The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "AARP" ...
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Free Rein for Drug Ads?
The Food and Drug Administration has been slow to stop an alarming number of inaccurate drug advertisements, leaving consumers and the doctors that actually prescribe the medicines vulnerable to false or misleading messages. The investigation found ads that minimized prescription drug risks, exaggerated efficacy, made false claims of superiority over competing products, promoted unapproved uses of an approved drug, or promoted use of a drug still in the experimental stage. Such drug ads may contribute to excessive or inappropriate prescribing and to soaring prescription drug spending.
Tags: FDA; Food and Drug Administration; drug advertisements; consumers; FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research; Freedom of Information Electronic Reading Room; FDA regulatory letters; prescription drug risks; Tamiflu; drugmakers; corrective ads; Department of Health and Human Services; General Accounting Office; Fosamax; Ambien; AARP; Prilosec
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R.I.P. OFF
Modern Maturity reports on the deceptive practices that are used by some in the funeral industry. Some funeral directors are using high-pressure sales tactics, price gouging, charging for unnecessary services, allowing the customers few options, failing to show price lists as is required by federal law. FTC supervision hasn't been adequate, Modern Maturity reports. Included are tips on how consumers can protect themselves.
Tags: funeral homes; AARP; decptive marketing; funeral industry; Federal Trade Commission; National Funeral Director's Association; Federal Consumers Alliance
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Scam of the Ages
More and more senior citizens are logging on to the Internet these days, and that's good news for scam artists. This Yahoo! Internet Life article reports on how seniors are being snookered out of their money and what happens afterward.
Tags: Scams; senior citizens; AARP; Internet access
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'Cash' Pensions Trigger Protest of New Allies
The Wall Street Journal reports that "hundreds of blue-chip companies, including AT&T Corp., IBM and Bell Atlantic were converting their traditional plans to so-called "portable" pensions known as "cash balance plans." While the companies claimed this was being done to modernize the plans and make them suitable for mobile workers, the coverage exposed how companies were converting the pension plans to save money. Pension benefits for older, long-service employees were being cut by 30% to 50%.."
Tags: CAR retirement SEC IRS AARP; GAO; 10K; SmithKline Beecham Pension Rights Center EEOC
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Elderscam; Reach Out and Bilk Someone
Time Magazine reports that overly trusting seniors are falling victim to a sophisticated industry of slick-talking flimflam artists to the tune of $40 billion a year. This story relates a classic study in what makes fraud against elderly people, espectially women, one of the biggest growth industries in America. But efforts to protect the elderly are picking up. State and local authorities are attempting to step up prosecutions of con artists and are joining AARP and other organizations in distributing to the aged tips on how they can avoid being conned.
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No title (id: 13356)
For years, tampering with the Social Security was considered politically untouchable. Now, the American Prospect reports, two things have changed. A projected long-term deficit in Social Security accounts is opening the door to more radical remedy. A new coalition in support of privatization is taking shape, backed by financial interests that see an unprecedented oppurtunity in the diversion of Social Security trust funds.
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No title (id: 12508)
Money Magazine conducted a comprehensive evaluation of all 29 products and services marketed by the American Association of Retired Persons, the nation's largest senior group. Also included was an analysis of the organization's financial structure, tax status and influence as a lobbyist. (July, 1995)
Tags: O'Connell Stark Taking a hard look at AARP's Contest entry AARP 10 pgs.
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AARP: Nonprofit or 'Big Profit'?
The Washington Post National Weekly Edition reports that "The American Association of Retired Persons, the powerful advocate for the nation's elderly, claims tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization. But it also is a big business... These commercial operations have been so successful that the group has become embroiled in a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service over whether it owes millions of dollars in taxes each year."
Tags: IRS AARP Congress Medicare Social Security not-for-profit non-profit
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No title (id: 7984)
Regardie's looks at the American Association of Retired Persons, the lobby for the interests of the elderly, and finds that it is one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, January 1991.
Tags: Cox AARP