Advocacy

It’s well known that prescription drug prices are skyrocketing in America. Price increases for brand name drugs have far exceeded the rate of inflation since at least 2006, according to AARP’s Rx Price Watch report.

A new law aims to protect older adults at risk of abuse and neglect by requiring assisted living facilities to be licensed starting in 2021.

New Protections to Prevent Elder Abuse Become Law

On Saturday, May 19, the Minnesota House and Senate passed legislation strengthening protections for older and vulnerable adults in long-term care residential facilities. Currently the only state to not license assisted living facilities, Minnesota's Department of Health receives approximately 400 cases of abuse and neglect every week. The bill passed earlier this week (HF90/SF8) seeks to address this critical problem.

This week, AARP and consumer advocates claimed victory after coming to consensus with the long-term care industry on a bill to prevent elder abuse. More than two years ago, a Star Tribune series, Left to Suffer, unveiled a broken regulatory system that left many older and vulnerable adults at risk for abuse and neglect. Minnesota is the only state in the country that does not license assisted living facilities. Reports of elder abuse, uncovered more than 2 years ago, continue with the Minnesota Department of Health receiving approximately 400 cases of abuse and neglect every week.

Right now, Americans are paying the highest prescription drug prices in the world - often double what other countries pay for the same medicine millions of people depend on. Too many Americans are choosing between filing a prescription or buying groceries.

Minnesotans Can't Wait One More Year!

Voters age 50 and older were the deciding factor in last year’s midterm elections, according to the National Election Pool Exit Poll results. The findings confirmed that 50-plus voters made up the majority of voters 64% in Minnesota, and Candidates who ignored older voters, Minnesota’s most powerful voting group, paid a price on Election Day.

As the year begins, AARP Minnesota is seeking advocacy volunteers to help bring the voices of older Minnesotans to St. Paul in order to provide their perspective on important issues such as elder abuse, prescription drug costs and support for family caregivers.

By Pamela Schmid