AGS' Second Annual Public Policy Meeting Charts Strategy For Continued Progress in 2008

During AGS' two-day public policy meeting in January, the Society's leadership, staff, and Washington consultants reviewed AGS' progress toward its public policy goals in 2007, including its efforts on behalf of Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program funding; adequate Medicare payments to physicians and other geriatrics healthcare professionals; and the proposed Geriatric Assessment and Chronic Care Coordination (GACCC) Act. [See related story]

AGS leaders also discussed the Society's public policy priorities for 2008. In general, AGS should focus on policy advocacy designed to strengthen preventive health services, primary care and care coordination; support the recruitment and education of healthcare professionals employing the principles of geriatrics; encourage and fund research into elder health, by, among other things, including more older adults in clinical trials. Advocating for policy that supports seniors and caregivers so they can, for example, make more informed decisions, should also be a priority; as should advocacy on behalf of quality and pay-for-performance programs appropriate to the care of older people, the leadership agreed.

In addition to continuing specific policy initiatives aimed at achieving these goals - including advocacy on behalf of the GACCC Act, a Medicare demonstration project based on the Act, continuation of Title VII funding, and for Congressional action blocking a 10% Medicare physician pay cut that could otherwise take effect after June 30 - the leadership recommended that the Society invest in additional initiatives this year. These include stepping up efforts to build relationships with policymakers and likeminded organizations; ensuring that the presidential candidates are familiar with issues central to providing quality elder healthcare; and helping disseminate and support recommendations from the soon-to-be-released Institute of Medicine report on the geriatrics workforce and healthcare in the 21st century.

Look for updates on AGS' policy advocacy work in the Society's weekly email list serv and in future issues of AGS News.