Tell Congress Why You Want Health Care Reform for People with Arthritis!

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, the U. S. Congress told the Arthritis Foundation that they need to hear from people like us about health care reform.  The Arthritis Foundation sent out a message the same day that read in part:

“It is very important that you tell your Members of Congress about the unique health care needs of people with arthritis.  If you are currently experiencing challenges accessing or paying for health care, please tell Congress your story.  If you don’t tell them about the problem, Congress can’t include a solution in the legislation.” 

Now, I am asking you to take a few minutes to let your Congressional representatives know how you feel.  Tell them your story.  Tell them if you struggle to get quality health care at an affordable price because of your arthritis.  Tell them if you have to decide whether to buy groceries or pay for your medications.  Tell them if your mounting debt is due to medical bills your insurance provider refuses to cover.  Tell them your story.

People who don’t have a chronic condition do not know how inadequate health insurance or lack of health insurance affects us.  Now is the time for you to tell them. 

Don’t delay on this one.  According to the Arthritis Foundation, Congressional committees will start discussing health care reform legislation this week (if they haven’t already).  This is your chance to tell them your point of view while it is still in committee and before it goes to the Senate or House of Representatives for a vote.

Get started now.

Arthritis Bill Re-Introduced in the Senate! Call to Action!

Great news!  On May 6, 2009, the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act was re-introduced in the Senate by United States Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kit Bond (R-MO) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA)!

The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, on February 26, 2009, and is now also in the U.S. Senate.  The Senate did pass the bill last year before the 110th Congressional session ended.  However, because the House of Representatives did not pass the bill before the 110th session ended, the process must occur again.

Some main points of the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act are that it will:

• Enhance prevention efforts related to arthritis;
• Expand and strengthen research programs relating to juvenile arthritis;
• Establish a juvenile arthritis population database to track our kids and monitor their treatments;
• Enhance support for physician training programs; and
• Establish a loan repayment program for pediatric rheumatologists to address the country’s severe shortage of these critical health professionals.

So, here is your call to action.  Write or call your Congressional representatives to express your support of this crucial bill (H.R. 1210, S. 984).  If you prefer to send a letter, there a few different methods to choose from.   You can send a standard letter showing your support, prepare your own letter or personalize the standard letter.  Anything you do will help this effort!

To obtain contact information to call your representative or to easily send a letter, go to the Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Action Center.  The Arthritis Foundation has made it very easy to show your support!

To read the full text of the Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act currently in the Senate and House of Representatives:

House of Representatives – H.R. 1210

Senate – S. 984

Did You Send Your Letter or Video to Congress Today?

I certainly did!  You can too!  Just go to the Arthritis Foundation’s Arthritis Action Center.  Enter your zip code and determine what you want to send.  It is that easy!

If you have not sent your letter or video yet, what are you waiting for?  The Advocacy & Kids Summit continues through tomorrow, March 4, 2009.  Help support the arthritis advocacy effort by sending in your letter or video while the summit is still going on.

If you enjoy giving your two-cents to Congress, then by all means, volunteer to be an Arthritis Ambassador.  It is an important job that anyone can participate in.

Get Involved With The Advocacy & Kids Summit 2009

The Advocacy & Kids Summit takes place on March 3rd and 4th, 2009 in Washington, DC. Approximately 350 individuals will be at the Summit, meeting with Congressional members about arthritis and how it affects their lives.

I am sure many of you would like to participate. The good news is that it is not too late. Get involved with the summit by sending an email to your Congressional members on one of those two days.

Don’t feel like writing an email? Don’t worry. Send a video instead as part of the Virtual Summit! Just make a video that lasts no more than a few minutes. Let them know who you are, what arthritis means to you and what you want them to do about it. It is that simple.

Go to the Arthritis Foundation’s Arthritis Action Center to get started. Good luck!