Posted by gardenergirl on May 10, 2006, at 15:14:12
Bless Senator Dick Durbin!
As I write this, he's speaking in opposition of S. 1955, the Enzi health insurance bill (HIMMA) on the Senate floor. If passed, this bill would allow small businesses to purchase group health insurance which would be exempt from state mandated consumer insurance protections, including any mental health benefit mandates.
One of the reasons he gave for opposing this bill is that it would discriminate against those with mental illness and would further the stigma associated with seeking treatment. Amen!
If you are interested in contacting your senators to voice your view of this bill (fyi, I called mine urging them to oppose it), you can find info on this at http://www.apapractice.org/apo/himma.html# Note, you do not need to be a member of APA to use this tool. The pre-written letters and phone script will need to be edited slightly, as they refer to the sender as a psychologist.
Begin excerpt:
Outreach to Senators
<snip>
• Option 1: Use the APA Practice Organization’s online Legislative Action Center to customize and submit a pre-written letter opposing HIMMA with just a few clicks of a mouse at http://capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=8616436&type=ML. You may also use the Legislative Action Center to contact your attorneys general and governors, many of whom are under pressure to withdraw their opposition to S. 1955.• Option 2: Call the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for one of your senator’s offices. Urge them to vote “no” on S. 1955 and “no” on cloture.
• Option 3: In the unlikely event that the Senate switchboard is busy, call your senators’ offices directly. Urge them to vote “no” on S. 1955 and “no” on cloture. To find a senator’s direct number, go to: http://www.senate.gov/general/
contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.Suggested Phone Message
The Practice Organization has provided the following suggested message for members to use in their phone calls to senators’ offices:I am calling to urge Senator _______ to vote “no” on S. 1955, Senator Enzi’s controversial insurance deregulation bill, and to vote “no” on cloture. I know all too well the stigma and discrimination that have historically plagued people who suffer from mental health problems. The Senate should not overturn 30 years of state mental health laws enacted to ensure that patients get the care they need. Please ask the senator to do whatever he/she can to defeat S. 1955. Thank you.
End excerpt.
If you wish to voice your opinion to your US senators about this bill, either opposing or supporting , you should do this TODAY, as it could come to a vote later today, and it's going to be a close one.
Thanks for your consideration.
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:642242
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060417/msgs/642242.html