Your AARP: Arizona

April 2009

All together now — AARP is encouraging Arizona and Utah residents enrolled in original Medicare to participate in a national pilot program providing a personal health record linked electronically to their claims.

Stored online, each record may contain electronic files from several doctors, plus information supplied directly by the patient. Everything from laboratory reports to advance directives can be kept in one place. The patient controls which physicians or family members have access to the record. Storing all health records in one place is especially helpful in emergencies, when complete, up-to-date information on medications and treatments is critical.

Of the four personal health record providers currently available, two are free and two charge small fees. To sign up, go to www.medicare.gov/phr.

December 2008

Plans afoot — AARP Arizona aims to help the state better use transportation funding to make communities more livable.

A recent study by the Center for Transportation Excellence, a national transportation research group, gave the state a "D" for its lack of walkable communities. A walkable community is one with sidewalks, hiking and bike trails and pedestrian crosswalks with well-timed lights connecting housing to nearby grocery stores, churches, schools, restaurants, offices and retail shops.

In September AARP Arizona cohosted a transportation forum where government and community leaders explored this issue. AARP will continue to work with these stakeholders in 2009, with the goal of bringing about necessary policy changes.

For more information, go to cfte.org/news/cftenews_report2008.asp.

October 2008

Send payday lenders packing—With its exemption from the state’s 36 percent cap on interest rates set to expire in 2010, the payday loan industry is backing the so-called Payday Loan Reform Act, which would permanently legalize an effective annual interest rate of 391 percent. AARP urges members to keep interest rates in check by voting no on Proposition 200.

Payday loans are small, short-term loans meant to be repaid with the borrower’s next paycheck. But many borrowers repeatedly renew their loans at high interest rates, slipping into a cycle of debt. “The word ‘reform’ in this measure is a sham,” says Lupe Solis, AARP associate state director for advocacy.

“This measure would remove consumer protections from state law, not strengthen them.” For more information, visit www.200IsNoReform.com.