Socail Security Safety Blanket

Campaign for America's Future manager@ourfuture.org via bounces.salsalabs.net	9:42 AM (11 hours ago)
to me

Friend: This generation's chance to build Social Security is here. Where are you? Friend: The middle class is shrinking and our private pension system is failing. But we still have Social Security, right? Sort of. If you or someone you love relies on their earned benefits, you know how difficult it is to maintain a decent standard of living on Social Security. We can do better. Senator Tom Harkin has introduced a bill that says no to those who want to cut Social Security — and actually increases benefits by several hundred dollars a year. That may not seem like much, but for many Americans that's the difference between independence and poverty. Click here to tell Congress: Don't cut Social Security benefits; increase them! This bill won't harm the deficit. It pays for itself by making the wealthy pay the same Social Security tax rate as you and I. It's fair, modest and will actually build the trust fund. Take a few seconds out of your day and tell Congress to pass this important reform. Sincerely, Roger Hickey Co-Director, Campaign for America's Future

At the top of AARP Massachusetts’ state legislative agenda, protecting:

•Home care
•Adult Day Health Services
•Nursing Home Leaves of Absence, often called the “bed hold”
 •Elder protective services, including the Money Management Program
•Prescription Advantage, the state’s pharmacy assistance program that works in tandem with Medicare Part D
 •Elder Nutrition Program
•Health care reform affordability and quality measures
•Councils on Aging and Seniors Centers

Access to health care “a basic human right

Signs everywhere that hospital systems, specialty medical societies, patient safety programs, health insurers, employers, labor unions and various states are already taking steps to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care. There is still plenty of room for savings in a complex system where 20 percent to 30 percent of all health spending — or more than $1 trillion a year — may be “waste” that does nothing to help patients.

People are totally ready to get behind (Obama

After Obama's election, many Democrats said they falsely assumed that winning the White House would help them pass an agenda that would assist middle-class families. Instead, they were dismayed when Obama ditched a proposed "public option" for a government insurance plan from the health care overhaul and cringed when he cut a deal with Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts.

During the summer, the left argued that Obama gave up too much in spending cuts during the debt-ceiling fight and couldn't force Republicans to accept higher taxes on the wealthy in return.

"People are totally ready to get behind (Obama), but I think what they're not ready to give anybody is the benefit of the doubt that if we win an election and we all go home, things are going to change," said Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. "That was probably the theory of the Obama election and taking over the House by the Democrats and the Senate as well. I think it was a failed strategy."

So liberal organizations have tried to build a movement, holding hundreds of house meetings across the country and staging protests at town hall meetings held by Republican lawmakers — a tactic that tea party activists used to build opposition to Obama's health care plan.

Conference speakers said Obama's jobs bill could act as a turning point, a sign that the president is taking a more aggressive push to revive the economy and standing firm against deep cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The president has barnstormed the country, rallying support for the $447 billion plan for tax cuts and public works spending to stimulate the economy.

While the plan is unlikely to pass Congress in its entirety, the White House believes Obama's populist approach will build support among the public. And liberals think they've already moved the president.

"Why is the White House talking different? The White House is talking different because we are walking different," said Van Jones, a former Obama policy adviser who helped organize the conference.

Liberals took close note of Obama's discussion of deficit reduction measures and were pleased that he did not seek a gradual increase in the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. Last summer, Obama had agreed to the age increase in negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner before the talks fell apart. Many Democrats objected to the age increases, arguing it would undercut their criticisms of a Republican plan that would overhaul Medicare.

On Social Security, Democrats have railed against plans by Republican presidential hopefuls to partially privatize the retirement system, letting younger workers divert part of their payroll taxes into a personal account to be invested outside of Social Security.

Obama does not face a primary challenge, and Republicans have little chance of picking up support from hard-core Democrats next year. But Obama needs liberals to knock on doors, staff phone banks and register voters — must-do jobs for any candidate's base. Dissatisfied liberals could also stay home on Election Day or refuse to donate money to Obama's campaign.

There are signs of an enthusiasm gap. A recent survey by Gallup found that 45 percent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about the 2012 presidential election than they had been in past elections, while 44 percent said they were less enthusiastic. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans, meanwhile, said they were more enthusiastic about 2012 than in past elections, and 30 percent were less enthusiastic.

Gallup said the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans was the largest it has measured since 2000.

Many hope the American Dream movement can generate enthusiasm for Obama next year.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., told attendees at one session that many of her supporters appeared "beaten down" by the status of the economy and Obama's standing among voters but said liberals needed to bring energy to next year's election.

"We have to set people's hair on fire about what America would look like if Republicans get their way," she said.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Additional Links:

Medicare Cost Control

And here’s what you need to know: Medicare actually saves money — a lot of money — compared with relying on private insurance companies. And this in turn means that pushing people out of Medicare, in addition to depriving many Americans of needed care, would almost surely end up increasing total health care costs.

Medicaid

In recent years Washington has taken an obsolete program, which covers health care for low-income Americans, and made it worse through restrictive rule-making that defies common sense. It is biased toward caring for people in nursing homes rather than in their own homes and neighborhoods. It lacks the flexibility to help patients who require some nursing services, but not round-the-clock care.

ADULT FAMILY CARE PROGRAM

CARING FOR A SICK OR DISABLED RELATIVE ON FRIEND?
The Adult Fan=mily Care Porgram pays family members and friends to provide are at home.
Receive up to $18,000 per year to provide care that prevents or delays Instituional care.
Sick or disabled individual must be 18 years or older and eliglbe for MaasHealth
CARING CHOICES
www.eldercare.org

CALL THE AGING INFORMATION CENTER AND ASK ABOUT ADULT FAMILY CARE
617-628-2601 EXT 3151

ADULT FAMILY CARE PROGRAM

CARING FOR A SICK OR DISABLED RELATIVE ON FRIEND?
The Adult Fan=mily Care Porgram pays family members and friends to provide are at home.
Receive up to $18,000 per year to provide care that prevents or delays Instituional care.
Sick or disabled individual must be 18 years or older and eliglbe for MaasHealth
CARING CHOICES
www.eldercare.org

CALL THE AGING INFORMATION CENTER AND ASK ABOUT ADULT FAMILY CARE
617-628-2601 EXT 3151

Unnessary Hospial Re-Adimissions

A Serious problem we've been hearing about lately is that hospitals are dicharging older patients without any followup or "transitional services.
One out of five Medicare beneficiaries is readmitted within 30 days of discharge and one out every three within 8-90 days--often because of poor communication between patients, care givers and health proveders.
We need a benefit in Medicare to help people safely transision to home or another setting to prevent costly and unecessary hospital readmissions.

Health Care Reform Reconciliation

For all the Republicans’ warnings, they have used reconciliation on some major, controversial legislative packages. These include tax-cut legislation under President George W. Bush and the overhaul in 1996 of the welfare system. In all, Republicans have used the approach 16 times, to 6 for Democrats.

Even with reconciliation, the path for Mr. Obama’s health care overhaul is problematic. It rests largely with two blocs of swing Democrats in the House — abortion opponents and fiscal conservatives.

Home Care For All

Mass Senior Action Council’s goal is Home Care For All – We support the implementation of the Equal Choice law that requires the state to provide long term care in the least restrictive setting. In order to achieve this, MSAC supports the funding of Community First. Community First will diminish the state’s reliance on nursing homes and invests in expanded community services. We support full funding for programs that expand financial eligibility for homecare like the Enhanced Community Options Program (ECOP).

Steps For Success
No More Cuts! Improve Financing for Community-Based Long-Term Care Supports.
· 2008 9c Cuts to home care set the programs back to 1990 levels.
· Restore Home Care Funding to Pre-9c cut levels.
· At least 14 people can receive home care for the cost of 1 person in a nursing home.

Implementation of the Long-Term Care Options Counseling Program
(4000-0600)
· Approximately 120,000 people are admitted to nursing homes each year. 100,000 of these are MassHealth members leaving hospitals.
· There are only 3 pre-admissions screening programs in the State.

Improve Access To Necessary Home and Community-Based Services
· 6 people can participate in the ECOP program for the cost of 1 person in a nursing home.
· Implement Training and Certification of home care workers on a state wide basis.
· Return purchased services to Pre-9c Cut funding.

Home Care Is Most Desired and Cost Less



Two Home Care Programs save the State $335 million annually!!
Both the Enhanced Community Options Program (ECOP) and the Choices Program cost much less than nursing home care. These savings should be reinvested in community-based programs.

Mass Senior Action Council Metro North Chapter

AS a local grass roots senior
run organization we are Committed
To empowering Seniors and Others to act collectively
Promote the rights and well being of all people
Particularly vulnerable Seniors.

GOALS FOR THE YEAR
Utilize resources for family care givers.
Expand senior services to under served neighborhoods
Lead public and private foundations and other non-profits toward the concept of having elder-ready communities.
Be more involved in city, county and community planning processes. Develop a volunteer coordination center. OUR CHAPTER MISSION
The mission of Metro North Chapter MSAC is to respond to the ever-changing needs of seniors and their families
Affect in positive ways their quality of life
Assist in maintaining their independence.
COME JOIN AN OUTFIT WITH THE 11,000 SENIORS IN MALDEN

The Health Care Reform

Lets let the Republicans PUT UP OR SHUT DOWN !!! Pass meaningful
legislation THE HEALTH CARE REFORM UP FOR VOTE
Lets let the Democrats get on with the peoples
business BRING THE
HEALTH CARE REFORM UP FOR A VOTE

The administration seems to fear a threatened
Republican senatorial
filibuster of health care reform. The Democrats
should call the
Republicans’ bluff and bring a reconciled bill
to a vote. It will pass
or be filibustered.

There is no political cost to threatening a
filibuster, but producing
one is a different thing altogether, especially
if it slows down or
stops other important work. The electorate,
which by and large has
never experienced a filibuster, will get a
great civics lesson about
the arcane and outmoded operations of the Senate and may press for
reforms.

Obsessive media attention to the filibuster will illuminate Republican
obstructionism and the importance of health care reform.
--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior