In announcing Barton as the December winner of the award, 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin praised Barton for his “pro-senior voting record.”

“Congressman Barton has always been someone seniors can count on. He has truly been a man for all seasons. Seniors know that Joe Barton can be depended on,” he said.

Martin cited Barton’s votes to:

• Reform Medicare by giving seniors more choices of coverage, including a voluntary prescription drug benefit
• Repeal the death tax, which hurts small businesses and family farms
• Repeal the Earnings Limit for seniors 65 to 69
• Support the work of the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security
• Oppose taxes on Social Security benefits.

“Congressman Barton deserves credit for voting right whenever an issue important to seniors is before the House. That’s why he has been chosen as Lawmaker of the Month for December,” Martin said.

–30–

“As President of a national seniors organization that calls on 5 million seniors for support, I have increasingly become more aware of the silent crisis many of America’s seniors face — the so-called “invisible” disease of chronic pain. Seniors are among one of the largest segments of the population that suffer from chronic pain and inadequate treatment of that pain. As our age rises, so do the number of aches and pains. Nearly 1 in 5 over the age of 60 regularly take medication for chronic pain conditions. Clearly, pain is a serious and widespread problem among seniors that desperately needs our attention, and I would like to thank the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons for hosting this forum today to spotlight the importance of this issue and to begin to look for viable solutions to the problems surrounding good pain treatment for seniors.

I am one of those lucky seniors who thankfully lives a life without chronic pain. I play on four senior citizen basketball teams and a senior citizen softball team that travels coast to coast for competitive tournament play. One of my grandchildren (I have 13) asked if our basketball was real, that is, full-court with referees and so forth. I said, “Sure, when you see the videotape that is not slow-motion, that’s us!” So I am blessed. However, living with undertreated persistent pain has serious, even deadly, results for many American seniors.

Again, I want to thank the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, and especially Kathryn Serkes, for hosting this important forum on how to address a growing crisis, the increase in prescription drug abuse. I have a prepared statement and it is available as a handout and is on our website, www.60plus.org. But I am here today more as an observer and an interested advocate for senior citizens, to listen and to learn from the experts about how to resolve the epidemic increases in prescription drug abuse and the long arm of the law in trying to cope with this growing crisis. Let me highlight a couple of comments from some of the information I’ve been reading about this problem.

First of all, when used appropriately, prescription drugs make complicated surgery possible, they relieve pain for millions, and they enable people, especially seniors, with chronic medical conditions to control their symptoms and lead productive lives. However, prescription drug abuse is a serious public health concern with some 10 to 11 million people abusing prescriptions drugs in the year 2001. Nearly half of these were as young as 12 years old (they were in the 12-25 year range). One third of all drug abuse in the United States is prescription drug abuse. The number of new users of stimulants went up over 250% in the past decade. Recent data shows that in the year 2001 the most dramatic increase in new users occurred among young adults. There are other just as startling statistics.

But in my age group, seniors are barred from their normal, daily activities and hobbies by chronic pain, slowly losing their ability to live an independent lifestyle. Even more serious is the link between pain and depression. Almost 70% of pain sufferers report feeling anxious and depressed because of their pain. This is especially alarming in regard to seniors, who have the highest suicide rate in the nation — four times higher than the national average. For many seniors, pain not only begins to kill their enjoyment of life, but sometimes ultimately leads to death itself.

Unfortunately, recent studies show seniors are not receiving the help they need. A study by Brown University revealed that 40% of nursing home patients do not receive adequate relief for their pain. There are several reasons behind this lack of treatment. Many of the reasons are the same for other populations, such as healthcare providers’ fear of legal consequences and regulatory scrutiny as well as inadequate education among the medical community on pain management and addiction. But seniors also face unique challenges.

Many seniors face difficulties in simply affording treatment. Prescription medications are the most common remedy for chronic pain, but with ever-increasing prescription drug costs and no Medicare drug coverage, many seniors have been unable to afford the relief they need. Until now.

Less than two weeks ago, President Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act, finally providing our seniors with affordable access to the prescription drugs they need. 60 Plus supported new prescription drug benefits and believes it can be a significant step forward in helping seniors receive the pain management they need. As President Bush stated, “We must keep our commitments to the elderly, and help bring the healing miracle of modern medicine to the people who need it in our time.” Economic barriers no longer need be the obstacle to seniors’ relief from persistent pain.

It is important that we continue to work on the myriad of other roadblocks to effective pain management for all seniors. A high prevalence of dementia, communication barriers, and multiple medical conditions often make it difficult to accurately assess pain in older persons. The medical community has begun serious work on setting out guidelines for better assessment and treatment of pain for seniors – and 60 Plus applauds the hard work done on this issue and are exited about future developments.

Also, seniors, more than any other group for obvious reasons, have to deal with the complex issues surrounding end-of-life pain management. Studies have repeatedly suggested we have too few hospitals, doctors, and nurses providing the end-of-life care our seniors need. A recent study by Last Acts, a national coalition to improve care and caring near the end of life, reported that only 14 percent of hospitals nationwide offer specialized end-of-life care programs to provide pain relief, along with emotional and spiritual support. Furthermore, less than half the hospitals in the U.S. offer any kind of pain management program at all. The study also pointed out that several state laws regarding the use of painkillers have created considerable barriers to sufficient pain management for dying patients. We know many doctors are sincerely frightened to prescribe needed pain medication to their dying patients. State and federal laws must be crafted to ensure that dying patients receive the medicine they need to die in comfort, but these laws should not constitute a “free pass” for the practice of euthanasia.

It is vital that we begin to address these issues. The law should work to facilitate patients, physicians and pharmacists working together to wisely use medications that can provide pain patients a better life. Opening lines of communication between the medical community and law enforcement agencies is vital. We recognize that some medications do need to be controlled, however, doctors should be able to effectively treat their patients for pain without fear of legal harassment — and protections for patient privacy need to be part of the solution.

I believe we must turn to our state medical boards to become the first line of defense in preventing pain medication abuse. The medical community should work hard to self-regulate the use of pain medication and to help prevent abuses. Other doctors best know the type of treatments that are safe and acceptable to use, not policemen and prosecutors. If seriously egregious situations arise, law enforcement should become involved, but we should turn first to the medical community.

These are difficult issues that present complicated challenges. Together we must work to discover solutions that enable our doctors and nurses to do their job — providing patients the care and relief they need and deserve. The 60 Plus Association looks forward to working with all of you in our endeavor to find real solutions for seniors, and all those who suffer from the “invisible” disease of pain. Thank you.

Sitting on the stage near the President when he signed the bill were selected Congressional leaders, cabinet officials, and 26 Grassroots Leaders and members of 60 Plus Association.

In his remarks prior to signing the bill, President Bush praised Jim Martin, President of 60 Plus Association, for his effective leadership on behalf of seniors.

“A lot of this happened — this bill happened because of grassroots work. A lot of our fellow citizens took it upon themselves to agitate for change, to lobby on behalf of what’s right…

“But the groups that speak for the elderly did fantastic work on this legislation…Jim Martin, the President of 60 Plus Association, worked hard,” President Bush said.

The President also said:

“Medicare is a great achievement of a compassionate government and it is a basic trust we honor. Medicare has spared millions of seniors from needless hardship. Each generation benefits from Medicare. Each generation has a duty to strengthen Medicare. And this generation is fulfilling our duty.

“First and foremost, this new law will provide Medicare coverage for prescription drugs. Medicare was enacted to provide seniors with the latest in modern medicine. In 1965, that usually meant house calls, or operations, or long hospital stays. Today, modern medicine includes out-patient care, disease screenings, and prescription drugs.

“Medicine has changed, but Medicare has not — until today…

“In addition to providing coverage for prescription drugs, this legislation achieves a second great goal. We’re giving our seniors more health care choices so they can get the coverage and care that meets their needs.

“And when seniors have the ability to make choices, health care plans within Medicare will have to compete for their business by offering higher quality service. For the seniors of America, more choices and more control will mean better health care. These are the kinds of health care options we give to the members of Congress and federal employees. They have the ability to pick plans to — that are right for their own needs. What’s good for members of Congress is also good for seniors. Our seniors are fully capable of making health care choices, and this bill allows them to do just that.”

For the full text of the President’s remarks, go to: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/print/20031208-2.html

60 Plus Association is proud to have pioneered this legislation. For many years, we’ve worked hard to get it passed. We are extremely pleased that this great goal for seniors has finally been achieved.

Medicare Bill Signed Into Law By President Bush

Statement by 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin

Washington, DC — “The day has arrived…finally…a history-making modernization of Medicare with its long-awaited prescription drug benefit for seniors. President Bush made a campaign promise to deliver a prescription drug benefit for seniors. He kept his promise with today’s bill signing at Constitution Hall.

“I worked on Capitol Hill when Medicare passed 38 years ago on July 30, 1965. We’ve now come full circle in trying to bring this program into the 21st century. It is not a perfect bill…and has opposition by liberals and conservatives alike…but the middle, in this case, some 40 million senior citizens, will benefit.

“This has been mistakenly called a new entitlement. That’s not true. The entitlement train left the station 38 years ago. I believe what these changes to Medicare do is try and improve the entitlement by slowing down that train, one that was clearly headed for a fiscal wreck.

“I, frankly, believe that if we’re ever to get this runaway entitlement under control, it will be because of the market-based provisions in this bill. And that’s why we may look forward to new prescription drug coverage for 40 million seniors and people with disabilities, with the greatest benefit going to those who need it most.

“On behalf of 60 Plus and seniors all across America, I say ‘thank you’ to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle that stepped-up to meet the President’s challenge that ‘not another year go by without reforming Medicare’, a pledge he made from the East Room earlier this year on the 38th anniversary of Medicare.

“This is an extraordinary day not only for America’s seniors, but for other generations’ also as a reformed Medicare provides its first real step in cost containment, unleashing both public and private sector forces that will deliver drugs and health care services at reduced costs for the future.”

“Seniors are hoping for a Happy Thanksgiving from Congress to help them with their prescription drugs. But so far, all the Senate done is delay. Instead of action, we are getting a lot of hot air,” he said.

Martin thanked the 70 Senators who voted to end the filibuster against the Prescription Drug Bill and the 61 Senators who voted to waive the point of order against it, but lamented the continuing effort of the Senate minority to prevent passage through parliamentary tactics.

“Seniors are encouraged that an overwhelming majority of the Senate wants to enact the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill into law. But we are upset that a minority of the Senate keep trying to frustrate the majority through a variety of tricks,” he said.

“Let’s do the right thing right now and pass this bill immediately,” Martin said.