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Advocates Tell Candidates to Provide Quality Health Care Coverage Now
Alexandria, VA May 22, 2007The chief executives of AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association led rallies today in support of quality health care for all Americans in four states with an early presidential primary or caucus.
At simultaneous events in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, the groups’ advocates called attention to America’s health care crisis and directed a critical question to every American -- “Are You Covered?”
Advocates in Iowa and New Hampshire boarded buses to visit all the presidential campaign offices in Des Moines and Manchester. They delivered a set of principles for quality health care. Volunteers in Nevada and South Carolina received grassroots training in preparation for raising the issue of access to care at candidate events and other public forums leading up to the 2008 elections.
The groups also issued a joint set of fundamental goals for quality health care:
• Quality health care for all – All Americans deserve effective prevention, treatment and care;
• Health care that’s affordable – Getting the health care we need should not bankrupt individuals, families, businesses or society;
• Health care without the “red tape” – All Americans deserve a health care system that provides clear, up-front explanations of costs and benefits, provides the best value for their dollar, and eliminates unnecessary paperwork;
• Health care when and where people need it – All Americans, regardless of their health, deserve adequate coverage that gives them the best available treatment and care in appropriate settings through all life stages and levels of disability.
Through their nonpartisan efforts, the groups intend to increase public awareness about the importance of access to health care and to encourage candidates to address the issues.
“Preventing cardiovascular disease requires routine medical care that many Americans simply cannot afford,” said M. Cass Wheeler, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Quality and affordable health care shouldn’t be a pipe dream for young and old. As the childhood obesity epidemic worsens and the baby boom generation ages, heart disease and stroke deaths will skyrocket if we don’t make health care for all a national priority.”
“The number of Americans living with diabetes has risen at an alarming rate in recent years, and millions of them don't have access to the affordable and quality health care needed to successfully manage the disease and prevent its complications,” said Michael Farley, interim CEO of the American Diabetes Association. “We hope that through our collective efforts, public officials understand they can no longer overlook the needs of the millions of Americans at risk for or living with diabetes and other chronic diseases.”
“Our biggest obstacle to eliminating the threat of cancer is not scientific discovery – it is the lack of access to quality cancer care,” said John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., CEO of ACS CAN and its sister charitable organization, the American Cancer Society. “ACS CAN and our partners are working to ensure that the country improves access to care so we can make enormous strides against the deadliest chronic diseases.”
“Affordable, quality health and long term care is a very important issue to the more than five million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “All who have Alzheimer’s are vulnerable to the high costs of long term care and for the 200,000 or more under age 65 with Early Onset Alzheimer’s, many are without health insurance, too. The Alzheimer’s Association is pleased to be a part of this coalition to ensure Presidential candidates address these issues.”
“I’m excited to see the power of the patient groups joined with the power of AARP as we work to give all Americans access to quality, affordable health care,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli. “Our national health care crisis cannot be solved with rhetoric – the time for action is now and with this alliance working together we can begin to solve this crisis.”
The groups will be providing additional advocacy training to their volunteer advocates, who will be attending candidate events to ensure that the issue of access to care holds a prominent place in the public debate leading up to the 2008 elections.
The groups also will be holding public issue forums over the summer to further emphasize the importance of giving all Americans access to quality care.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, www.aarp.org. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN conducts issue campaigns and voter education efforts that encourage lawmakers and candidates to support laws and policies that will help people fight cancer. ACS CAN is building a grassroots army of cancer advocates throughout the country whose mission is to make the fight against cancer a top national priority. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association’s advocacy efforts include helping to combat discrimination against people with diabetes; advocating for the increase of federal diabetes research and programs; and improved access to, and quality of, healthcare for people with diabetes. The Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides service to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim over 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2005–06 the association invested over $543 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.
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The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
