Beebe: Record Of Leadership Backs Up Vision For Health Care, Senior Care

Beebe: Record Of Leadership Backs Up Vision For Health Care, Senior Care - 3/2/2006

(LITTLE ROCK) - In a speech to the West Little Rock AARP chapter today, Attorney General Mike Beebe discussed his record as an advocate for better health care and the state's seniors but said as governor he will be focused on innovative approaches like investing in research and development and finding alternatives to nursing home care.

As Arkansas attorney general, Beebe took the lead in seeing to it that no Arkansan had to do without his or her prescription drugs in the wake of problems with the launch of Medicare Part D in January. Throughout his time as attorney general, Beebe investigated and won millions of dollars against nursing home care providers and other long-term care facilities for alleged neglect and abuse of seniors. With the help of the AARP, he passed the Arkansas Home Mortgage Protection Act to crack down on predatory home-equity lending targeted at seniors. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, low-income consumers lose an estimated $9.1 billion annually due to predatory mortgages in this country.

"Leadership means more than just coming to the aid of the good guys and going after the bad guys," Beebe said. "Leadership means looking to the future, with vision and with the experience to back that vision up."

Beebe said that as governor, he will support medical research and development in Arkansas that can improve the quality of life and reduce the pains of aging. He pointed to his experience as a key leader in negotiating the Biosciences Institute, a consortium dedicated to improving the health of Arkansans and crafting new potential applications for Arkansas agricultural products in the medical fields. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute partnership includes: Arkansas Children's Hospital; Arkansas State University; the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture; the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

"But solutions for the problems of aging don't end with a new kind of pill," Beebe said. "As a state, we have to look at alternatives to full-time nursing home care. Alternatives to long-term facility care will help preserve the dignity and quality of life for aging and disabled Arkansans and at the same time save money for the state."

Senior care and health care issues remain an important issue in Arkansas, with nearly a third of the state's population over the age of 50 and nearly half of Arkansans over the age of 65 having a disability of some kind. Almost half-a-million Arkansans are Medicare beneficiaries.

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