More From Iowa

July 2008

Come to the fair – AARP will be at state fairs this summer to spread the word about Divided We Fail, the national effort to encourage elected officials to work across party lines to provide health care and financial security for all Americans.  At the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Aug. 7–17, AARP Iowa will host a spelling bee and other events at the Maytag Family Theater. In addition, AARP will have booths along the route of a seven-day bicycle ride in July.

June 2008

Health care progress – In the final hours of the 2008 session, the General Assembly passed sweeping legislation to improve health care for all residents, and Gov. Chet Culver, D, later signed the bill. The bipartisan effort lays the groundwork to cover all Iowa children by 2010, improves services for chronic conditions, requires coverage of preexisting conditions for people moving between insurance plans, expands electronic record-keeping and fosters preventive care. AARP Iowa worked to improve the bill and mobilized volunteers to voice support. “We want to thank lawmakers for working across party lines to pass meaningful health care reform and making Iowa a real leader in the major domestic issue of our time,” says Bruce Koeppl, AARP state director.

March 2008

Legal recourse – AARP Iowa has joined a coalition supporting the Iowa Consumer Rights Act, a bill that would make it possible for individuals to take scammers to court. Iowa is the only state that has no private remedy for fraud. Only the state attorney general can file a lawsuit under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act to get refunds for consumers or court orders to stop fraudulent practices. Individual legal action is impractical because attorney’s fees and court costs often exceed the money lost in a scam. The proposed act—which would empower defrauded Iowans to recoup their losses—is AARP Iowa’s top legislative priority this year. To voice support for the measure (HF 2142), call your legislators at 515-281-3221 (House) and 515-281-3371 (Senate).

November 2007

Dealing with dementia – A task force created to explore how the state can improve care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia disorders is meeting this fall. Final recommendations are due Jan. 1. The task force will hear testimony from various groups, including the long-term care industry. As a member of the panel, AARP Iowa says it is essential that the task force also hear from Iowans who experience the day-to-day problems of caring for a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s or dementia — and include that information in the final report. To learn more about the task force, go to http://www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs.