The Congressional recess (U.S. House of Representatives, July 31 through Sept. 7; U.S. Senate, Aug. 7 through Sept. 7) provides an excellent opportunity to weigh in your thoughts on health care reform and other issues affecting your work.

What the House and Senate members hear and read during their recess will be extremely important in determining their votes. 

You might even consider asking your House member to schedule a visit to your chapter, clinic, or facility.

Members of Congress can be reached via the House and Senate Web sites.  Click here if you do not know your Congressional district. The Members’ site lists Congress members’ Washington, D.C. and local offices, along with addresses and phone numbers.

17 Responses to “Reps Recessing: Make Your Voice Heard”

1. Joe Corso Says:
   August 5th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

   Can we simplify this, and I do mean this seriously with lots of thought. There are lots of good insurance companies, two in NJ but do not cover healthcare, although one did long ago. NJ Manufacturers and Geico and Aetna. I am sure there are a lot of other smaller but equally as good companies all over the country.

   So, here is my solution – All insurance companies can sell packages of auto, home owners/renters, health, dental, life at reasonable cost; and any municipality, county, or state can purchase blocks of insurance for self insured or uninsured individuals or families to purchase. They would be making the majority of their profit on other insurance not health or dental. But not being in insurance field I do not know exact numbers.

   Any law that requires more than one lawyer to interpret is a law that is doom to failure.

2. VIOLET B HARRISON Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 6:31 am

   The Federal Government does not need to take over Healthcare for the American people. Socialized medicine is not the solution to the healthcare problems that exist today. Socialized medicine would be a nightmare for the American people. Every American has the right to have insurance that is cost effective and have benefits that will cover him/her throughought his/her lifetime without benefits/coverage being denied because of age, gender or physical condition. No one has the right to play God with someone’s life or life expectency.

3. Pamela C. Schaaff Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 6:59 am

   I am adamantly opposed to government take over of the health care system. Before any action is even considered all politicians should be required to read the bill – it is unconscionable that any politician would claim to represent their constituents before ever having read the bill in its entirety. Furthermore, if the politicians are unwilling to place themselves and their families on this proposed plan then it’s a red flag that we should all avoid. For politicians to speak out against the puplic for voicing their concerns is degrading and ignorant and shows that they are no representing the people that elected them into office. Lastly, healthcare is available to everyone that’s why there are emergency rooms, non-profit health organizations, Medicare, Medicaid. Healthcare should be available to Americans who work and pay into the system only.

4. Pamela C. Schaaff Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 7:01 am

   I am adamantly opposed to government take over of the health care system. Before any action is even considered all politicians should be required to read the bill – it is unconscionable that any politician would claim to represent their constituents before ever having read the bill in its entirety. Furthermore, if the politicians are unwilling to place themselves and their families on this proposed plan then it’s a red flag that we should all avoid. For politicians to speak out against the public for voicing their concerns is degrading and ignorant and shows that they are no representing the people that elected them into office. Lastly, healthcare is available to everyone that’s why there are emergency rooms, non-profit health organizations, Medicare, Medicaid. Healthcare should be available to Americans who work and pay into the system only.

5. Judy Ellison-Miller Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 8:21 am

   The proposed government take over of our health care system is completely unnecessary. We have public options for the poor and the elderly and no one in this country is denied emergency care. There are things that can be done to bring down the cost of health insurance for everyone else. Allow insurance companies to compete across state lines, do away with pre-existing condition clauses, allow like businesses to join together to form larger groups for the purposes of shopping for health insurance. There is no need to dismantle our current system and replace it with one run by the
   the VERY INEFFICIENT Federal Government. We cannot allow ourselves to loose the most important freedom, the right to choose what happens to our own bodies.

6. Marcia Walls Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 9:08 am

   I feel that it is important for all legal residents of the US to have a form of healthcare coverage. I do not feel that this should be ran by the government. There are many options, including but not limited to, giving employers a stiepen to cover the cost of insurance and raising the poverty guidelines to allow the states to cover the residents and requiring insurances to have a deductible of no greater than $100-$250. Using free care programs via the Emergency Rooms is not a viable solution to this problem. Nor is it giving the appropriate care to those who are in need.
   Per CNN the Whitehouse is now asking for any blog or discussion sites opposing the healthcare reform be reported to them. Unless there is a master plan that is going to fix this mess I am quite disappointed in the quick and unprepared decisions being made.

7. Helen (Betty) Szampruch Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 9:41 am

   For years I’ve watched the cardiology physicians that I work for go through annual cuts mandated by the government. (fyi: the government doesn’t get involved with our corportate attorney fees where he is charging $550 per hour and his peri-legal charges $225 per hour…) This new system will slow down the amount of people that want to go through medical school to become physicians. Now there are plenty of physicians that are thinking about retiring early. They are having a hard time performing their jobs because of the interference with the government. In the near future, the United States will no longer have good physicians -and- the average person will probably not live past age 60! Now more than ever, the patients we are treating are under 50 years of age due to our lifestyle (stress, eating habits, smoking, drugs, etc). People will not survive long because they can’t get adequate treatment from a qualified “caring” physician! I’ve had many foreign exchange students stay with us over the last 10 years. The ones that stay longer with us and require medical care during their stay are afraid to see a doctor at first because they don’t want the type of treatment they usually receive in their country. Then after they receive the care here they tell us “you are so lucky – because… and then the horror stories come out on the way they are taken care of by their government”. Do the people of the United States want this to happen here? No, No and No! Another thing to think about is there will be many doctors offices closing their doors because they will no longer be able to operate. This whole situation is a nightmare for all. Moving to another country is looking pretty good right now!! I hear Costa Rica is not too bad!!

8. Michelle Says:
   August 6th, 2009 at 10:51 am

   Amen to all of those who have written in!
   We have the best health CARE in the world, we need to look at health INSURANCE and make changes., some great solutions were mentioned.
   The government cannot even estimate the funding for the Cash for Clunkers program, how are they going to estimate the billions of dollars pumped into the system with tax payers footing the bill as usual? If beer was free at the pub on Wednesday nites, think any one would show up?

9. Su S. Says:
   August 7th, 2009 at 4:45 am

   I say that before a politician approves this mandate they be required to spend time in a Medical office or facility to see what it takes to implement all those regulations! I have worked in the Medical for field for 28 years. What used to take a physician, nurse or Medical assist and receptionist now takes added personel ( ie referrals, Compliance officer, etc., etc., etc.,) thus the need to cover wages and benefits, thus the increase in fees and the increase in Medical care in general! I can not immagine the nightmare that will be created by more government regulated insurance carriers! Medicare and Medicaid are a nightmare due to the crazy and forever changing regulations. We have the best Health care system in the world. The government needs to go go after the Insurance companies, the lawyer, and those truly commiting fraud against the health care system that are NOT in the medical field.
   I suggest that they expand Medicaid to cover those that fall through the cracks. ( ie the working poor) make it more difficult for illegal aliens to get covered by Medicaid ( the US citizens are paying for this) and create and ensure that this country is providing secure and economically sound employment that is able to offer Medical benefits etc.
   Medicare and Medicaid are the prime examples of the failure of government run Health Care!!!!!

10. Carolyn LeComte Says:
    August 7th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    As a health care professional and veteran health care consultant, I am deeply committed to healthcare reform. I believe the best option is nationalized health care. My second choice would be a basic health care package available to all for the care of simple acute illnesses and chronic problems. In this scenario, those who choose to do so and have the monetary resources could purchase insurance supplements to extend their lives regardless of cost and regardless of the certainty of the outcome: death. Those who are wealthy can opt to jet to any country in the world for health care or they can choose to pay for the expensive technology available in this country to prolong their days–with or without insurance. Death is inevitable. Health care is not. Basic health care for every American citizen is affordable and humane. If technology is rationed to extend life when death is inevitable, then that is a fair price to pay for basic primary care for every citizen of this country.

11. Dawn Whitley Says:
    August 8th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    I am totally opposed to another government healthcare program. Medicare and Medicaid are so ill run, it’s laughable to think that our government could add another to force most Americans to be a part of. I agree that any politician who supports this program should be required to be the first to sign up. As for me, I don’t won’t someone telling me my life, when reaching an advanced age is not worth the money to spend to treat any illiness I may have. I, as well as all LEGAL Americans have every right to live as long as possible and not rollover to die for the sake of “rationed healthcare”.

12. Sandra Noble Says:
    August 11th, 2009 at 8:19 am

    I am totally opposed to “this” healthcare reform bill. Everyone should wake up. Any time someone is trying to push you into doing something in the time span allotted this bill, you should see red flags. There is generally a very good reason for those flags. How can our elected officials vote in our best intertest supposedly, on something they have not even read? How many phsician offices have they visited, or how many medical billing departments have they taken the time to come in and talk to people who do know what type of healthcare reform will work? How many of them have ever worked for or visited a claims processing payor? Get a forum together involving the people I have mentioned and you will end up with a viable plan. I doubt it would be bogged down in 1,000 pages of rhetoric garbage.

13. Connie C Says:
    August 11th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    I have a couple of comments. First of government should have no business telling Americans or anyone else what kind of health insurance they should be allowed to have. We have illegal immigrants coming into the United States at staggering amounts, most of whom I am certain, sign up for Medicaid. Now California is bankrupt or nearly so. Abortions are common day practices these days. There is no sanctity of life with these decision to abort babies (at no regard to the babies, themselves). Government is playing God in allowing these innocent babies to go through horrible and devastating outcomes. Now government wants to tell an older person when they should die. I heard of a story yesterday about a woman in Virginia (I believe) who was told her cancer treatment would not be allowed by her insurance company but that they would pay for a euthanisia pill. Give me a break. Government and insurance companies apparently got their medical degree out of dimestore comic book. When did God roll over and say government and insurance companies have the ability to determine when life should be over. I am a Christian and my Bible tells me that God and only God make the determinations as to when one is born and when one is summoned in death. Americans, stand up and take a stand against this so-called government for the people. This county was founded upon our forefathers belief in God. Our nation is living out Roman’s 1. If you are not familiar with it, get ahold of a Bible and read it. It is down-right scary. Americans need to wake up and tell this president and his representatives that they are making a huge mistake. I fear for the “government” who will have blood stained hands at judgement because of the number of babies they have allowed to be aborted and elderly that have been taken from this world prematurely. God have mercy on our nation.

14. Pat Scott Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 8:51 am

    I am in favor of a national health care reform. Insurance companies have been too greedy, as the
    banking industry was, and the auto industry. The reason Medicare and Medicaid have such ugly rules
    is due to the fact that Doctors and others got greedy as well. My medical insurance costs twice as
    much as it used to, and I have to fight for everything that gets paid. It’s time for somethig different.

15. Jane Mansell Says:
    August 15th, 2009 at 2:54 am

    When will we, in this country, learn! I was born in England and grew up in Canada, and while I enjoyed my childhood, I have been in the US legally since 1970….we DO NOT want government run health care…we will loose good doctors as well if this happens. Wake up America…less govenment in ourl lives…

16. Jane Mansell Says:
    August 15th, 2009 at 2:55 am

    PS….Amen to Connie C’s comments….

17. Rae M Says:
    August 17th, 2009 at 9:12 am

    It’s easy to blame the “greedy” insurance companies and medical facilities isn’t it- the fact is that typical insurance companies and hospitals have only about a 3% profit margin…a lot less than other industries. Let’s not demonize the very people/industries that provide our country with a great vehicle for healthcare. It’s not perfect, but it is pretty darned good, mostly when you compare our healthcare innovations, outcomes and coverage to that of other countries with nationalized plans.

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