News From Arkansas

AARP in Your State

September 2009

Diversity effort — Activities in the Arkansas Delta this month aim to increase awareness of AARP among African American communities. Included on the agenda are free health screenings when the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour comes to West Memphis on Sept. 30 and stops at the Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Helena Oct. 9 to 10.

The bus is staffed by technicians and equipped to measure participants' blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, bone density, body mass index and waist circumference. Everyone receiving a screening will also get a free, one-year AARP membership (or, if already a member, a one-year renewal).

To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/ar.

June 2009

Better caregiver pay — State lawmakers have approved a pay increase for those who provide in-home health care.

AARP Arkansas supports the measure because low wages and lack of benefits have contributed to a shortage of home health workers. Such workers can help many older Arkansans continue to live at home as they age. In 2008, about 4,800 home health workers provided care to 14,000 state residents.

The rate increase will take effect July 1 pending approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The money will come from a state tobacco tax hike that was earmarked to increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate from $14.56 to $16.76 per hour, about a 15 percent increase.

May 2009

Easy freeze — A new state law makes it easier, faster and in some cases cheaper to freeze a credit report.

Security freeze laws thwart identity theft by prohibiting credit- reporting agencies from releasing a consumer's financial information without receiving a secret PIN (personal identification number).

AARP lobbied to strengthen Arkansas' security freeze law. State residents can now request a freeze by e-mail or regular mail, rather than registered mail. The new law shortens the time to place a freeze from five days to three and eliminates fees for identity theft victims, active military personnel and state residents age 65 and older. Lifting a freeze to apply for credit now takes only 15 minutes.

For more information, visit www.aarp.org/ar.

April 2009

Healthy boost — AARP Arkansas was part of a coalition that backed a recent cigarette tax hike. Gov. Mike Beebe, D, said the revenue will fund "the most comprehensive, far-reaching health care package the state has ever seen."

The 56-cent tax increase per pack—along with tax hikes on smokeless and other tobacco products—is expected to pay for a state trauma system and to boost funding for programs that help people remain in their own homes as they age.

A $5 million increase in the state's allocation for home- and community-based services would boost new funding for such services to $18 million after federal contributions, bringing total funding for the state's health care expansion to nearly $180 million.