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AARP Advocacy Alert - Medicare

3/21/2015

 
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Does the Medicare doctor payment system need to be fixed? YES.
Should seniors unfairly foot the bill? NO.

Tell Congress to develop a fair and responsible solution to fix the Medicare doctor payment system that doesn't simply pass costs onto seniors.
                       _________________________________________

Over 50 million Americans count on Medicare for affordable, quality health care. But Congress is voting as early as next week on a bill that would raise your Part B and Part D premiums and increase deductible amounts that millions of seniors must pay.

Why are they doing this? Because they're trying to fix a flawed Medicare doctor payment system. This is the 18th time in 12 years that Congress has had to stop cuts caused by a flawed doctor payment formula created by Congress in 1997.

We applaud Congress' bipartisan efforts to fix this broken system. But we need the right solution, not just any solution. That's why we need your help to tell Congress to pass a responsible solution that doesn't unfairly burden seniors with higher costs.

Tell your members of Congress to pass a fair and responsible solution to fix the flawed Medicare doctor payment system that doesn't simply pass costs onto seniors.

Half of Medicare beneficiaries have incomes less than $23,500. Many are already struggling to afford health care, groceries, utility bills and more, and rely on Medicare to help afford essential treatment. Before asking them to pay even more out of pocket, AARP believes doctors and other providers must be asked to contribute financially to this solution. Any real solution should also clamp down on the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs.

Congress will be voting as soon as next week on this important bill. Send a message today urging your representatives to develop a fair and responsible solution that doesn’t unfairly burden seniors.

Together, we can send a strong message to Congress to keep the promise to those who’ve worked hard and paid into Medicare their whole lives. Thanks for taking action today.

Sincerely,
Fred Griesbach
AARP Campaigns

Aging at Home With a Village of Support

3/18/2015

 
Our March ARTA meeting featured a presentation by Penelope Roberts on At Home in Alexandria, an organization established to help seniors remain safe and independent in their own homes as they get older.  For a reasonable annual membership fee, participants can get volunteer assistance in a variety of ways - transportation, small repairs, grocery shopping, technological needs, etc.

At Home in Alexandria is part of a movement growing in popularity across the nation - Village to Village Network.  If you are interested in services like this, but don't live in Alexandria, there are other "villages" in operation in our area and across the country.  You can search the Village to Village Network website to see if you have access to this program, or for information about initiating a program like this where you live. 

These organizations are also in need of volunteers with a variety of skills and interests.  Contact your local organization if you would like to participate or donate. 

Here's more information from AARP:

Villages: Helping People Age in Place


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