In addition to Capitol Hill Advocacy Day and the opening General Session, The 2012 Political Landscape and Older Adults, be sure to check out these featured public policy programs. You can also use Search the Sessions to find even more public policy-related sessions.

National Forum on the Affordable Care Act: A Way Toward Aging With Dignity in America 

Thursday, March 29 | 11:30 am–2:30 pm

Hosted by ASA’s Public Policy Committee and underwritten by a grant from The SCAN Foundation

No fee (Pre-registration required; open to first 200 registrants)

Drawing from the content of the Spring 2011 issue of Generations, this program explores the potential of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) for shaping a better long-term future for older Americans. Can the embattled law really help elders age with dignity, optimum health, and in settings of their own choosing? Though the future of the Affordable Care Act is far from secure, the presenters of this program believe ACA will bring about a brighter future for long-term services and supports.

The program will review traditional aging policy and its three domains of security for elders—economic security, health security and functional security—and why major changes in economic and health security have driven the need to address the third security: physical and cognitive function. Presenters will advance the discussion on a myriad of proposals and plans for improving the integration of services and supports as elders transition from health care services to community supports and more independent living under ACA.

Presenters:
Bruce Chernof, MD, President and CEO, The SCAN Foundation
Diane Justice, MA, Senior Program Director, National Academy for State Health Policy
Richard Kaplan, Peer and Sarah Pedersen Professor of Law, University of Illinois College of Law
Bruce Leff, MD, Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Carol O’Shaughnessy, Principal Policy Analyst, National Health Policy Forum
Kirsten Sloan, Vice President, National Partnership for Women & Families
Brenda Sulick, PhD, Vice President, Congressional Affairs, National PACE Association

Moderator: Cynthia Stuen, PhD, Senior Vice President, Policy, Evaluation and Education, Lighthouse International

Public Policy Intensive
Advocacy in Washington: Community for Social Change

Thursday, March 29 | 8:00–11:00 am

This program is for individuals who have a passionate desire to bring issues from their communities to their policymakers in the administrative and legislative branches of the federal government. How do you make social policy change? You will learn how to influence public policy and understand how interest groups are involved in this process. Real examples of successful and unsuccessful advocacy efforts will be discussed as they relate to issues of importance to aging advocates.

Presenter:
Paul Nathanson, JD, Executive Director, National Senior Citizens Law Center

The Future of Entitlement Programs

Friday, March 30 | 8:00 am–12:30 pm

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid have been staples of American life for many decades but now their futures are threatened. Sessions in this half-day program will address the challenges these programs face, and explore the issue of whether there will be enough wealth in the American economy to support
these programs.

Sessions include:

• The Future of Social Security
• The Future of Medicare and Medicaid
• The Politics of the Future of Entitlements

Presenters:
Dean Baker, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research
Robert Binstock, Professor of Aging, Health, & Society, Case Western Reserve University
Robert Blancato, MPA, President, Matz, Blancato & Associates
Robyn Golden, MSW, LCSW, Director of Older Adult Programs, Rush University Medical Center
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum
Frederick Lynch, PhD, Associate Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College
Paul Nathanson, JD, Executive Director, National Senior Citizens Law Center
Robert Moffit, The Heritage Foundation
Marilyn Moon, PhD, Vice President and Director, American Institutes for Research
Alice Mitchell Rivlin, Director, Greater Washington Research at Brookings
John Rother, President and CEO, National Coalition on Health Care
Joshua Wiener, PhD, Distinguished Fellow & Program Director, Aging, Disability & Long-Term Care, RTI International

Panel of Pundits 2012

Thursday, March 29 | 1:00–2:30 pm

Last year at the Aging in America Conference it was all about the impact of the 2010 elections and the new Congress. One year later, we pivot to a preview of the 2012 election, the issues, and potential implications for America’s seniors. In addition, this session will discuss the actions of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, and the debt ceiling agreement and its impact on critical programs for older Americans. The panel will also discuss what happened to the Older Americans Act reauthorization. Other topics generated by the audience will also be addressed.

Presenters:
Robert Blancato, MPA, President, Matz, Blancato & Associates
Richard Browdie, MBA, President and CEO, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
Donna Butts, Executive Director, Generations United
Yanira Cruz, President and CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging
John Rother, President and CEO, National Coalition on Health Care
Fred Rotondaro, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress