Congressman Cohen Receives an "A" Rating from American Geriatrics Society

A non-profit organization of more than 6,500 healthcare professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of older people, AGS rates Congressional members' elder healthcare voting records. The Society issued its first report card for the 110th Congress in November 2007. The most recent report card, updated to include several key votes on Medicare and other critical healthcare legislation this year, is accessible at https://www.americangeriatrics.org/policy/ags_congressional_report_card110thcongress.shtml.

“I am proud to have consistently supported legislation aimed at addressing growing nationwide shortages of geriatricians – physicians with advanced training in meeting older adults' unique healthcare needs – and other geriatrics healthcare professionals,” said Congressman Cohen. “The population of older Americans is expected to nearly double in the next two decades, to 70 million, while the number of geriatricians practicing in the US is expected to stay flat. This is a very serious issue and I will continue to work with organizations like the American Geriatrics Society to ensure that seniors’ unique health care needs are met in the future.”

This April, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report warning that the nation's healthcare workforce was too small and unprepared to care for the rapidly growing number of older Americans. The report urged sweeping changes to avert this looming healthcare crisis, calling, among other things, for state and federal governments to offer loan forgiveness, scholarships and other financing incentives to professionals who specialize in geriatrics.

Congressman Cohen has also advocated for increased funding for the National Institute on Aging, to support aging research, as well as for critical legislation promoting coordinated care for seniors with chronic illnesses, an approach shown to improve both care quality and cost-effectiveness. The April IOM report urged public and private payers to promote services such as care coordination, which currently are not covered.

Key elder healthcare legislation proposed and cosponsored by these legislators has included:

The Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 (S. 2708/H.R. 6337): Introduced by Sen. Boxer and Rep. Kilpatrick and cosponsored by several of their Senate and House colleagues, this legislation would make physicians, physician assistants, advance practice nurses, psychologists, registered nurses and social workers who complete specialty training in geriatrics or gerontology -- and agree to provide care for older adults -- eligible for loan forgiveness. The bill would also expand career opportunities for nursing and direct care workers by offering specialty training in long-term care.

The Geriatrician Loan Forgiveness Act of 2007 (H.R. 2502): Introduced by Rep. DeLauro, this bill calls for extending the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program to include geriatrics training. It would forgive $35,000 of educational debt medical students incur for each year of advanced training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry they complete.

The Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination Act (S. 1340/H.R. 2244): Introduced by Sen. Lincoln and Rep. Green and colleagues in the Senate and House, this act would fill a gap in traditional Medicare by covering geriatric assessment and care coordination for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Research suggests that providing such patients with a comprehensive geriatric assessment and coordinated care can both improve quality and lower costs. Roughly 20% of Medicare beneficiaries have five or more chronic conditions, and account for about 70% of Medicare spending.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265

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ABOUT THE FHA

In 1999, the American Geriatrics Society reached beyond its traditional role as a professional medical society and launched the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA). The FHA aims to build a bridge between geriatrics health care professionals and the public, and advocate on behalf of older adults and their special needs: wellness and preventive care, self-responsibility and independence, and connections to family and community. The FHA champions initiatives in public education, clinical research, and public policy that advance the principles and practice of geriatrics medicine; educate policy makers and the public on the health care needs and concerns of older adults; support aging research that reduces disability and frailty, and improves quality of life and health outcomes; encourage older adults to be effective advocates for their own health care; and help family members and caregivers take better care of their older loved ones and themselves.

ABOUT THE AGS

Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (www.americangeriatrics.org) is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. The Society supports this mission through activities in clinical practice, professional and public education, research, and public policy. With an active membership of over 6,500 health care professionals, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies, and practices in geriatric medicine.