Wednesday, February 11, 2009

SUPPORT H.R. 676

Our health care system desperately needs to be changed. We need universal health care!

As a physician I have seen patients who lost their employer-sponsored health care because of the recession. One patient was denied insurance coverage because they had not had their screening colonoscopy performed. This routine exam had already been schedule to occur in a month, but the patient couldn't afford the exam without insurance! They were caught in a situation of not being able to get insurance without the exam, but not being able to get the exam without insurance. This is an all too common and frustrating experience.

Many patients are unable to afford to be seen for routine preventative visits. They need universal health care! An inexpensive visit that covers diet may prevent someone from developing diabetes, and later having a toe amputated. Just think how much money society could save by providing preventative health care. Lives can be saved by providing universal health care.

Everyone deserves access to health care. Ongoing wellness care can help prevents illnesses, costing everyone less money. It is deplorable that a 20 year old type I diabetic could be denied access to life saving insulin because its too expensive. It is morally repugnant to send home widowed seniors hours after surgery for a fracture because they don't have insurance. The current health care system is leaving doctors with no time to see patients; and patients are receiving suboptimal care

Please join me in by participating in the National Call-in Day for HR 676
February 12, 2009: Call Congress, and the President Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121 (ask for your representative's office)

If your member is a current co-sponsor, thank your rep. and ask him or her to stand firm for HR 676 and actively seek additional co-sponsors.

If your member was a co-sponsor in the last Congress, ask him or her to sign on immediately as a co-sponsor in this Congress.

If your member has yet to co-sponsor HR 676, ask him or her to please become a co-sponsor, select one or two talking points here.

In a letter to Col. William F. Elkins written November 21, 1864, Lincoln wrote: "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, remind your member of Congress to honor his words and heed his warning as we look to reform his precious nation's healthcare system. Urge your member to accept testimony from panelists to explore the serious flaws in the Massachusetts health plan and examine why it cannot serve as a national model for providing universal and comprehensive care, on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 2:00pm-4:00pm, 2226 Rayburn House Office Building.

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