A majority of American physicians and the public support the creation of a national health insurance program that covers everyone (known as a single-payer solution), and Congress has shut us out of the discussion. Single-payer health care is the only reform that will provide universal coverage, and contain skyrocketing costs.
The Senate Finance Committee, led by Sen. Max Baucus, is holding important roundtable discussions on health care on May 5 and May 14. The list of witnesses includes Blue Cross Blue Shield and the private insurance lobby group America's Health Insurance Plans but not one single-payer supporter.
We need to tell Congress that this is unacceptable.
TAKE ACTION
Please check and see if your Senators are on the Finance committee (names and phone numbers are listed below) and tell them to include a single-payer supporter in the upcoming roundtable discussions. If your Senator isn't listed, you can call Chairman Mike Baucus at (202) 224-2651.
You can say:
"Dear [Senator's name], this is [your name], one of your constituents in [your town]. I am calling you regarding the roundtable discussions on health care reform being held on May 5 and May 14. I was disappointed to see that the first roundtable discussion on April 21 did not include a proponent of national, single-payer health care, and that the witness list for the May 5 discussion does not include one, either. National, single-payer health care is the only reform that will provide universal coverage and contain skyrocketing costs. The majority of Americans and physicians support a national health insurance program like improved Medicare for everyone."
Congress receives a lot of email, so this is a crucial step!
Senate Finance Committee Phone Numbers
Arkansas: Blanche Lincoln - (202) 224-4843 Delaware: Thomas Carper - (202) 224-2441 Florida: Bill Nelson - (202) 224-5274 Massachusetts: John Kerry - (202) 224-2742 Michigan: Debbie Stabenow - (202) 224-4822 Montana: Max Baucus - (202) 224-2651 New Jersey: Robert Menendez - (202) 224-4744 New Mexico: Jeff Bingaman - (202) 224-5521 New York: Charles Schumer - (202) 224-6542 North Dakota: Kent Conrad - (202) 224-2043 Oregon: Ron Wyden - (202) 224-5244 Washington: Maria Cantwell - (202) 224-3441 West Virginia: Jay Rockefeller - (202) 224-6472
Once you've called, send a follow-up email using our simple form below to give your message greater impact.
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