THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
``AARP hears a yelp'' (editorial, Aug. 31) is a misleading and inaccurate characterization of AARP's position on health-care reform.
Our support for health-care reform stems from our members' demonstrated commitment to a system that provides affordable coverage for Americans of all ages, protects against the devastating costs of long-term care and prescription drugs, controls costs throughout the system, strengthens Medicare and is fairly financed.
These are the priorities our members have communicated to us over the past several years in thousands of forums and debates across the country, letters and phone calls, and extensive public and member-option research. Most recently, in a random sample survey of our membership conducted Aug. 15-19, 62 percent said that the health-care system either needed to be changed fundamentally or completely rebuilt.
The associations' decision to recommend to its members that they support the Gephardt and Mitchell health-care-reform proposals was based on the fact that - of the proposals before the House and Senate - these two bills came closest to achieving the goals that AARP members support. The decision was made by AARP's volunteer board of directors after careful analysis of the legislation.
The editorial asserts that under the Mitchell and Gephardt bills, a Medicare prescription-drug benefit would reduce access. The fact is that a Medicare drug benefit will undoubtedly improve access to needed medications for millions of older Americans. Nearly half of all those age 65 and older have no insurance coverage for prescription drugs. Many of those fortunate enough to have coverage are finding themselves vulnerable as their former employers cut back on retiree health benefits.
Your editorial insinuates that AARP's support for health-care reform is guided by an interest in federal grants. This is patently wrong. AARP administers $86 million in grant money from the federal government and other grant programs. This money underwrites the Senior Environmental Employment Program and the Senior Community Service Employment Program and other projects that assist older Americans such as legal services, tax counseling and health promotion. All grant funds go directly to cover the costs of the programs that AARP administers and do not in any way directly benefit the association.
AARP remains committed to real health-care reform that provides universal coverage and comprehensive benefits, controls costs system-wide, strengthens Medicare and is fairly financed.
HORACE B. DEETS
Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 1994 by CNB