Dear Patient:


As you know, profound and dramatic changes to the American healthcare system are being proposed by the current administration and Congress. The nation’s “practicing” doctors embrace the concept of needed health insurance reform, but we oppose the “irresponsible” and politically motivated ideas that have been presented.  Healthcare reform legislation has passed in the US House of Representatives and now the Senate is debating their version of reform.  As your doctor, I am obligated to inform you that I have deep concerns over the language and many features of these current bills.  I believe if they are passed into law, the American healthcare system will be fundamentally changed and permanently harmed.  

Up to now, the majority of “practicing” doctors have been silent and disengaged on this issue.  Now that we know what is proposed in this legislation, I am compelled to advise you of the potential negative impact on your freedom of choice:

1. As a patient, you will not be able to make your own healthcare decisions.
2. I, as your physician, will not have the primary authority to prescribe drugs, authorize treatment and/or make swift referrals for specialist care.  
3. Previously independent and private healthcare decisions will be disrupted via government intervention, regulation and penalty enforcement.  Essentially, the sanctity of “our” doctor-patient relationship will be destroyed. 
4. Health insurance premiums will soar.
5. The number of highly trained and experienced physicians will plummet, especially within the specialist ranks. 
6. The quality, efficiency and availability of healthcare will dramatically decrease.
7. The United States will forfeit its position as the world’s leader in medical technology, innovation and drug development.

If you share the concerns of most “practicing” doctors and want to stop this disastrous legislation, here is what you need to do

• Contact your 2 US Senators and tell them to VOTE NO on their version of the bill.
• Phone/fax/email them daily until they vote.  You need to do the same with the following “key” Senators:

	DC PH #	DC Fax #	State PH #	State Fax #
Arkansas
Blanche Lincoln	202-224-4843	202-228-1371	501-375-2993	501-375-7064
Mark Pryor	202-224-2353	202-228-0908	501-324-6336	501-324-5320
Alaska
Mark Begich	202-224-3004	202-224-2354	907-271-5915	907-258-9305
California
Barbara Boxer	202-224-3553	202-224-0454	213-894-5000	202-224-0357
Colorado
Michael Bennet	202-224-5852	202-228-5036	303-455-7600	303-455-8851
Connecticut
Joe Lieberman	202-224-4041	202-224-9750	860-549-8463	866-317-2242
Chris Dodd	202-224-2823	202-224-1083	860-258-6940	860-258-6958
Delaware
Tom Carper	202-224-2441	202-228-2190	302-573-6291	302-573-6434
Florida
Bill Nelson	202-224-5274	202-228-2183	850-942-8415	850-942-8450
Indiana
Evan Bayh	202-224-5623	202-228-1377	317-554-0750	317-554-0760
Louisana
Mary Landrieu	202-224-5824	202-224-9735	504-589-2427	504-589-4023
Maine
Olympia Snowe	202-224-5344	202-224-1946	207-874-0883	207-874-7631
Susan Collins	202-224-2523	202-224-2693	207-780-3575	207-828-0380
Montana
John Tester	202-224-2644	202-224-8594	406-449-5401	406-449-5462
Nebraska
Ben Nelson	202-224-6551	202-228-0012	402-441-4600	402-391-4725 402-476-8753
Nevada
Harry Reid	202-224-3542	202-224-7327	775-686-5750	775-686-5757
North Dakota
Kent Conrad	202-224-2043	202-224-7776	701-232-8030	701-232-6449
Oregon
Ron Wyden	202-224-5244	202-228-2717	503-326-7525	503-326-7528
Pennsylvania
Arlen Specter	202-224-4254	202-228-1229	215-597-7200	215-597-0406
Virginia
Mark Warner	202-224-2023	202-224-6295	804-775-2314	804-775-2319
Jim Webb	202-224-4024	204-228-6363	804-771-2221	804-771-8313
West Virginia
Robert Byrd	202-224-3954	202-228-0002	304-342-5855	304-343-7144

Talk to your friends, family and neighbors and explain how the passage of this bill will affect their lives and relationships with their doctors. Ask them to also call the Senators listed above and tell them to VOTE NO.

Visit your elected officials’ district offices and tell them to VOTE NO on this bill.  This is a very effective means of communication, especially for SENIOR CITIZENS.

Urge your physicians and allied health providers to join the effort of Docs 4 Patient Care and advocate for responsible health insurance reform. Go to www.docs4patientcare.org and print “Letter to My Doctor” and hand-deliver them to all of your healthcare providers.

Docs 4 Patient Care is a grassroots organization with limited resources.  Please provide us with the financial means to continue this effort by making a donation.  Information is available at the website:  www.docs4patientcare.org.  


Respectfully,