Re: Support a Strong Patients Bill of Rights for people with lupusand other chronic illness

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Patients rights applies to us too!

Christie

>From:

>Lupus Foundation of America

>Duane s, Vice President of Advocacy

>1300 Piccard Drive, Suite 200

>Rockville, MD 20850-4303

>LFAGOVTREL@...

>

>ADVOCACY ALERT - PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS

>TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY

>

>Tell Your U.S. Representative to Support H.R. 2723

>The Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999

>(Sponsors: Congressman Norwood and Congressman Dingell)

>

>The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on managed care legislation,

also

>known as the Patients' Bill of Rights, next week. Momentum is building in

>the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 2723, " The Bipartisan

>Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999 " introduced by Congressman

> Norwood (R-GA) and Congressman Dingell (D-MI). The Lupus

>Foundation of America asks you to call your U.S. Representative before

>October 4 to urge him or her to support this bipartisan legislation.

>

> Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Give the operator

the

>name of your U.S. Representative and your state. If you do not know the

name

>of your U.S. Representative, set your web browser

>http://congress.nw.dc.us/lfa/congdir.html and enter your zipcode in the box

>located at the bottom of the page, then click on " go. " It is essential that

>you call your U.S. Representative's office before October 4. You must place

>a telephone call to have maximum impact. We also have created a special

>email message for this issue that you can send by visiting the LFA Advocacy

>Action Center at the above listed URL.

>

> When you are connected to your Representative's office, ask to speak

with

>the staff member who handles health issues, or leave a message with the

>receptionist. Tell the staff member you want your U.S. Representative to

>vote for H.R. 2723, the managed care reform bill sponsored by Congressmen

>Norwood and Dingell.

>

> People with lupus must take action immediately to ensure their needs are

>included in legislation reforming managed health care. In is important that

>managed care health plans . . .

>

>1. Allow people with lupus to have access to the specialists and specialty

>care they need without having to go through a lengthy appeals process.

>

>2. Allow people with lupus to name their lupus doctor as their primary care

>physician.

>

>3. Cover emergency care when a person with lupus reasonably believes that he

>or she is in need of urgent medical attention due to a serious flare.

>

> The Norwood -Dingell bill provides the type of managed care reforms most

>beneficial to people with lupus. Call 202-224-3121 by October 4. Ask your

>family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to make calls, too. Let's make

>sure that people with lupus have their voices heard in Congress! You must

>act quickly so please do it today!

>

>