AARP Launches Campaign To Lobby Against Medicare Premium Increases

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 30 May 2008 - 11:00 PDT

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AARP has launched a multimillion dollar campaign called "Keep Medicare Fair" to lobby Congress to eliminate Medicare premium increases from a bill proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.), The Politico reports. The bill would fund the delay of a scheduled 10.6% cut to Medicare physician payments by increasing Medicare beneficiaries' premiums. AARP is "gravely disappointed" with the outlines of the bill, but it "is optimistic that the bill being crafted over the Memorial Day recess will include protections to people in Medicare," according to AARP spokesperson Drew Nannis.

AARP state organizations will lobby in all 50 states and hold issue briefings, call-to-action forums and meetings with newspaper editorial boards. Constituents also will hold meetings with lawmakers and staff and will make less formal visits to lawmakers. "We're not going to leave any senator out as we strive to ensure that the final vote is in the best interest of the people on Medicare," Nannis said.

In addition, a television and online advertising campaign that began in April will continue through June 8. AARP members have sent nearly 141,000 e-mails and have made more than 26,000 phone calls to senators. About 324,000 members have signed petitions urging Congress to reject the premium increase. AARP also released a survey that showed 81% of adults ages 50 and older believe it is unfair to raise Medicare premiums above normal annual increases. According to the poll, two-thirds said they would be less likely to vote for lawmakers who vote to approve additional premium increases (Frates, The Politico, 5/26).

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