Jul 24
0

Older Adults and People with Disabilities Challenge Discriminatory Surge Care Guidelines in COVID-19 Hotspots Arizona and Texas

By | Health Care, Health Disparities, Health Equity, PRESS RELEASE

July 20, 2020

In states that are hard hit by COVID-19 surges, older adults, people with disabilities, and people of color face a real risk of being denied life-saving medical care during the pandemic. This week, individuals represented by a coalition of state and national disability and civil rights advocacy groups filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) challenging the crisis standard of care plans in Arizona and Texas, two states hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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May 29
4

Black Lives Matter

By | Alerts, PRESS RELEASE, Statements
The past few days and weeks have laid bare the toxic racism and white supremacy that are woven into the fabric of America, every one of our systems, and every single town and city. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor and the harassment of Christian Cooper are not single, unique instances, but rather examples of the long-standing, pervasive, ongoing, systemic racism that infects our culture, government, and systems of power.

In America today, if you are a Black person, you encounter the potentially deadly effects of racism at every stage of your life. From schools that perpetuate the school to prison pipeline, to the community, where harassment and over-policing directed at Black people is the norm, to biases in the health care systems that contribute to health inequities, institutionalization in poorly performing nursing homes, and even early death. This is why we are seeing shockingly high rates of deaths from COVID-19 among Black people. We are witnessing communities of color losing people of all ages at an alarming rate. Read More

May 05
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Justice in Aging Statement on Opening Too Soon

By | Health Care, Health Disparities, PRESS RELEASE
Justice in Aging is calling on state and local governments to retain strong social distancing measures to protect the health and safety of older adults in our communities. Relaxing these measures now, even as new models are projecting a near doubling of daily deaths by June 1, is irresponsible and will cost the lives of tens of thousands of older adults. Though the curve is flattening in some places, it is spiking in others. The most critical fact is that the virus remains deadly all across America in every type of community and for every age group, but most especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and people of color. Read More

Apr 04
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Justice in Aging Rejects Ruthless Utilitarian Policies that Devalue the Lives of Older Adults

By | Health Care, Health Disparities, PRESS RELEASE

At Justice in Aging we believe care must be provided without consideration of age or age-related criteria, including criteria that cannot be operationalized without using age as a proxy. Care must be based on individualized assessments that consider an individual’s prospects for recovery and allocate treatment to help the person survive rather than focusing allocation on “number of years of life” or “quality of life” factors. Read More

Apr 03
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Medicare Patients Placed Under “Observation Status” Win Right to Appeal, Federal Court Orders

By | IN THE NEWS, LITIGATION, NEWS, Newsroom, PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Vanessa Barrington 510-256-1200 vbarrington@justiceinaging.org

March 24, 2020—Medicare beneficiaries who have been denied coverage for nursing facility services after transferring from hospitals because the hospital changed their status from “in patient” to “observation status” now have a right to appeal their classification and a chance to receive reimbursement from Medicare for the uncovered nursing facility charges. Read More

Jan 23
2

California Plaintiffs Win Case Against State for Failing to Provide Federally-Mandated In-Home Supportive Services

By | CA Health Network Alert, In-Home Supportive Services, PRESS RELEASE
State must reimburse or pay Medi-Cal recipients and conduct statewide outreach to thousands of Californians who may be eligible for in-home services

LOS ANGELES — Thousands of Medi-Cal beneficiaries with significant disabilities will now be able to access affordable Medi-Cal care at home, rather than going to a nursing facility. In-home care provides greater stability and health outcomes for individuals and families, and it is cost-effective for the state; but it can be prohibitively costly to pay for out-of-pocket. As a result, married people with disabilities often have to make a draconian choice: impoverish themselves and their spouses or go to a nursing facility. Read More

Jan 17
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Justice in Aging Joins Amicus Brief Urging the Supreme Court to Defend the ACA

By | Health Care, Medicaid, Medicare, PRESS RELEASE
On January 15, Justice in Aging joined AARP and the Center for Medicare Advocacy in submitting an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to expedite its review of a case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The brief argues that the uncertainty caused by the Fifth Circuit’s decision to remand the case to the district court is harming older adults and that declaring the entire ACA unconstitutional will cause millions of older adults to lose health insurance coverage and vital consumer protections. Read More

Dec 19
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Executive Director Kevin Prindiville’s Statement on ACA Ruling

By | PRESS RELEASE
Below is a statement from Justice in Aging’s Executive Director Kevin Prindiville on yesterday’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Yesterday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is unconstitutional, and remanded the case to the District court to clarify whether the rest of the ACA can stand without the mandate. For now, the ACA remains in place without the mandate, but, if the law is invalidated, the health of millions of older Americans and their families is at risk. Read More