Health care providers and others concerned about the  “American’s Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009” health care reform proposal introduced by the House Democratic Leadership should target their input on the Democrats in Congress most likely to listen to those concerns. In the House of Representatives, these members likely are the “Blue Dog Democrats” in the House.  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.