News From Montana

AARP in Your State

November 2009

What will reform look like? — Although the issue of health care reform dominates national news these days, few Montanans may have given much thought to what changes are in store at the state level. Interested state residents can come together Nov. 19-20 to explore "The Evolving Landscape of Health Care." AARP is cosponsoring this third annual meeting of health care professionals and lay people interested in how reform might play out in Montana.

The event will take place at the Best Western GranTree Inn in Bozeman. Elliott Fisher, M.D., professor of medicine at Dartmouth Medical School and director of Dartmouth's Center for Health Policy Research, will be the keynote speaker. For details, visit www.montanahealthcareforum.com. Registration costs $125. To inquire about scholarships, write to mtaarp@aarp.org.

October 2009

Link to benefits — AARP and the state's Area Agencies on Aging are recruiting volunteers to help people in need. The volunteers will help older Montanans and people with disabilities apply for programs that can help them save money on prescription drugs, pay for doctors' bills, reduce property taxes and cover basic expenses such as groceries and utility bills. Such benefits often go unclaimed because people don't know they are eligible or how to apply.

Volunteers will be trained to inform others about these programs and will learn how to use Benefits QuickLINK, AARP's Internet-based screening program, to help people apply. Log on to www.aarp.org/money/lowincomehelp/quicklink to find out more, or call 1-800-551-3191 to volunteer.

July-August 2009

Shaping the debate — AARP Montana members turned out in force to discuss the issue of national health care reform during a statewide series of 20 "listening sessions" with senior staff from the office of Sen. Max Baucus, D.

As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over most health care programs, Baucus says input from the May sessions will be used in drafting health care legislation. He expects Congress to send a health care reform bill to the president later this year.

For more information about AARP's health care priorities, go to www.healthactionnow.org. To become involved in this and other issues, sign up at www.aarp.org/getinvolved.