Keep Seniors Safe

Senior Citizens Applaud Strong Action Against Internet Piracy

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:35:46 +0000

(Alexandria, VA) – America’s senior citizens today joined a wide and diverse chorus of business groups and grassroots organizations commending the House Judiciary Committee for the successful passage of H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Jim Martin, Chairman of the 60 Plus Association, released the following statement hailing the legislation as a “critical tool to protect America’s intellectual property from Internet theft, both domestically and globally.

Seniors Organization Asks UnitedHealth Group to Provide Gout Patients with Colchicine Medications They Were Promised

admin — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:19:11 +0000

As part of its “Keep Seniors Safe” project, 60 Plus Association Chairman Jim Martin today sent a letter to Stephen Hemsley, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, asking that United adjust their Part D Medicare coverage to ensure seniors with gout can access colchicine products, which treats gout flare ups.

Keeping Seniors Safe letter to United/AARP

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:01:13 +0000

May 19, 2011

Dear Mr. Hemsley,

Due to various factors, including a letter I sent you in February and recent publicity surrounding the issue, I am inclined to believe you are aware of the damage UnitedHealth Group’s continuous refusal to provide affordable colchicine for gout patients with United’s Part-D Medicare plan has caused.

Texas Seniors Deserve Fair Treatment from Medicare Part-D

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:43:29 +0000

Lawmakers, Citizens who care about Seniors health should demand change

By Jim Martin

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – When Texans enter into an agreement with someone, they live by it and expect the other person to do the same. Thousands of Texas seniors suffering from gout are still waiting for that to happen with their Medicare Part-D insurance providers.

Texas Seniors Forced to go Without Painful Arthritis Medication

admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:23:13 +0000

By James L. Martin

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Thousands of Texas seniors who chose Part-D Medicare in order to access affordable & vital gout drug coverage have received a rude wake-up call from local Part-D insurers — including those offered in Texas by Cigna & United Health Group.

Are you a gout sufferer?

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:07:05 +0000

Recently, as part of their Unapproved Drugs Initiative, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed untested versions of colchicine from the market. At the time of the FDA’s action, most Part-D plans offered the unapproved version of colchicine as a tier I or tier II drug. As a result, the vast majority of seniors had access to this treatment for their painful condition. Today, with the unapproved version all but removed from the marketplace, we find that a certain number of seniors are unable to gain access to the only FDA approved version of colchicine-based gout medicine “Colcrys” because it has been placed on tier III with a co-pay that is too high for many to afford.

Seniors Group Asks Medicare Part-D Plans to Provide Affordable Gout Medication for Patients

admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:01:28 +0000

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– As part of the 60 Plus Association’s “Keeping Seniors Safe” project, the organization’s chairman, Jim Martin, recently sent letters to the CEOs of five Part-D Medicare plans, urging them to provide accessible colchicine-based medications to gout patients after untested and potentially harmful options were removed from the marketplace as part of an important Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety-initiative.

FDA has acted – now what?

admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:11:25 +0000

As a result of FDA’s announcement last year regarding the removal of dangerous unapproved colchicine from being manufactured or distributed in the marketplace, there are some unintended consequences. the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its formulary to remove unapproved colchicine, but some private plans that cover prescription drugs under Medicare Part D are keeping beneficiaries from having access to drugs they need and that they used prior to the FDA action against unapproved colchicine.

Letter to CEOs regarding colchicine

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:39:55 +0000

February 15, 2011

Dear Sir or Madam:

As you may know, gout is a painful form of arthritis that primarily affects seniors. Patients afflicted with this disease depend on colchicine products to treat acute gout flare-ups that often occur at varying frequencies and intensities depending on individual patients.

Congress Must Halt Travesty Against Breast Cancer Patients

admin — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:30:25 +0000

by James L. Martin

More than 17,000 women with late-stage breast cancer rely on a drug called Avastin to extend and save their lives. But the drug may be taken away as a treatment option for most doctors and patients if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has its way. Such a decision would bankrupt families, create a two-tier health care system in the United States, and literally kill women and seniors who are denied access to the drug. The stakes could not be higher.