Massachusetts - AARP Bulletin Today

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October 2008

Limiting gifts – Gov. Deval Patrick, D, in August signed a law that places gift-giving restrictions on companies that manufacture prescription drugs or medical devices. Such companies must report any gift valued at $50 or more and cannot give cash payments to medical providers or offer to pay for their meals, travel, entertainment or recreation.

Working with the Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition, AARP Massachusetts advocated for the bill, which aims to help control health care costs. The law also creates an evidence-based education program to give doctors unbiased information about a range of therapies and drugs, including less-expensive generics.

During a 48-hour period in August, the governor's office received 9,588 calls from AARP members asking him to sign the measure.

September 2008

Affordable care – Under current law, every state resident age 18 or older must have health insurance or face penalties, unless the state deems premiums unaffordable, based on income, age and family size. AARP is urging lawmakers to change the affordability formula so deductibles, copayments and other out-of-pocket costs are factored in, too.

More than 355,000 Bay Staters have signed up for health insurance since the state mandated coverage two years ago, reducing the ranks of the uninsured by half. Even so, insurance remains out of reach for many ages 50 to 64 with annual income of $31,000 or more.

The Health Connector, the agency managing health care reform, is holding meetings this fall to develop guidelines that will take effect Jan. 1. To ask lawmakers to make insurance affordable for all residents, call 617-722-2000.

AARP Honors Massachusetts Lawmakers

AARP recognized four Massachusetts lawmakers—Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and Reps. Barney Frank, James McGovern and Richard Neal—with awards honoring their legislative achievements in the current congressional session.

Kennedy, D, received an AARP Legislative Achievement Award for his leadership in keeping older Americans safe from falls.  "We are commending you for your outstanding leadership on the Safety of Seniors Act because we believe enactment of this legislation offers a promising strategy for effective intervention against the increasing incidence of falls among older Americans," AARP CEO Bill Novelli wrote to Sen. Kennedy. “Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among the elderly, and that these fatalities have increased by nearly 36 percent. Your leadership will go a long way towards improving the health security of millions of Americans.”

Rep. Frank, D, a 14-term member of Congress and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, received an AARP Legislative Achievement Award for his leadership in preserving affordable home ownership for older Americans.

“We are commending you for your outstanding leadership on the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 and particularly for legislation that will improve older Americans’ access to reverse mortgages by increasing the available equity, reducing fees and protecting them from fraud,” AARP CEO Bill Novelli wrote to Rep. Frank. “Enactment of this legislation will be especially helpful to borrowers with major health and long-term care costs as access to more equity can mean the difference between staying in one’s home and needing costly institutional care.”

Rep. Neal, D, chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on revenues, received a Legislative Leadership Award for his efforts ensuring that all Americans have a simple way to save for retirement at work.

“We are commending you for your outstanding leadership on the Automatic IRA Act because we firmly believe all workers deserve a simple, dependable way to save for retirement at work,” AARP CEO Bill Novelli wrote Rep. Neal. “We believe your legislation will be a win-win for small-business owners and employees. Employers get to recruit and retain talented employees, and employees get to build the nest egg they will need for a secure retirement.”

Rep. McGovern, D, a six-term member of the House, received an AARP Legislative Achievement Award for his leadership on protecting nutrition for older Americans.

“Your outstanding leadership on "The Feeding America’s Families Act” led to the enactment of legislation that will help millions of our nation’s most vulnerable families get the nutrition they need to stay healthy,” AARP CEO Bill Novelli wrote to Rep. McGovern. “At a time when millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table, this legislation will help keep seniors, children and families across the nation from going hungry.”

The lawmakers received their awards in August. They were created as part of AARP’s 50th anniversary celebration. Twenty lawmakers received Legislative Excellence, Legislative Achievement and Legislative Leadership awards.

June 2008

No more gifts? – Lawmakers in the House are considering legislation that would make Massachusetts the first state in the nation to ban all drug company gifts to physicians. The bill (SB 2650) cleared the Senate in April.  n Consumer advocates say such marketing practices drive up drug costs and may attempt to pressure doctors to prescribe expensive brand-name drugs. As part of the Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition, AARP Massachusetts supports the bill, which would also create an “evidence-based” physician education program to give doctors unbiased information comparing the effectiveness of various drugs, including cheaper generics.  “This bill will help get skyrocketing drug costs under control,” says Deborah Banda, AARP state director. Urge your representative to restrict drug company marketing practices. Call the State House at 617-722-2000.

April 2008

Drug marketing reform – With the financial stability of the state’s health care reforms threatened by the high cost of prescription drugs, AARP Massachusetts has joined a coalition that aims to restrict pharmaceutical marketing practices. “Current practices, such as giving gifts to doctors or using data on their prescribing patterns to tailor sales pitches, are driving up drug costs,” says Jessica Costantino, AARP Massachusetts director of advocacy. “And these increases are being passed on to consumers.”  From 2002 to 2007, prices of widely used brand-name drugs increased by 50.4 percent, more than two and a half times the inflation rate. To learn more, go to www.aarp.org/ma.

March 2008

Prove it – As Bay Staters prepare their 2007 tax returns, they must—with few exceptions—prove they have health insurance, as required by state law, or face losing a tax credit worth $219. Taxpayers with insurance should file Schedule HC and submit Form 1099-HC, sent by the insurance company or other provider. Those without insurance must have completed the Commonwealth Health Care Connector’s Affordability Tool and must answer related questions on their tax returns—or must submit a copy of a state-issued certificate of exemption, showing they could not buy insurance due to hardship. AARP Massachusetts encourages uninsured residents to get coverage soon because under draft rules for 2008, penalties will increase and could add up to as much as $912. For more information, go to www.mahealthconnector.org or call 1-877-623-6765 toll free.

January/February 2008

Self-empowerment – The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence has launched a website to make it easier for consumers to become active participants in their own health care. The website provides tools residents can use to find a doctor, prepare for medical appointments or surgery, and compare hospital quality and patient satisfaction ratings. In addition, the site offers tips on taking medications safely and updates on health care issues. The partnership includes medical, advocacy, public health, business and other organizations. AARP Massachusetts serves on the council guiding the effort. "Motivating patients and caregivers to become actively engaged in their own health care is one of the best ways to improve the safety and effectiveness of care," says Deborah Banda, AARP state director.

Visit the site at www.partnershipforhealthcare.org/.