Neil's Notebook Neil discusses healthcare with thousands of AARP Hawaii members
September 1, 2009
Neil and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono of Hawaii participated in a town hall meeting—hosted by AARP Hawaii via telephone—to discuss health care reform with thousands of retirees from across Hawaii on Tuesday.
AARP Hawaii sponsored the one-hour "tele-town" hall meeting from its Honolulu office to give its members a chance to hear first-hand the details of health care reform solutions being discussed in Congress, and to ask their representatives how the proposed legislation will affect them.
Hosting the call was AARP Hawaii State Director Barbara Kim Stanton. Joining the call from Washington, D.C. was Paul Cotton, AARP senior legislative representative for federal affairs.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and older. Health care reform bills being considered in Congress include proposals to strengthen and improve Medicare by closing the Part D ‘doughnut hole’ and ensuring that doctors are paid fairly so they will continue to see Medicare patients.
In 2007, 36 percent of Hawaii residents enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug program fell into the coverage gap – the highest percentage in the country. That left about 33,000 beneficiaries on the hook for 100 percent of their drug costs, while still paying premiums.
