Topic: AARP

AARP disappointed by Senate’s vote to block protection of access to Medicare doctors

October 21, 2009 |

S. 1776 would have preserved access by replacing flawed payment system

Today the U.S. Senate blocked critical  legislation to protect access to doctors for the 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare.  The Medicare Physician Fairness Act (S. 1776) would have replaced today’s broken doctor payment system, which calls for a 21.5 percent cut in physician pay in January.  The bill failed to pass a key procedural vote in the Senate today.

“While we are disappointed by today’s outcome, we applaud those senators casting a yes vote for voting to preserve access to doctors in Medicare and bring this bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote,” said AARP Tennessee Advocacy Director Patrick Willard.  “This critical legislation would have helped the millions of older Americans in Medicare have access to the doctor of their choice by replacing the flawed doctor payment system.  We look forward to continuing to work with Senators Alexander and Corker and their colleagues to pass health care reform that protects Medicare and ensures older Americans can afford quality health care.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 1 Comment »

Safety partners sign plan to reduce traffic deaths in Tennessee

September 30, 2009 |

Agencies Announce New Coalition Program to Assist Senior Drivers

Nashville – Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely joined representatives from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, Department of Safety, Department of Health, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AARP, AAA Auto Club South, and a number of other highway safety partners to sign a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan for Tennessee on Wednesday, September 30. The goal of the new plan is to reduce the number of fatalities in Tennessee by 10% by 2012.

“Working together, we have the ability to make dramatic strides in making Tennessee’s roads safer,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “As a major partner in this effort, TDOT is increasing its focus on implementing improvements that can make roadways safer, like cable barrier rail, high visibility pavement markings, and improved directional signs.”

Officials from TDOT, Department of Safety, Governor's Highway Safety Office, Department of Health, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, AARP, AAA Auto Club South, Walk/Bike Nashville and several other key safety partners pause after signing the new Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

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Sections: News | No Comments

AARP Members hear from John Tanner about Health Care Reform

August 24, 2009 |

Rep. John Tanner Fields Calls During AARP Tennessee’s 1st Tele-town Hall

Jackson – During AARP Tennessee’s first tele-town hall, thousands of AARP members who live in Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District got the chance to hear directly from their congressman, U.S. Rep. John Tanner, about what’s happening with health care reform legislation.

Congressman John Tanner

“I believe the guiding principle in this debate should be this: We need to fix the parts of the health care system that are broken and keep the parts that work,” said Tanner, who plays a key role in the debate as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, during the hour-long call on Monday August 17th. “Make health care available for those [who don’t have coverage] and achieve these goals in a responsible way.”

The AARP has not endorsed any of the comprehensive bills pending before Congress but is working hard with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle to ensure that any legislation that is passed strengthens and improves Medicare, protects our health care choices, ends discrimination by insurance companies and guarantees stable affordable coverage for all Americans. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

AARP’s quality first agenda makes major strides

June 20, 2009 |

2009 Legislative Session Ends With New Choices for Care

NASHVILLE – During the 2009 legislative session, state lawmakers agreed with AARP’s members and volunteers that Tennesseans need quality first in our long-term care system and that we deserve “more choices for care,” AARP Tennessee State Director Rebecca Kelly said.

During the waning days of the session, the Legislature unanimously approved The Adult Care Homes Act, a bill endorsed by AARP that creates a new housing option for people who receive long-term care services but don’t want to live in large nursing homes.

“This is major progress in AARP’s decade-long effort to provide options in a state that ranks last in the nation in home and community-based alternatives,” Kelly said.

“It’s fitting that one year after Gov. Phil Bredesen signed the `Long-Term Care Community Choices Act,’ lawmakers gave us a new choice that allows us to remain in our communities when we cannot stay in our homes,”  she said. “AARP looks forward to working with legislators next year to create more of these choices for care.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Senate unanimously approves Adult Care Homes bill

June 17, 2009 |

364 Days After Bredesen Signs Choices Act, Legislature sends him a Bill Giving Tennesseans a Real New Choice for Housing

NASHVILLE – Nearly one year to the day after Gov. Phil Bredesen signed into law the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act, the Tennessee Legislature is sending him a bill that creates a housing option – adult care homes – that really provide Tennesseans with a new choice.

The Tennessee Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that authorizes adult care homes, small residences operated for two to five people. The 31-0 vote sends the bill, which was approved unanimously by the House last week, to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his signature. The legislation is part of the governor’s 2009 legislative package.

The Adult Care Homes Act was sponsored by Sens. Lowe Finney, Jim Kyle and Charlotte Burks.  In the House, the bill had more than 50 co-sponsors, including Speaker Kent Williams, Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry and Rep. Dennis Ferguson, who chairs the Legislature’s Long-Term Care Committee. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

House unanimously approves adult care home bill

June 13, 2009 |

AARP Calls on Senate to Create Needed Housing Option to give Tennesseans Choice

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation Thursday that authorizes adult care homes, creating a new and needed housing option for Tennesseans who receive long-term care services. AARP encourages the Tennessee Senate to quickly approve the bill, sending it to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his signature. The legislation is part of the governor’s 2009 legislative package.

House Speaker Kent Williams, House Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry and Rep. Dennis Ferguson, who chairs the Legislature’s Long-Term Care Committee, all spoke in favor of the Adult Care Homes Act, which was approved 94-0 and now has more than 50 House co-sponsors. The three legislative leaders were among a group of lawmakers, state officials and other long-term care advocates who toured similar adult care foster homes in Oregon last year. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

H.O.P.E. holds Woman’s Health Conference

By Bill Larson | June 2, 2009 |

The Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education sponsored their second annual Women’s Health Conference at the Riverview Inn on Saturday, to close out the National Women’s Health Week.

The primary goal of the conference is to help minority and low income women with self esteem issues, and to instill in women the knowledge that they are not alone, that other people are out there willing to help them.

Denise Thomas giving a presentation on proper dress

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments

APSU Extended Ed announces new online seminar for older job seekers

May 9, 2009 |

The Austin Peay State University Center for Extended and Distance Education will launch a new course for those older than 50 years of age and considering a new career.

The new course, titled Make Age an Asset in Your Job Search, is a six-week seminar that will begin May 20. New sections will be offered beginning the third Wednesday of each month after that. Provided in a convenient, fully online format, the course costs $49. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education | No Comments

Will uncontrolled debt be the downfall of America? I.O.U.S.A. may have the answer

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 22, 2008 |

The audience was small but enthusiastic at Opry Mills 20 in Nashville last night for the national premiere of I.O.U.S.A. and a live panel broadcast that put the opinions and experience of five fiscal leader in the line of fire from the public.

For one night only, both Opry Mills and Nashville’s Green Hills cinemas screened what can only be described as a new kind of horror film, I.O.U.S.A., a Sundance award-winning documentary on the state of the nation’s finances. The picture isn’t pretty.

The film itself is a medley of old political footage, newly taped events, lots of graphics and a occasionally irritating hand held cam in need of a steadier ride. Its opening is an eclectic selection of former Presidents, and current President George W. Bush, making statements about how we must get the economy (read: out of control spending) under control. From Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, the first G. Bush, Clinton and the current White occupant, we hear the same noise. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Business, Education, News, Opinion | 2 Comments

AARP: A resource for seniors, ‘boomers

By Rev. Charles Moreland | June 22, 2008 |

AARP (American Association of retired Persons) is a national organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens. Clarksville has a dynamic AARP chapter where an enthusiastic groups of people age 50 and meet socially and serve the community with a variety of social actions.

AARP is political but non-partisan, and wields considerable influence on state and federal legislation, serving as the voice of their demographics. They do so without endorsing specific candidates and they remain issue oriented.

To educate and inform their membership. AARP publishes a monthly magazine with the largest circulation in America. the March/April edition got my attention with the cover photo of a smiling Jack Nicholson, one of the outstanding actors of our generation.

Besides an insightful article on him, the magazine from cover to cover offers articles with practical information. Two articles in particular that apply to many of us involve dealing with stress: “Riding Out a Recession” and “Finding Faith” (a search for spiritual peace). «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Events, Opinion | 1 Comment »

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