huh? The Associated Press published an article comparing Divided We Fail and HCAN. Read the article, "Money, ads give health care top political billing," and let us know what you think.

TAGS: Health Care for America Now, Divided We Fail, AARP, health care reform, Associated Press, DWF, affordable health care, health care

The New York Times has a new blog, "The New Old Age: Caring and Coping" penned by the great Jane Gross. Here's the description:

Thanks to the marvels of medical science, our parents are living longer than ever before. Adults over age 80 are the fastest growing segment of the population, and most will spend years dependent on others for the most basic needs. That burden falls to their baby boomer children, 77 million strong, who are flummoxed by the technicalities of eldercare, turned upside down by the changed architecture of their families, struggling to balance work and caregiving, and depleting their own retirement savings in the process.

Between Gross' insight and the Times' readership, I don't doubt The New Old Age will foster some great discussion on this intergenerational struggle; make sure to check it out.

AARP's own John Rother sat down with Dr. Val of Revolution Health to talk about all things health.

They talked about how technology is changing health care...health care reform...and how online communities can help people achieve health goals!

Champ would be proud. On Wednesday, a bi-partisan group of legislators in Congress overwhelmingly passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.

You, the grassroots, are largely responsible for this achievement. But we can't yet rest on our laurels. We still need to take action: President Bush is threatening to veto this critical legislation that would protect millions of Medicare beneficiaries as well as the thousands of doctors that are involved in the Medicare program.

Our friends at Keep Medicare Fair have all the tools you need to keep the pressure on our decision makers. If push comes to shove, we will have to mobilize to force congress to override a possible veto. In the meantime, tell President Bush to sign the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 into law immediately.

Led by the dramatic and emotional return of Senator Ted Kennedy, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the House-passed Medicare bill by the score - er, um count of 69-30.

The Senate vote - like the House's passage - is strong enough to override President Bush's promised veto.

AARP CEO Bill Novelli issued a statement praising the bipartisan support that passed this bill in both chambers of Congress. Bill noted that "[this vote] shows what can happen when leaders in Washington break through partisan gridlock."

Make no mistake about it - this vote also shows what can happen when people at the grassroots get involved.

The fact is that today's Senate vote was a mulligan. Two weeks ago, the same legislative body came up one vote short on the same bill. So what changed the math? You did - and I think Senator Kennedy would agree.

Since the start of the Keep Medicare Fair campaign, AARP volunteers have called, emailed or signed petitions to their Senate offices more than 780,000 times. And when the Senate left Washington last week after failing to pass the bill the first time around - you made sure to share your thoughts in person with them at July 4th parades and community events.

Like the roar of the crowd when Senator Kennedy walked onto the Senate floor, the Senate heard you loud and clear.

Medicare enrolled its first members 42 years ago today, forever changing health care for older Americans. But today is also the deadline for Congress to pass legislation that keeps Medicare fair. Well, Congress left town over the weekend, and they still haven't passed a bill.

First things first, though: if you have Medicare, don't panic. You can still see your doctor while Congress works out the details.

But we also need to tell Congress to act quickly when it returns. Lawmakers will only have a few days to pass a bill that keeps Medicare fair. So call your senators at [get a number from Barry, maybe?] and tell them to pass H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.

Tommy Thompson and Senator Daschle recently spoke about health care in our country at the 6th Annual John M. Templeton, Jr. Lecture on Economic Liberties and the Constitution presented by AARP and the National Constitution Center. The event is also going to be replayed on C-SPAN's American Perspectives at 6:45pm ET on July 4th.

Check out our exclusive chat with them - they even offer a few ideas about how you can do your part to help fix health care...

We talked about Electronic Prescribing not too long ago. It brings Silicon Valley and health care together, and makes this blogger squeal with delight.

Imagine if your prescription was ready at the pharmacy before you even leave the doctor’s office. Even better, imagine automatic reminders when a cheaper generic drug is available. And imagine getting immediate notice if a new prescription could have dangerous interactions with a drug you’re already taking. These are just some of the promises of e-prescribing, which The Wall Street Journal touched on.

The Journal’s Health Blog points out a couple of the roadblocks...like the fact that the DEA has forbidden electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Even though e-prescribing actually produces better records than pen and paper, doctors can’t prescribe pain killers and other controlled drugs electronically. That’s a big red flag to doctors that don’t want to keep paper and electronic systems running together. Fortunately, the DEA is starting to respond to pressure to fix that..

So how can we make e-prescribing a reality? Encourage your doctor to make the switch, and let your representatives and senators in Congress know that you want them to support electronic prescribing legislation that will make it easier and safer for you to get the prescriptions you need.

ShAARP Session invited Senators Baucus and Grassley - the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Committee in charge of Medicare in the Senate - to guest blog. Below you'll see each of them explain their respective bills to you. Now you have the chance to respond to them with your thoughts and concerns.

The following statements from Senators Baucus and Grassley regarding their competing Medicare bills are
unedited and do not reflect AARP's position.

If Congress doesn't act, the physicians who treat Medicare patients will face a 10.6 percent pay cut, effective July 1. Such a dramatic cut would very likely hurt older Americans' access to their doctors. A big number of doctors might stop dealing with Medicare altogether.

The Republican bill prevents the cut and gives a small payment increase to keep doctors serving Medicare patients. The physician payments are the same as in the Democratic leaders' bill. Neither bill is more generous than the other to doctors.

The Republican bill has several other Medicare improvements. It increases payments to doctors who report quality data to the government to help link payments with quality. It promotes value-based purchasing, e-prescribing to reduce medication errors, and electronic health records. It includes responsible proposals to preserve Medicare access in rural areas, including much-needed payment improvements for rural hospitals and home health care. It returns the ownership of oxygen equipment to the supplier, not the beneficiary, so the beneficiary doesn't have to get the equipment serviced. It cracks down on abusive sales tactics by Medicare Advantage plans and makes plan quality information available to beneficiaries for comparison shopping. It improves cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, renal care, diabetes prevention, and outpatient therapy. It extends programs to help low-income seniors and families.

Unlike the Democratic leaders' bill, the Republican bill does not:
* cut payments for power wheelchairs;
* reduce payments for oxygen;
* make large, unwarranted cuts to Medicare Advantage, altering policy decisions designed to maximize patient choice;
* eliminate the fund that Congress specifically created to help avert future physician cuts; or
* expand eligibility for low-income Medicare programs, which although well-intentioned, would increase long-term entitlement spending and expand coverage under an already fiscally challenged program.

Maybe most important, the President will sign the Republican bill. The President would veto the Democratic leaders' bill. Meanwhile, the Democratic leaders walked away from bipartisan negotiations and put a timely outcome of this effort in jeopardy. The Republican bill does everything Medicare beneficiaries need to protect their access to
doctors and prevent a physician revolt. There's nothing in it that Democratic leaders would find objectionable if they put aside their political lens and looked at it as Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers.

The following statements from Senators Baucus and Grassley regarding their competing Medicare bills are unedited and do not reflect AARP's position.

The laws governing Medicare have a big influence on seniors’ access to health care, and on the quality of the care they receive. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I’ve introduced the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008” to update Medicare laws and make the program work better for every single American senior. It’s the best bill Congress can pass for seniors this year.

The Baucus bill starts by helping more low-income seniors get help with their Medicare premiums. It has incentives for more primary care doctors to take Medicare patients. It allows for more preventive care in Medicare, to keep seniors healthier, and lowers co-payments for mental health services. It provides more money to rural hospitals, ambulance services, and other facilities to make sure seniors get quality care no matter where they live. It cracks down on shady marketers selling seniors on private plans they don’t need or want. And it makes sure local pharmacists get paid promptly for dispensing medicines under the drug benefit, to keep affordable medications available everywhere.

The Baucus bill is responsible, too, paying for these improvements with smart savings found elsewhere in Medicare. It’s important for you to know that these savings in no way endanger any senior’s access to health coverage, health care, or medical equipment. Rather, savings come from strengthening the rules applied to private fee-for-service plans – which are paid 17 percent more than the amount paid to other Medicare providers – and by reducing overpayments to wheelchair and oxygen providers, who sometimes receive more than 1000 percent of the cost of the equipment they supply. In most cases, these changes will even reduce seniors’ out-of-pocket co-payments while also saving taxpayer dollars.

The President threatens to veto this bill, but I believe Congress should do the very best it can for seniors, and pass the Medicare bill that does the most for all who use the program. The Baucus bill goes the extra mile – particularly for rural and low-income seniors – while giving doctors a decent payment increase that won’t explode costs or inflate premiums. And the Baucus bill saves money in Medicare without endangering anyone’s access to care. I’ll work with other Senators and even the White House to get a good bill signed into law. But the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act is the right start to make Medicare better for every American senior.

Bill Novelli, AARP's CEO, sounds off on today's Medicare vote:

“Eight in ten older Americans are concerned about their health care bills; even more are worried about what those bills will be in the coming years. It’s unfortunate that some senators voted to block debate on real, positive changes to our health care system.”

To see what else he had to say click here.

Yesterday we said we’d let you know if your senator voted to Keep Medicare Fair for you, and today we’re posting the record of their votes. Click here to see how your senator voted.

Feel free to sound off here, or give your senator a call and let them know how you’re feeling.

Many of your have heard about our effort to Keep Medicare Fair. With premiums skyrocketing over the last decade, AARP is working to make sure inaction in Congress doesn't add up to big jumps in your health care bills.

Congress has been listening to you and to us, and they're getting somewhere. Tomorrow, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a Medicare bill that AARP gave a thumbs up to earlier this week (link to article or press release). That bill keeps premium increases reasonable, improves help for low-income people in Medicare and creates a national system for electronic prescriptions to help lower the chance of a mix-ups with your drugs.

Thursday's vote won't decide whether or not the bill passes, but it will decide if the Senate can continue to work on this particular bill. They need 60 votes to keep moving forward with this bill to keep Medicare fair for you. If we don't get 60 votes, we're starting all over, and creeping closer and closer to the June 30 deadline for a Medicare bill.

SHAARPSession is going to watch Thursday's vote, and we'll report the results right here, so you'll know right away how your senators voted. In the meantime, visit KeepMedicareFair.org and call or e-mail your senators. Let them know they need to Keep Medicare Fair.

And if you have a story to share about your rising health care bills, sound off in the comments. We want to hear from you.

CNN Health Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is reported yesterday that she recently learned her insurance company was storing her health records online. She seemed a little concerned she didn’t know about that—and she has a point. It’s tough to know what standards her insurance company is using and how secure her records really are.

At the same time, AARP was on Capitol Hill yesterday talking to congress about how to make sure medical records are safe, but also make sure your doctors have access to the information they need to keep you healthy.

Electronic health records and health information technology (or Health IT if you're saving time) have been proven to reduce mistakes and improve efficiency when it comes to health care. That saves lives and money, but only if the government sets standards for security and interoperability.

Now, your bank card wouldn’t be very useful if it didn’t work at all ATMs and your health records won’t do much good if they’re locked on a computer in Albuquerque while you’re on vacation in Hawaii.

Check out Newsweek.com’s "A Guide for Caregivers." Author Joan Raymond offers tips on medical, financial, legal, and housing issues you can discuss with your aging relatives and points to additional helpful resources. Before you join the ranks of the approximately 20 million Americans taking care of their families and their aging parents – what we at AARP call the sandwich generation – it’s important to open a dialogue about these issues with your parents. You can also visit AARP's caregiving page or pick up our book, Caring for Your Parents, at Borders for more information.

Recently on ShAARP Session we wrote about the Keep Medicare Fair Campaign. We've had a tremendous response - 200,000 180,000 plus petitions signed and counting. But this isn't just about the numbers, so I thought I'd share with you one of the personal stories we've received.

"I am 70 years old and live on a fixed income of approximately $24,000 a year. I pay just under $2,000 for Medicare and a supplementary insurance plan plus an additional $400-500 for prescription medications. This year, my supplemental insurer has increased the co-payments for medications and deductibles, so my basic cost in the coming year will increase to over $3000. And this is for basic well-care. I worry constantly that I will not be able to afford treatment if I should become seriously ill."

- M.T.

She's not alone in her fears. Hers is just one of many heart wrenching stories - people are suffering because of higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. We need to do all that we can to make sure that their voices are being heard. Congress is expected to act on the matter very soon. So what are you waiting for - go sign the petition already!

Today, the LA Times reported that the price of health insurance for people who get coverage through work jumped 30 percent between 2001 and 2005. Thirty percent. And wages were up just 3 percent. While we might want to beat up on insurance companies, there’s a much bigger problem. The cost of health care is out of control. I’ve blogged about how the increases in the cost of health care pales in comparison to the increase in the cost of living. And who pays for it? You and me.

Health care is the theme of the week. Probably one reason is that it is Cover the Uninsured Week. Now why are people uninsured? Lots of reasons – don’t think they need it, don’t think they have access to it, but most important is they can’t afford it.

On the campaign trail, there has been some discussion of the key issue here – the skyrocketing cost of health care. Senator John McCain spoke about it both yesterday and today, emphasizing the role of personal responsibility in health care. No one can dispute the importance of this. In fact, every candidate has a nod to better behaviors (eating less junk, exercising more) in their plans. It’s all good.

But where is this in the national media? Almost nowhere! Instead of the substance focused on the things that impact people’s everyday lives, we are left to tune into the bickering and melodrama that has seemed to envelop the spin cycle. Elizabeth Edwards wrote about it for the New York Times on Sunday, but today we’re still seeing the same old thing play out. Who isn’t sick of it?

From the Huffington Post: Can you believe this? “Harry Lee Hawk” McGinnis is 80 years old and in the process of walking across the world. He walked through the US in the 1980s and then in the early 90s, he began his quest around the world. Currently in Panama City, you can track the Hawk on his website. If this isn’t a testament to the importance of staying active, I am not sure what is.

Interesting read from the San Francisco Chronicle today about the age gaps in the electorate. While the piece talks about the different perspective on age, it digs a little deeper and brings up the issue of socioeconomic status. According to The Numbers from ABC News, it appears that how much you make is a bigger factor than how many years you’ve got. This is a valid point, especially when you consider that key issues like health care and financial security are both connected to your finances. Regardless of age, everyone is concerned about skyrocketing health care cost, but especially those who are struggling the most financially. As for financial security, it’s no different – those who are the most concerned are those who feel least secure today.

For those of you who are doing your part to stay young, it looks like drinking up just might aid in your efforts. Drugmaker Glaxo Smith Klein is acquiring a company that has been researching the link between a component in red wine and longevity.

Sounds like a good justification for happy hour, but whatever it takes!

Inside E Street, AARP's own TV show, had a chance to talk to all the Presidential campaigns about health care. You can watch the full show online, but what's most interesting is the fundamental difference between the candidates when it comes to how to approach health care.
Here's a highlight:

UPDATE:
Had some YouTube issues, check out videos of each campaign below:

Not endorsing this type of behavior, but check out a new video on health care from Senator Ron Wyden. It will give you a laugh AND give you pause when you think about health care…

New report out today from the Institute of Medicine that says that today’s workforce will not be prepared to handle the aging population. As an explosion of baby boomers start to age, as well people living longer, there’s going to be a larger and larger need for cargivers. The report recommends increasing pay, but also reaching out and helping to educate those who may not formally work in the caregiving field. For many families, the responsibility may fall on them.

There are some good resources out there right now if you are struggling to care for a family member or loved one, start with AARP's caregiving site.

Update: 5:12 PM: Link to the IOM report.

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Senator John Edwards, has endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton’s health care plan. You may recall that I blogged about her tousle with Senator McCain earlier this week. In announcing her support this morning on Good Morning America, she mentioned the mandates that are included in Clinton’s plan.

Whether you mandate it or not, at least all the candidates (Clinton, McCain and Obama) agree that something needs to be done.

Last week there was talk on the campaign trail about health care with a back and forth between Elizabeth Edwards and McCain advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin. Now most of this is inside partisan sniping over if Senator McCain’s plan would cover preexisting conditions, but media attention has the McCain folks working on more details on the Senator’s health care plan.

More thinking on health care reform is welcome news, especially when it comes to more specifics. We need to hear more from the candidates on how they can help those with preexisting conditions as well as how they are going to bring skyrocketing health care costs down.

Medicare and Keeping it Fair. I wrote about AARP’s efforts last week and this week. The good news is that you are on it. I hear that we’ve had 160,000 petitions signed, sealed and delivered. Keep it up!

Last week I wrote about Medicare and today I will write about it again. New website launched today where you can call on Congress to keep Medicare fair. This new website is also part of a larger effort that will include advertising, an article in the AARP Bulletin, and action by AARP’s legions of grassroots activists. Join the fun!

I said it last week and I’ll say it again - Jacking up Medicare premiums because Congress has repeatedly failed to fix a flawed system just doesn’t sound very fair. Excessive premium increases could price people on Medicare out of getting the care they need most.

I’m always happy to bust myths about technology and the 50-plus set and here’s another one. New studies out today find those who are 65 plus are willing to embrace technology to allow them to age at home. This makes perfect sense, since 90 percent of people want to live at home as long as possible. Technology can monitor a person’s physical condition, dispense medicines, or even provide a social outlet for folks who may be stuck at home.

While there are concerns about cost (as always when it comes to health care), people clearly recognize the value of technology in caregiving. Sounds like a new way to have some peace of mind and grapple with aging family members.

It’s coming… in June, Congress will decide whether to increase Medicare premiums yet again to cover the cost of paying doctors more. Jacking up Medicare premiums on seniors because Congress has repeatedly failed to fix a flawed system just doesn’t sound very fair.

Since 2000, the monthly premiums people on Medicare pay has more than doubled and most of these folks have no other option for health care coverage. And paying monthly Medicare premiums is just the tip of the iceberg. .. overall skyrocketing health care costs sting people who are on fixed incomes the most. This typically includes those who are receiving Medicare, with the 65 plus population having an average income of just $25,000 a year. Not much when you have to not only pay premiums, but for things like prescription drugs, deductibles, co-payments, hospital visits.

At the end of the day, 44 million Americans rely on Medicare for affordable health coverage. Excessive premium increases could price people on Medicare out of getting the care they need most.

Washington needs to start tackling the core of the problem, the outrageous cost of health care. But in the interim, they shouldn’t put excessive costs onto seniors because of Congress’ failure to act.

It’s early, so I will rain on your parade and get it over with. Yesterday, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees report brought us some not very good news. The Cliff Notes version is that Medicare is facing a tough future, one that's not likely to get any easier if we contine to ignore the elephant in the room: skyrocketing heatlh care costs.
And Social Security also faces a tough outlook. It is a reminder that it’s time for our political leaders to get to work on our nation’s problems. Bottom line, the sooner we tackle these problems, the more feasible the solutions.

People say they are ready for the solution – a new survey out this week by the AFL-CIO on health care says it all. According to U.S. News and World Report:

Among those surveyed, 95 percent said health care in America needed fundamental change or a complete overhaul. Seventy-four percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said health care was a very important election issue, as did 80 percent of 50- to 64-year olds.”

Sounds like pretty much everyone is ready for a change.

Angie’s List, an online tool for consumers to rank painters, plumbers and the like is now creating forums for their users to rank physicians, dentists, pharmacies and health insurers. According to the Indianapolis Star, the founder of the company said this came from customer demand, with nearly three quarters of the website’s customers requesting the information. While Angie’s List is not the only group in the health care ranking business, this new venture is certainly taking a new approach to health care by lumping it in with other types of consumer providers.

Information is power and can help consumers make smarter choices about their health care. That being said, as we all know an experience whether with a doctor or an electrician is certainly a subjective process. Caveat emptor!

Bad News - the Supreme Court today declined a request to review a federal rule that would allow employers to reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they reach 65 and become eligible for Medicare. AARP has challenged the rule in lower federal courts, but the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) finalized and published it late last year.

Aside from being age discrimination, the EEOC rule ignores the skyrocketing cost of health care. It shifts costs onto older retirees who often have limited incomes and have been facing higher premiums and out of pocket costs in Medicare. And don’t forget, this just puts further strain on a health care system that is struggling because of exploding costs. Pretty lame.

New research out of the Harvard School of Public Health today says just over half of Americans think health care in the U.S. may not be as good as other nations. And when it comes to costs, America received less than stellar grades with just 40 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of Democrats and 22 percent of independents saying the U.S. did better on affordable health care than France, Canada and Britain.

Sounds like some dissatisfaction with the status quo. Now we just need people to actually let their elected officials know about it.

I try to keep up with the activities of our colleagues across the nation and what’s been coming up lately is a number of surveys about health care. A sample for you:

- In New Jersey, 79 percent of those in the state think everyone should have access to affordable quality health care.

- In Iowa, 93 percent think everyone should have access to affordable quality health care.

- In Hawaii, 60 percent of residents believe the state’s health and long term care services are in crisis.

Health care, a problem everywhere.

The budget process is creeping along in Washington. While this may seem like a snoozer to some, it is pretty important in terms of locking Congress in to spending and/or cutting. To this end, they’ve got to do this thing right. Doing it right means rejecting the deep Medicare and Medicaid cuts proposed by the Administration and moving toward reducing America’s skyrocketing health care bill in both programs.

Bottom line, if Congress is spending our money, they should be spending it on things that matter, like improving health care and financial security for everyone.

Drugs ain't getting any cheaper. I know you know this, but there's a report out today by AARP to back up the pain you're feeling. In fact, drug companies have substantially raised prices on 220 brand name prescription drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D since the implementation of the drug benefit four year ago.

Ouch! When you dig in the news is especially grim - the prices of brand name drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D rose by an average of 7.4 percent in 2007 - nearly two and a half times the rate of general inflation. The average cost of drugs to treat chronic conditions (like asthma and diabetes) exploded from $80 per year per prescription in 2002, to $151 in 2007.

Check out the full report. What stinks is that these skyrocketing prices increase the likelihood of higher insurance premiums and the chance that people will fall into Medicare's coverage gap (also known as the donut hole). Everyone needs help with drug costs, which is why it's time for things like importation and speedy introduction of low cost generic drugs.

An update from Google on Google Health, their effort to create a product for electronic medical records that’s worth reading about and keeping an eye on. I’ve talked a lot about the benefits of electronic medical records, so read about what the googlers are planning on doing.

Yesterday’s NY Times opined about the Medicare debate. It’s a little in the weeds on the policy front, but they do mention some good ways to help with soaring health care costs across the system: electronic health records and paying doctors for the quality of their care. These ideas are right on because they address the broader issue in the health care system, costs.

What they also mention - forcing high income beneficiaries to pay more for drugs- does not help with the larger issue. Beneficiaries already contributed their fair share through higher payroll and income taxes throughout their lives. To boot, they are paying a second tier of taxes on their Social Security benefits for the Medicare program. And they are already paying more for doctors, with their premiums doubling since 2000. If you’re working past age 65, you may even get hit by this proposal.

Ultimately, the sentiment of the Times is laudable, but trying to lower costs this way is no way to reform healthcare.

AARP today announced it’s 2008 legislative agenda and it includes some important stuff that lawmakers need to work on this year. You can read the whole thing, but I’ll give you the Cliff Notes version. The big thing is modernizing and improving health care and containing costs by supporting things like health IT (including e-prescribing) and greater reliance on evidence-based medicine. Not to be forgotten is strengthening Medicare and Medicaid; expanding health coverage not just for children (SCHIP), but also the 50-64 set; and making prescription drugs more affordable.

Your pocketbook shouldn’t be forgotten either. The focus on the financial side will include getting lawmakers to establish programs in the workplace that help Americans save for retirement, like automatic enrollment in IRA and 401(K) plans and greater use of payroll deduction through the work place. Other things include broader protections for consumers from financial fraud and abuse and improved transportation and housing options for older Americans. On housing issues, protecting funding for federal housing programs and promote more affordable reverse mortgages will take front and center. And don’t forget about working for better utility regulations and more affordable energy.

Phew, that’s a lot of work…

In the dark of a Friday night before a long weekend, the Administration proposed a non-solution to exploding health care costs – raise premiums on those in Medicare. Unfortunately, this ignores the elephant in the room, the entire health care system needing reform. I’ve written about this a dozen times, but the entire health care system need attention and is the cause for the explosion in Medicare spending.

Before completely dissing the proposal, there is some interesting stuff in the White House’s proposal that are worth a look. Things like electronic medical records and paying doctors for quality, not quantity. These types of measures would be helpful in lowering costs in the entire health care system, not just Medicare.

Enough tiptoeing around the edges; it’s time for a real solution on health care.

We just got the neatest letter from First Lady Laura Bush “thanking us for the opportunity to discuss women’s heart health” in AARP Bulletin this summer.

It seems Mrs. Bush got a phone call from a nurse whose patient’s life was saved because she read the article! This is a great story – here are a few excepts from the First Lady’s letter:

“The patient arrived at the emergency room 30 minutes after she began feeling chest pains. She told the nurse that the day before she had read the Bulletin’s article describing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women. She also mentioned she would feel silly if her chest pain was not a heart attack,

“Within 20 minutes of being at the hospital doctors determined that she was indeed having a heart attack and they began preparing her for a cardiac catheterization. She suddenly became unresponsive … and the team of doctors quickly responded by shocking her heart two times. She was stabilized and the doctors went on to perform a cardiac catheterization …

“Within 50 minutes of the onset of her symptoms, her heart had gone into a rhythm that could have caused her death if she had not read the AARP Bulletin and recognized the signs…

“This patient’s personal story highlights the importance of raising awareness about heart disease in women. Keep spreading the word – together we can continue to make a lifesaving difference!

“With best wishes,
Laura Bush”

I hate to be so cheesy, but I’m reminded of AARP’s motto, “The power to make it better.” It feels pretty darn good to be a part of this organization. We were so proud we had it framed and are looking for a prominent place to hang it for everyone to see.

You may remember that last year AARP called on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to fully release the list of the poorest performing nursing homes in the country. We just think that families have a right to know that the care their loved ones receive may be sub-standard.

Well, the list is out and there are about 130 facilities on it. To see if your loved ones nursing home is on it, click here (pdf).

Yes, I’ve written about it before. And yes, I am going to talk about it again – Medicare and Medicaid. Our growing fiscal stress is not really about the coming retirement of the baby boomers, but the ever exploding cost of health care for everyone. Check out the graphic below, courtesy of the Congressional Budget Office. Thanks to Ezra Klein, who wrote about it here.

How can Washington solve this? Tackle the skyrocketing cost of health care for everyone.

The White House's proposed federal budget came out today and it isn't pretty. Among the ugliness is a proposed $200 billion cut to Medicare and Medicaid over the next ten years that just ignores the real reasons for skyrocketing healthcare costs and instead passes along higher out-of-pocket costs and potentially fewer services. Another painful cut comes in the $570 million slashed from heating and energy assistance, which would leave one million low income households out in the cold.

One ray of sunshine is some additional Social Security Administration funding, which is a needed first step toward eliminating the disability backlogs and improving service. But overall, this thing needs a rehaul. Thankfully, this is the first step in the budget process and Congress has the opportunity to do a better job.

Many positioned tonight's debate as a showdown, but it was more of a discussion then a debate between Senators Clinton and Obama. There was an in-depth discussion of health care tonight and both candidates brought up a vital piece of any health care reform - reigning in skyrocketing costs. Both candidates agreed this is an important issue and both discussed a range of options to try and manage it. Sadly, it took the end of the debate cycle for the candidates to start discussing some of the specifics in the health care discussion. Things like electronic medical records and preventive measures were discussed tonight and are critical to bringing down the cost of health care for everybody.

Financial issues were mentioned, but lacked the details that voters want to hear about. Right now, economic issues are a huge motivator for people at the ballot box. We know that people are concerned not just about the shaky housing market (since homes are such a critical piece of retirement savings), but also how they can afford to retire. It was a lost opportunity for these candidates to overlook these issues tonight.

While tonight's debate was less contentious than last night's, the questions were more focused on personality than substance. Instead of falling into the trap, the candidates chose a route of talking about the issues instead of swiping barbs. This is a good thing and we can only hope this mature tone is part of things to come.

Last night, Floridians went to the ballot box to select their candidates in the primary. Over 60 percent of those who showed up in Florida yesterday were 50 and over, according to CNN’s exit polling.

In the Democratic race, health and financial security mattered. In the CNN exit poll of Democratic vo