Starting Monday, June 30, Grassley will lead open forums in Toledo, Grinnell, Newton, Oskaloosa, Albia, Centerville, Bloomfield, Fort Madison, Fairfield, Washington, Sigourney, Ottumwa, Williamsburg, and Vinton.
Under Grassley's leadership, the Senate aging panel will study issues affecting an aging American society. At his inaugural hearing on March 6, Chairman Grassley focused on meeting the challenges of the baby boomer retirement. "Starting in 12 years, America will experience the greatest demographic shift in the history of the country," he said. "It's critical we are prepared."
Seizing the opportunity to maximize his leadership role and make a difference for Iowans, Grassley notes Iowa maintains a special position among the 50 states. Home to the nation's third largest percentage of residents age 65 and older, Iowa also ranks first in the U.S. with the highest percentage of citizens age 85 and older.
"I look forward to an open exchange and strongly encourage Iowans to attend these important meetings," said Grassley. "As Congress considers ways to save Medicare from insolvency, addresses long-term health care and develops solutions to prepare for the retirement of the baby boomers, I want to be able to bring Iowans' ideas to the table and make them part of the national debate."
Grassley also can champion the concerns of older citizens through his senior position on the Senate Finance Committee. In fact, as a member of the powerful tax-writing committee, Grassley bears direct legislative authority over Social Security; Medicare; Medicaid, pension plans; and, a host of health-related issues including, maternal and child health care programs, home health care services, health insurance, and nursing care facilities.
Leading the charge for improved access to health care in rural America, Grassley is pushing for passage of legislative measures he has introduced to help Iowa Medicare recipients and protect primary and emergency health care services in rural areas. In his crusade to guarantee Iowa taxpayers and Medicare recipients fair treatment under an "egregious" Medicare managed care reimbursement formula, Grassley is working to narrow the existing payment disparity and replace it with a common sense correction.
"Even though all Americans pay the same 2.9 percent payroll tax to the Medicare Trust Fund," Grassley said, "Iowa health care providers are being penalized for practicing cost-efficient medicine and Iowa Medicare patients are getting the short end of the stick."
As chairman of the Aging Committee, Grassley's goals include plans to work aggressively to bring fairness and equity to managed care plans, curb health care fraud, study long-term health options, encourage private savings for retirement, and keep tabs on the Social Security Administration.
Continuing his promise to keep communication lines open with his constituents, Grassley asks Iowans to take this opportunity and help make representative government work. "It's my goal to help ensure the income and health care security for Iowans in their retirement years," he said.
A charter member of the Aging Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, Grassley has served as an active member of the Senate Aging Committee since 1981. Beginning in March, Grassley has led 40 open forums throughout the state to listen to Iowans voice their views and concerns about issues affecting an aging society. The following schedule provides specific information on Grassley's events in Southeast Iowa.
11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. - Toledo , Host: Tama County Senior Center, 103 S. Church St.
1:15-2:15 p.m.- Grinnell , Host: Grinnell Regional Medical Center, 1020 Main St., Community Resource Center
3:00-4:00 p.m. - Newton , Host: Skiff Medical Center, 204 N. Fourth Ave., Inservice Room
5:15-6:15 p.m. - Oskaloosa , Host: Mahaska County Hospital, 1229 C Ave., East, Education Room A & B,
8:00-9:00 a.m. - Albia , Host: Monroe County Hospital, R.R. 3, Box 314-11, Cafeteria
9:45-10:45 a.m. - Centerville, Host: St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, 1 St. Joseph's Drive, South Cafeteria
11:30-12:30 p.m. - Bloomfield , Host: Davis County Hospital, Bloomfield Country Club, R.R. 2
2:30-3:30 p.m. - Fort Madison, Host: Ft. Madison Community Hospital, 5445 Avenue "O", Conference Room in the Professional Office Building
5:00-6:00 p.m. - Fairfield , Host: Jefferson County Hospital, 400 Highland Ave., *New conference room downstairs, use elevator.
8:30-9:30 a.m. - Washington, Host: Washington County Hospital, 400 E. Polk St., Inservice Room
10:30-11:30 a.m. - Sigourney, Host: SENECA Area Agency on Aging, Site: Sigourney Senior Center, 214 S. Main St.
12:30-1:30 p.m. - Ottumwa, Host: Ottumwa Regional Health Center, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave., Conference Room A & B
4:30-5:30 p.m. - Williamsburg, Host: Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, HACAP Community Center, 223 E. Welsh
6:30-7:30 p.m. - Vinton, Host: Virginia Gay Hospital, 502 North 9th Ave., Boardroom