Be the Change

After reading this,

Be the Change you Want to See:

ACT NOW!

Time is limited!  Call and write before Tuesday, when voting will take place.

The AMA has proposed a resolution that would allow them to create billing codes that would categorize any disagreement and exercise of autonomy on the part of the patient as “non-compliance,” “abuse” or “hostility,” creating a pathway for insurance companies to deny coverage to patients.  Because there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to medical care, the use of these labels fails to recognize patients as partners in their own care and may jeopardize their ability to find other care providers.  If patients are faced with the consequences of this, their rights to informed consent and refusal are threatened.  The AMA will vote on this resolution this week, so we must act NOW.  Here’s what you can do:

1. Write a Letter to the Editor. Go to http://www.ican-online.org/content/how-write-letter-editor for tips on how to be most effective.
2. Contact your local media. Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/ to find out how to contact your local newspapers, radio, and television stations.   If you have a personal anecdote to share to get the reporter interested, do so briefly and without getting sidetracked onto other issues.  You can send your local reporter this handy link which gives them information on how to reach the AMA during the convention and voting:  http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news-events/news-events/ama-meeting-shapes-policy.shtml “
3. Call your local AMA representative. Go to http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/the-federation-medicine/state-medical-society-websites.shtml to find the contact info for your state.  Tell them this resolution is unacceptable.
4. Contact your elected officials. http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml Ask them if they are aware of how this resolution will impede on your rights to full informed consent and refusal, and how you can work together to make sure this doesn’t happen.  Let them know what’s been proposed and that you are afraid of how your rights will be affected as a result.  Because the AMA is voting this week, we recommend that you call or fax your officials, but emails can be effective as well.
5. Call your doctor. Ask them if they are aware of this resolution and how they can help make sure it doesn’t pass so that you can continue to work together as partners in your health care decisions.
6. AFTER you have done one or more of the above, please share this page far and wide! This resolution affects everyone who may see a doctor in the future for routine or emergency care.  Share this with your family, friends, parenting groups, birth organizations, social clubs… anyone and everyone!  But we will not make an impact unless you write or fax or call someone outside your circle.  Merely being outraged with other people who share your outrage isn’t enough.  Take a risk and make today the day!