AARP Georgia to hold town hall on health reform

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The AARP Georgia, already catching flak from some members for its support of President Barack Obama’s health care initiative, will hold a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. to noon today at the Collar Community Center, 2625 Joe Jerkins Blvd. in Austell.

U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) is scheduled to speak. The event is only open to AARP members who live in Scott’s district, the 13th Congressional District, and received an e-mail invitation.

“There’s a fair amount of misinformation” about reform, said William F. Brown, the advocacy campaign manager of AARP’s Southeast Region. “We want to give our members an opportunity to learn what we’re fighting for. ... A lot of people just see this through a political prism.”

Brown said the organization’s priorities include closing the holes in prescription drug coverage and getting affordable coverage for people between the ages of 50 and 64.

The national AARP, which has 40 million members, advocates on behalf of older Americans, supports changes in health care although it has not endorsed a specific plan. But the organization’s stance has put it in a precarious position with some members.

Between July 1 and mid-August, AARP nationally lost about 60,000 members. But during that same period, spokesman Drew Nannis said, it brought in 1.8 million new members.

Standing in the wings is the Georgia-based American Seniors Association, which bills itself as the conservative alternative to AARP. The ASA offered a two-for-one yearly membership to AARP members who sent in their AARP cards — in pieces.

“Our position is that we certainly need health care reform, but we do not support these bills” that the group feels will limit patient choice and “attack Medicare,” among other things, ASA President Stuart Barton said.