As the health care reform policy debate continues, Americans increasingly are asking where to read the text of the health care reform legislation that members of Congress are debating and how to share their input. 

 While numerous alternatives presently are pending before Congress, much of recent discussion and debate has focused around one of the following bills:

• H.R. 3200: America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,  introduced in the House by Rep Dingell, John D. on July 14, 2009  the text of which as originally introduced may be reviewed  here.  It has been the focus of significant mark up negotiation through out July before the following House Energy and Commerce, House Ways & Means, and House Education & Labor Committees; and
• S. __, the Affordable Health Choices Act approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, the text of which as approved may be reviewed here.

When reviewing these bills, Americans should keep in mind that members of Congress are engaged in ongoing negotiations about the specific provisions and language of these bills, as well as other legislation.  Official developments generally may be monitored here.

Many American businesses and individuals also are asking about how and where to share their views, how to organize others to do the same and other questions about getting the word out. Here a some quick ideas. We encourage others to share. 

• The Coalition For Patient Empowerment and the Coalition for Responsible Health Care Reform linkedin group are two one of many resources where individuals are sharing information about these matters. 
• Concerned individuals should share their views both by faxing, e-mailing or telephoning key decisionmakers in Congress, as well as joining and participating in activities of other individuals and groups that share their concerns.  Contact and get involved with this and other groups that share your concerns.
• Contact the offices of your Congressional representatives in the House and Senate as well as other members of Congress that support your views and ask them about other groups and ways that you can share your views. They will welcome your input and involvement.
•  If you are aware of or involved in a group that shares your views, we encourage you to share it on the Coalition for Responsible Health Care Reform linkedin group.  If you or others are planning a town hall or other health care reform meeting, use this or other linked in groups to spread the word.
• If you are interested in volunteering to plan events in your region, let us know.   

We also encourage you and others to join the discussion about these and other health care reform proposals and concerns by joining the Coalition for Responsible Health Care Reform Group on Linkedin, and registering to receive these updates here.

When communicating, consider targeting your messages to members of Congress whose votes are likely to be impacted by your communications. 

For instance, with both the House and Senate in the majority in Congress, Democrats generally have greater control over what legislation moves forward.  The Democratic Leadership of the House and Sentate generally can get legislation passed by their members as long as they can maintain consensus among the members of their parties.  In connection with the health care reform proposals, however, cost and other considerations have made maintaining a consensus more difficult than on other legislation.  Certain fiscally moderate members of the Democratic Party have expressed concern about the expense and other aspects of their Leadership proposed health care reform proposals.  These Democrats in Congress generally the members of Congress whose votes are most likely to be impacted by public input and feedback generally and from voters in their districts and contributors specifically. 

In the House of Representatives, these members likely are the “Blue Dog Democrats.”  Read about Blue Dog Democrats here.    

The fiscal conservatism of Blue Dog Democrats makes them more likely to listen to concerns about the cost and other concerns relating to the health care reform bills touted by the Democrat Leadership in the House and Senate.  In fact, many Blue Dog Democrats already are speaking out about their concerns about the cost and other aspects of the Bill. 

Contact from voters and contributors in their districts and others could make a major difference in the ability that the House Democrat Leadership needs to pass their Bill.  Immediately contacting these members and getting others – particularly voters and contributors in the districts that elect these members – is one of the most important steps that concerned Americans can do to position their concerns to be heard.   

For most concerned voters, telephone or fax contact is the best means to convey these messages.  To minimize spam, most members only accept e-mail submitted through their website links.  Security concerns can delay receipt of written correspondence for weeks.

For persons interested in making their voices heard and sharing information with others who wish to do the same, the following contact information may be of interest:

The number of the Capital Switchboard is 202-224-3121.

The Blue Dog Leadership Team and there telephone and fax numbers are:

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration, Telephone: 202.225.2801 , Fax: 202.225.5823

Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy,Telephone: 202-225-4031, Fax: (202) 226-6866

Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, Telephone: 202-225-4031, Fax: (202) 226-3944

Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip, Telephone:  202-225-6401, Fax: (202) 226-6422

The Blue Dog Members and their telephone numbers are :

• Altmire, Jason (PA-04),(202)225-2565
• Arcuri, Mike (NY-24), (202)225-3665
• Baca, Joe (CA-43),(202)225-6161
• Barrow, John (GA-12), (202) 225-2823
• Berry, Marion (AR-01), (202) 225-4076
• Bishop, Sanford (GA-02), (202) 225-3631
• Boren, Dan (OK-02), (202) 225-2701
• Boswell, Leonard (IA-03), (202) 225-3806
• Boyd, Allen (FL-02), (202) 225-5235
• Bright, Bobby (AL-02), (202) 225-2901
• Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18), (202) 225-6131
• Carney, Christopher (PA-10), (202) 225-3731
• Chandler, Ben (KY-06), (202) 225-4706
• Childers, Travis (MS-01), (202) 225-4306
• Cooper, Jim  (TN 5^th), (202) 225-4311
• Costa, Jim  (CA 20^th), (202) 225-3341
• Cuellar, Henry  (TX 28^th), (202)  225-1640
• Dahlkemper, Kathleen A. (PA 3^rd), (202) 225-5406
• Davis, Lincoln (TN 4^th),(202) 225-6831
• Donnelly, Joe  (IN 2^nd), (202) 225-3915
• Ellsworth, Brad  (IN 8^th), (202) 225-4636
• Giffords, Gabrielle  (AZ 8^th), (202) 225-2542
• Gordon, Bart  (TN 6^th), (202) 225-4231
• Griffith, Parker  (AL 5^th), (202) 225-4801
• Harman, Jane  (CA 36^th), (202) 225-8220
• Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie  (SD At Large), (202) 225-2801
• Hill, Baron P.  (IN 9^th), (202) 225-5315
• Holden, Tim  (PA 17^th), (202) 225-5546
• Kratovil, Frank Jr. (MD 1^st), (202) 225-5311
• McIntyre, Mike  (NC 7^th), (202) 225-2731
• Marshall, Jim  (GA 8^th), (202) 225-6531
• Matheson, Jim  (UT 2^nd), (202) 225-3011
• Melancon, Charlie  (LA 3^rd), (202) 225-4031
• Michaud, Michael H. (ME 2^nd), (202) 225-6306
• Minnick, Walt  (ID 1^st), (202) 225-6611
• Mitchell, Harry E.  (AZ 5^th), (202) 225-2190
• Moore, Dennis  (KS 3^rd), (202) 225-2865
• Murphy, Patrick J.  (PA 8^th), (202) 225-4276
• Nye, Glenn C.  (VA 2^nd), (202) 225-4215
• Peterson, Collin C.  (MN 7^th), (202) 225-2165
• Pomeroy, Earl  (ND At Large), (202) 225-2611
• Ross, Mike  (AR 4^th), (202)  225-3772
• Salazar, John T.  (CO 3^rd), (202) 225-4761
• Sanchez, Loretta  (CA 47^th), (202) 225-2965
• Schiff, Adam B.  (CA 29^th), (202) 225-4176
• Scott, David  (GA 13^th), (202) 225-2939
• Shuler, Heath  (NC 11^th), (202) 225-6401
• Space, Zachary T. (OH 18^th), (202) 225-6265
• Tanner, John S.  (TN 8^th), (202) 225-4714
• Taylor, Gene  (MS 4^th), (202) 225-5772
• Thompson, Mike  (CA 1^st), (202) 225-3311
• Wilson, Charles (OH-06), (202) 225-5705

We also encourage you and others to join the discussion about these and other health care reform proposals and concerns by joining the Coalition for Responsible Health Care Reform Group on Linkedin, registering to receive these updates here The author of this article, Curran Tomko and Tarski LLP Health Care Practice Chair Cynthia Marcotte Stamer has extensive experience advising and assisting health industry clients and others about a diverse range of health care policy, regulatory, compliance, risk management and operational concerns.  You can get more information about her health industry experience here.  

If you need assistance evaluating or formulating comments on the proposed reforms contained in the House Bill or on other health industry matters please contact Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, CTT Health Care Practice Group Chair, at cstamer@cttlegal.com, 214.270.2402 or your other favorite Curran Tomko Tarski LLP attorney. 

Other Helpful Resources & Other Information

We hope that this information is useful to you.   If you found these updates of interest, you also be interested in one or more of the following other recent articles published on our electronic Solutions Law Press Health Care Update publication available here. If you or someone else you know would like to receive future updates about developments on these and other concerns, please register to receive this Solutions Law Press Health Care Update here and be sure that we have your current contact information – including your preferred e-mail- by creating or updating your profile at here. You can access other recent updates and other informative publications and resources provided by Curran Tomko Tarski LLP attorneys and get information about its attorneys’ experience, briefings, speeches and other credentials here.

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©2009 Cynthia Marcotte Stamer.  All rights reserved.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 4:58 pm and is filed under Consumer Driven Health Care, Employer, Health Care, Health Care Provider, Health Care Quality, Health Care Reform, Health Plan, Health Plans, Patient Empowerment, Public Policy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.