September 25, 2020
AARP has published a list of five top legislative issues that we wish to bring to your attention. VaCCRA’s (Virginia Continuing Care Residents Association) leadership team encourages you to contact your representatives about upcoming legislation important to you. The 116th United States Congress convened on January 3, 2019, and will conclude on January 3, 2021. The 117th Congress is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 2021 to January 3, 2023. Talking points are included under each key issues. Contact information for your congressional representatives follows at the end of this document.
“Where AARP Stands “
from AARP Bulletin, September 2020
1. Medicare
- Make sure benefits are affordable, including premiums and cost sharing.
- Ensure that all people with Medicare have access to enough qualified health care providers.
- Sustain Medicare for the future by cracking down on waste and fraud.
2. Prescription Drugs
- Allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.
- Allow for the importation of drugs.
- Increase price transparency.
- Speed generic drugs to market.
3. Social Security
- Reforms should ensure adequate benefits for those most reliant on Social Security and those who would have trouble postponing retirement.
- Social Security should be financed and protected not only for current retirees, but also for generations of Americans to come.
- Social Security is a benefit that Americans earn during their working lives, and the program should be financed to ensure long-term adequacy and solvency.
4. Long-Term Care
- Congress and state lawmakers should require adequate staffing, regular coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment for residents and staff in long-term care facilities.
- Make virtual visitation an option for communication between families and residents, even after in-person visits resume.
- Reject proposals to grant blanket immunity related to COVID-19 for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
- Make it easier for older Americans to age in their homes and communities, and provide greater support to family caregivers.
5. The Economy
- Congress should extend emergency unemployment benefits until the pandemic’s economic effects end.
- Federal & state lawmakers should require paid sick & family leave benefits for all workers.
- State & federal lawmakers should provide more support, including tax credits, to family caregivers.
- Employers should be monitored & held accountable for discriminating against older workers when hiring picks up.
Thank you in advance for your support of these issues,
Penny Jez, Ph.D.
President, VaCCRA
Established in 2002, VACCRA is the only statewide educational and advocacy organization (500+ paid members) whose mission it is to promote, protect, empower and better the lives of residents through the exchange of information with other CCRCs in Virginia, other CCRC resident associations among the states and in partnership with NaCCRA (National Continuing Care Residents’ Association) representing the voices of Virginia’s CCRC residents in matters of public policy before state and federal regulators and legislators.