Erik Olsen, president of one of the most powerful lobbies in America — the 37-million-member AARP — told a gathering of hundreds of physicians yesterday that the time had come for Americans to make politicians understand that healthcare reform must be at the top of the nation's agenda.

The AARP leader spoke at the 67th Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Hawai'i Convention Center, which this week is hosting some 3,500 physicians.

Olsen, who this year took over the helm of an organization that represents people older than 50, has made it clear that healthcare reform is the No. 1 concern of the AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons. And he reminded the audience of around 400 people that more than 50 percent of the voters who went to the polls on Tuesday were older than 50.

While Olsen praised Hawai'i's healthcare system as "better than most," he said unless the out-of-control costs and inefficiencies in the nation's healthcare system are addressed, "generations of Americans in all 50 states, including Hawai'i, will suffer if we do nothing."

But time is running out. The oldest baby boomers will reach age 65 in four years, he said. And the boomers represent 78 million Americans who could strain the healthcare system to the breaking point.

Tuesday's election made it clear that Americans over 50 want a change now, he said.

"The people have spoken," said Olsen. "(And) there is one thing representatives of both parties, and the pollsters and pundits of all persuasions, all seem to agree on: The voters — from Maine to here in Hawai'i — have delivered a clear message: It's now time for all of those elected to put partisan bickering aside and do the people's work."

And while the war in Iraq and congressional scandals ranked high on the priority lists of voters, AARP's polling shows that for baby boomers and their parents, the two most important issues are healthcare concerns and Social Security.

AARP will be watching the Bush administration and the new Democrat-led Congress closely to see how they respond to such issues as lowering prescription drug costs and making healthcare affordable for all Americans. The organization plans to work closely with the new Congress and the administration to urge measures that will assure that drugs and healthcare become more affordable, and that consumers will have clearer choices and better healthcare information.

After his speech, Vernon Lin, a physical medicine and rehabilitation professor at the University of California-Irvine, shook Olsen's hand and expressed his appreciation and agreement with what he had to say.

"It's about time somebody said it," said Lin. "There's been a 24- fold increase in healthcare costs since the 1970s. It's gone from about $76 billion to about $1.4 trillion, something like that.

"It's $1.9 trillion," corrected Olsen, who told Lin he's encouraged by Tuesday's election.

"Not in a partisan way," he said. "But I'm encouraged in that both parties seem to be moving in a more moderate direction. We need to stop the bickering and work to solve the problems the country is facing. And these problems can be solved."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.