In This Issue

A Message from the State President

AARP Launches Campaign to Demand Health Care Reform in California

Health Care Reform Tops AARP Agenda

California Commits to “Quality, Affordable Health Care Now!”

Personal Stories Illustrate Health Insurance Crisis

‘Diversity and Aging in the 21st Century' Continues Important Dialogue

To Serve, Not to be Served

Dr. Paul Smith Recognized for Work on CalRHIO

California Elder Abuse Conference Builds Relationships Nationwide

AARP California Draws 1,000 Attendees to Conference on Aging

San Diegans Educated to Avoid Consumer Fraud

Performing Arts Program Benefits from Andrus Legacy Award

CA Focus is written, compiled, and edited by the AARP California Communications Team.

Executive Editor:
Mark Beach

Contributing Writers:
Charee Gillins
Ericka Lozano
Christina Clem

July 2007

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Welcome to the Latest Edition of CA Focus, AARP California’s electronic newsletter for volunteers, members, and friends.

Here you’ll find the latest news and information on AARP activities and priorities, including many ‘hyperlinks’ that will take you to websites containing additional information and resources. When you click on text that looks like this, your web browser will take you to a site or document containing more information on that topic.

We also encourage you to visit the AARP California website at www.aarp.org/ca, where you’ll find lots of great information and resources, and where we will soon be launching an electronic calendar that will provide up-to-date information on AARP events and activities in your area.

As always, if you have a story idea or would like to give feedback, please e-mail us at cafocus@aarp.org. If you have received this edition of CA Focus from a friend, you can sign up to receive it automatically by clicking here. If you currently receive CA Focus and would prefer not to receive it, you may click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of this e-mail.

A Message from the State President
There are few activities more gratifying to an activist volunteer than interacting with legislators and their staff during our high-profile health care reform campaign. In early May, Executive Council Member Lavada DeSalles, Community Action Leader Dan Herlinger and I walked the halls of the State Capitol and presented AARP’s Quality, Affordable Health Care Now message to legislators and their staff.

Over a two-week period, we spoke to 120 senior staff members responsible for health care legislation. In most instances the response was positive.It was satisfying to hear, “Yes, we need to give this issue high priority and get something done this year. Thank you for keeping the issue alive.”
Full Story

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AARP Launches Campaign to Achieve Health Care Reform

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined AARP CEO Bill Novelli on April 30 at the Pasadena Convention Center for the first of a series of AARP forums on California health care reform.

At the event, Novelli announced the launch of a statewide campaign in California, which will last throughout the legislative session. The campaign will include television, radio, online, and print advertising as well as grass roots advocacy. To view the television spot, go to www.aarp.org/ca.
Full Story

Not surprisingly, California’s AARP members cite adequate health insurance as their top concern. AARP members 65-plus are fortunate to have the security of Medicare,  but people between the ages of 50 and 64 have far less confidence that they will have the health care they need when they need it.

Losing health care coverage at any age can spell disaster, but it is especially problematic in mid-life. Many who do not have employer-sponsored coverage find it impossible to buy affordable health insurance. Insurance companies can either refuse to sell a person health insurance because of medical history, or they can simply set a premium so high that it is unaffordable. People 50 and older are much more likely than younger people to have a medical condition that causes health insurers to deny them coverage.
Full Story

Personal Stories Illustrate Health Insurance Crisis

Insurance Disappears
Realtor Marcy Garber-Carter, 62, of Sherman Oaks has survived breast cancer — twice. She has great faith in her team of doctors and believes they have helped her survive and thrive.

But one day a few months ago her health insurance disappeared. For 15 years she had paid for medical insurance as part of the California Association of Realtors group plan. But when the realtors didn’t meet their quota for the number of members enrolled, Garber-Carter, along with 8,000 other realtors and their families, lost her health coverage.
Full Story

Coverage Denied
At age 26, Kathryn Bowns is not yet an AARP member, but she is participating in the organization’s efforts to enact health care reform in California this year. For the past 10 years, Bowns has been dealing with a chronic, arthritis-like condition, for which she takes daily medication. Even though her condition is kept under control by the medication, she has not been able to qualify for health care coverage since her student days at the University of California.
Full Story

Policy Cancelled
Los Angeles native Eleanor Higgins, 63, worked her entire career in education and paid for health insurance. When she retired, she signed up for COBRA, but one month she overlooked her payment. When she realized what happened, she immediately sent the payment in, but it was too late.

The insurance company she had been with for 15 years simply dropped her with no warning. Higgins was told that because she has asthma she would not be eligible for coverage. She was stunned.
Full Story

Local Television Stations Capture AARP and the San Diego Disability Action Coalition March for Quality Affordable Health Care

‘Diversity and Aging in the 21st Century'
Continues Important Dialogue
June 19 – 21, AARP hosted its first Diversity and Aging conference in Los Angeles, Calif., organized by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion with support from national and state partners.

More than 900 individuals from across the nation came together to address challenges facing diverse populations as they age. As a follow-up to AARP’s Diversity Summit last fall, which convened a more intimate group of thought leaders in the fields of diversity and aging, this conference broadened stakeholder participation. It also offered a deeper, solutions-oriented dive into the some of the prevailing issues--unique and shared-- among diverse, aging populations.
Full Story

To Serve, Not to be Served
Like clockwork, in the second week of May, AARP staff and volunteers gather across the nation to bring service and assistance to their surrounding communities.  During the 2007 AARP Day of Service, California staff, state and chapter volunteers, and AARP Board Members worked on a variety of service projects throughout the state.  At local community food banks in Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield and Los Angeles staff and volunteers prepared more than 6,000 bags of food to feed low income seniors and families.  Hundreds of volunteers gave to this project, preparing enough food to feed 115 families for an entire year.
Full Story

Dr. Paul Smith Recognized for Work on CalRHIO
During any health emergency, time is of the essence and access to an individual’s medical history is vital to proper care. Because of his decades in medical practice, AARP asked Dr. Paul Smith to be its representative on the California Regional Health Information Organization (CalRHIO). The state formed CalRHIO to improve physician access to individual health records by using information technology like the internet. Dr. Smith offered his experience and expertise as California explores new ways to provide timely patient information to physicians, information which would have the benefit of improving the quality of health care. According to Dr. Smith, by providing information online, California reduces costs by avoiding duplicate tests and treatments which in turn reduces the need for return doctor visits. While the advantages are apparent, it is no surprise that consumers are wary that their private information could be readily available to an entire industry. As the voice of the consumer, Dr. Smith, along with other project members provided several suggestions to protect consumer identity and privacy before instituting such a widespread change in the transfer and access to information. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently commended AARP’s and Dr. Smith’s efforts in a letter of recognition that read, “Your efforts will strengthen California’s ability to provide safe, secure and timely medical information.”

California Elder Abuse Conference
Builds Relationships Nationwide
In early May, more than 400 attendees of the Attorney General's Elder and Financial Abuse Conference got a glimpse of AARP’s power through its partnerships and programs.  Law enforcement, prosecutors, ombudsmen, adult protective services and social workers at the Bay Area conference received information on AARP's state and national partnerships from consumer fraud education to legislation and litigation.  AARP California has been a sponsor of this conference since its inception in 2001.  At the 2007 conference, AARP expanded its presence adding a workshop on partnerships presented by Julia Stephens, AARP Foundation National Program Director and Michael Moreno AARP California Associate State Director for Advocacy.  Seventy agency representatives received information on Elder Watch, the National Legal Training Project and AARP's Consumer Protection Kit. In addition to the workshop, AARP also participated in a “hot topic” panel exploring the challenges surrounding guardian conservatorship issues.  Naomi Karp, Strategic Policy Advisor for the Public Policy Institute gave a national perspective of best practices used around the country to protect some of the most vulnerable citizens.  Her findings were taken from a two year AARP review of guardianship rules and regulations across the states.  AARP’s visibility at the conference has spurred many requests fo partnerships across the nation.

AARP California Draws 1,000 Attendees
to Conference on Aging
Nearly 1,000 AARP members and Southern California residents attended the 2007 Conference on Aging in Pasadena on April 16.  The conference featured many informative workshops which covered a wide variety of subjects important to seniors including Healthy Aging, Financial Security, Benefit Updates, Staying Connected and Dating after 50. Keynote Speaker Dolores Huerta, the cofounder of the United Farm Workers of America, reflected on the nation’s failing health care system and the need for affordable healthcare for all.  She emphasized the importance of a strong grassroots movement to create change.  Volunteers from AARP’s “Divided We Fail” campaign booth handed out pledge cards for attendees to sign and nearly 200 cards were collected.  Personal stories from some attendees were recorded on tape and video.  AARP worked in collaboration with the Pasadena Senior Commission and Pasadena Senior Center to provide a one-stop shop for practical information and resources for Pasadena’s older residents.

San Diegans Educated to Avoid Consumer Fraud
In late May, more than 1000 San Diegans walked away from Consumer Protection Day armed with information to combat consumer fraud.  The event, now in its third year, was held at the Town and Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center.  This event, co-sponsored by AARP, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Pam Slater-Price and San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, as well as others, featured more than 50 exhibitors from various non-profit organizations and law enforcement agencies.  AARP member Bob Grosnoff served as the keynote speaker with a presentation based on his expert knowledge of investment fraud issues.  Local radio broadcast a live interview with Mr. Grosnoff from the event floor.  For the first time, live streaming was available on the district attorney’s website for those unable to attend the conference in person. Thirty AARP volunteers managed the registration table, traffic direction and the AARP booth, which featured information on the Divided We Fail Campaign.  Pre-event media included segments on KPBS and KOGO.  English and Spanish language media were both present and Associate State Director Maxine Fischer gave AARP’s perspective during a KUSI interview.