Research Briefing

ARE THE FOLLOWING HEADLINES FROM TOMORROW, 15 YEARS AGO, OR BOTH? 

“2 Bills In Congress Backed Back Associated Of Retirees.”

“AARP Endorsement Of Reform May Be Financially Motivated.”

“Members Lash Out At AARP’s Support For Health Plans.” 

“A Toxic Dose Of Health Care Reforms For Seniors”

“Health Reform Support Peeves AARP Members They Wanted To Be Consulted First”

“AARP Support For Health Bills Riles Seniors”

“AARP Backs Democrats' Health Plan; Hundreds Call To Voice Their Opinions”

“AARP'S Choice On Health Plan Hatches Hubbub”

“Retired Group Blasted For Ok On Health Bills”

“Triad Seniors Balk At Health Stance Say They Were Misrepresented”

THEY’RE ACTUALLY FROM 1994 

“2 Bills In Congress Backed Back Associated Of Retirees.” (Robert Pear, The New York Times, 8/11/94)

“AARP Endorsement Of Reform May Be Financially Motivated.” (Jack Anderson And Michael Binstein, The Deseret News, 8/26/94)

“Members Lash Out At AARP’s Support For Health Plans.” (Elizabeth Shogren, The Los Angeles Times, 8/12/94)

“A Toxic Dose Of Health Care Reforms For Seniors” (Suzanne Fields, Op-Ed, The Washington Times, 8/22/94)

“Health Reform Support Peeves AARP Members They Wanted To Be Consulted First” (Jodi Enda, Detroit Free Press, 8/12/94)

“AARP Support For Health Bills Riles Seniors” (Ann Wlazelek, [Allentown, PA] Morning Call, 8/23/94)

“AARP Backs Democrats' Health Plan; Hundreds Call To Voice Their Opinions” (Dan Wascoe Jr., [Minneapolis, MN] Star Tribune, 8/12/94)

“AARP'S Choice On Health Plan Hatches Hubbub” (Roger Signor and Theresa Tighe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/12/94)

“Retired Group Blasted For Ok On Health Bills” (Joseph A. Kirby, The Chicago Tribune, 8/12/94)

“Triad Seniors Balk At Health Stance Say They Were Misrepresented” (John A. Nag, News & Record, 8/12/94)

BUT HEADLINES COULD BE FROM TOMORROW AS AARP PLANS TO SUPPORT OBAMA-PELOSI VERSION OF GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE … 

“AARP To Endorse House Health Care Bill.” “Officials are telling The Associated Press that AARP – the seniors’ lobby – will endorse the health care overhaul bill that House Democrats are preparing to take to the floor. Officials with knowledge of the group’s decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the senior's lobby has decided to give the $1.2 trillion measure its seal of approval.” (Erica Werner and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “AP Sources: AARP To Endorse House Health Care Bill,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

AN EXPERIMENT THAT WILL HARM AARP’S MEMBERS, REDUCE SENIORS’ BENEFITS

House Dems’ Bill Cuts $456 Billion From Medicare And Medicaid. (House Committees On Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, And Education & Labor, “Detailed Summary Of Affordable Health Care For America Act,” Fact Sheet, 10/29/09)

• Cuts House Dems Have Already Admitted Would Force Doctors To Decline Medicare Patients. “Rep. Eric Massa said tightening provider payments could lead to access problems for patients. ‘We will force doctors to decline Medicare patients,’ he said after a raucous town-hall meeting in Upstate New York. ‘If we believe these savings are there, let’s test the concept. But we can’t hinge the entire funding of this bill on these not-yet-seen savings.’”  (House Committees On Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, And Education & Labor, “Detailed Summary Of Affordable Health Care For America Act,” Fact Sheet, 10/29/09; Ceci Connolly, “Seniors Remain Wary of Health-Care Reform,” The Washington Post, 8/9/09)
• Could “Threaten Access” To Heart Treatments Seniors Need. “Medicare officials recently proposed changes that could increase payments for some primary care services but reduce payments to many specialists. Cardiologists would be especially hard hit, with cuts of more than 20 percent in payments for electrocardiograms and 12 percent for heart stent procedures. ‘Cuts of this magnitude could cripple cardiology practices and threaten access to services for millions of patients,’ said Dr. John C. Lewin, chief executive of the American College of Cardiology.” (Robert Pear, “A Basis Is Seen For Some Health Plan Fears Among The Elderly,” The New York Times, 8/20/09)
• And Stifle Innovation That Could Produce New Treatments. “Even small reductions to the future growth of Medicare spending – called ‘cuts’ in Washington parlance – unfairly burden the elderly, along with the doctors and hospitals that serve them and the manufacturers of health products, lest the pace of technical innovation be impaired.” (Uwe Reinhardt, “A ‘Common Sense’ American Health Reform Plan,” The New York Times’ “Economix” Blog, 7/31/09)

CBO Director Says Obama’s Cuts To Medicare Advantage Would Mean Seniors Seeing Benefits Cut In Half. SEN. MIKE CRAPO (R-ID): “So approximately half of the additional benefit would be lost to those current Medicare Advantage policy holders.” ELMENDORF: “Those who would be enrolled otherwise under current law, yes…” SEN. CRAPO: “So the current plan holders would recognize about half the benefits that they see under today under the current law.” ELMENDORF: “Yes, that’s right.” (Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) And CBO Director Douglas W. Elmendorf, Senate Finance Committee Markup Hearing, 9/22/09)

• Benefits That Provide Better Care At No Cost To Seniors. “Engleman, who came to Washington last month to press lawmakers on the issue, is enrolled in a Southern California medical group called Desert Oasis Healthcare. The group, he said, uses case managers who check on patients to coordinate care and reduce hospital readmissions. Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance trade group, said seniors in the plans receive checkups and vision and drug coverage not offered in traditional Medicare. Some get free gym memberships. Cuts could lead to a ‘reduction in benefits and higher premiums,’ he said.” (John Fritze, “Seniors Defend Medicare Plan Obama Calls 'Wasteful,'” USA Today, 8/5/09)

• With “Vision, Dental And Hearing” Coverage That’s Not Available From Medicare. “The plan provides additional benefits, such as vision, dental and hearing, to seniors and helps coordinate health care for those with chronic conditions, says Robert Zirkelbach at the trade association, America's Health Insurance Plans.” (Kathy Kiely, “Some Of Obama's Assertions Debatable, USA Today, 8/12/09)