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Friday Alert
Friday, May 16, 2008
(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Advertising, Better Treatments Lead to
Greatest Use of Prescription Drugs
Ever
For the first time, it appears
that more than half of all insured Americans
are taking prescription medicines regularly for
chronic health problems, a new study
shows. Medco Health Solutions Inc., which
manages prescription benefits for about one in
five Americans, issued the report.
According to the research, cited by the
Associated Press, the most widely used drugs
are those to lower high blood pressure and
cholesterol - problems often linked to heart
disease, obesity and diabetes. Three out
of four people 65 or older use medication for a
chronic problem. Experts say the data
reflect not just worsening public health but
better medicines for chronic conditions and
more aggressive treatment by doctors. The
pharmaceutical industry's relentless
advertising is also seen as a major
factor. Medco's data show that last year,
51% of American children and adults were taking
one or more prescription drugs for a chronic
condition, up from 50% the previous four years
and 47% in 2001. The company examined
prescription records from 2001 to 2007 of a
representative sample of 2.5 million customers,
from newborns to the elderly. On the
positive side, researchers have turned what
used to be fatal diseases into chronic ones,
including AIDS, some cancers, and
hemophilia. “If drug companies spent less
on advertising and people were healthier, this
might be good news,” said Edward Coyle,
Executive Director of the Alliance. “But
given today’s advertising totals, this story is
further proof of a drug industry out of
control.”
Drug Companies to Spend Millions
Lobbying at Political Conventions
According to Politico, the pharmaceutical
industry will spend upward of $500,000 lobbying
politicians and skirting the new rules created
by Congress to limit such activity at the
national nominating conventions in Denver and
Minneapolis-St. Paul. While ethics
restrictions prohibit congressional campaign
committees from receiving soft money
contributions, the Democratic and Republican
governors associations are not bound by the
same rules as federal lawmakers and
groups. Capitalizing on this loophole,
drug companies such as Merck and AstraZeneca
are expected to give $250,000 to the
association of each party. Given recent
scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry, the
companies are seeking to spend millions of
dollars to influence politicians outside the
Beltway and draw less negative attention to
themselves. In exchange for their
contributions, drug industry lobbyists and
executives will receive tickets to parties and
other special events where they will have the
opportunity to mingle with elected
officials.
Colorado Alliance Wins Repeal of Local
Grocery Tax
The Colorado Alliance won
a three-month battle Monday night, when the
Lakewood City Council unanimously voted to
eliminate a two-cents-per dollar grocery sales
tax and offset the lost revenue by rescinding a
temporary sales tax waiver given to a local
Wal-Mart and shopping center. The
decision adheres to the recommendations of a
seven-person committee formed in November to
research the issue; Colorado Alliance President
Frank Lay
was appointed by the Mayor to serve on
this panel as a representative of community
seniors. At the same time, the Colorado
Alliance worked with other Lakewood citizens to
mount a petition urging a repeal of the food
tax. “Retirees in Colorado and around the
country are struggling to afford groceries on
fixed incomes,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer
of the Alliance. “This action will help
all the seniors and low-income residents of
Lakewood afford their everyday needs, and sets
an important precedent as the Colorado Alliance
takes their fight to communities across the
state.” To let the national Alliance know
about success stories from your state, email ARAFRIDAYALERT@retiredamericans.org.
Alliance Seniors
Help Rite Aid Workers Win Union Election
In March, two years after they began
organizing to join the International Longshore
and Warehouse Union, workers at Rite Aid’s
distribution center in Lancaster, California
won a National Labor Relations Board
election. Alliance members from Hawaii,
Washington, and Oregon wrote letters of support
and encouragement to the Rite-Aid
workers. They also wrote protest letters
to the company's CEO, responding to reports
that, since March, Rite Aid has fired five
active union supporters, suspended and
disciplined six, and harassed many more.
After overcoming such adversity, the workers in
Lancaster will continue to seek the support of
labor and community allies and Rite Aid
customers - many of whom are seniors - as they
prepare to start bargaining for their first
contract. “I am so proud of our Alliance
members for looking out for their brothers and
sisters. This is yet another example of
lifelong activism,” said George J.
Kourpias, President of the
Alliance.
Not Too Late to File for Economic
Stimulus Rebate Check
Although April
15 has passed, it is not too late to file a tax
return in order to collect your stimulus rebate
check. Up to 20 million Americans who
rely primarily on Social Security income
qualify for a check from the federal
government. Even seniors who do not earn
income through current employment can qualify
for a stimulus check, if their Social Security
benefits, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, and
railroad retirement benefits totaled at least
$3,000 in 2007. In most cases, retirees
will receive an economic stimulus check ranging
from $300 to $600. Seniors need to file a
2007 federal tax return on IRS Form 1040 or
1040A (short form) to receive the check.
Seniors must file a 2007 tax return even if
their income is normally low enough that they
were not required to file in previous
years. Those who qualify for a stimulus
check will receive one by the end of 2008, as
long as they file by October 15, 2008 - but no
rebate checks will be issued after
2008.
Southern Regional Meeting Just Around
the Corner
The Alliance will hold its
fourth and final regional meeting, the Southern
Regional Meeting, on June 4-5, 2008 in Orlando,
Florida. The conference will provide a
forum to work with other activists in the
region to learn how to increase grassroots
advocacy, get seniors and retirees registered
and voting, and educate federal, state and
local legislators on the issues that concern
retirees. For copies of the official
registration form, call 1-888-373-6497, email
Joni Jones at jjones@retiredamericans.org,
or visit our website at www.retiredamericans.org.
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