An Open Letter to the US Congress:
Dear Member of Congress:
We represent a broad constituency of academic, clinical and health administrative
professionals who have dedicated our professional lives to the people who receive
care in the American healthcare system. We have taken care of patients, managed
large and small healthcare organizations, taught young students medicine and public
health and conducted research on the quality of healthcare and ways to improve the
healthcare system for all Americans. As healthcare experts and concerned citizens,
we come together in this letter to reaffirm that the current healthcare system is in
crisis and is not sustainable in the future. The bills under consideration contain
provisions that will seriously address problems in healthcare and must be reconciled.
We reaffirm the importance of meaningful policy change in this legislative session
and call upon you to act.
The lack of insurance for 46 million citizens and the rising costs of care for everyone
must be addressed. We believe there are a minimum of policy changes that must be
included in any Health Reform legislation and urge you to adopt the following
provisions:
Provide coverage to 35-40 million additional US citizens
Increase competition in the private insurance market and eliminate
discrimination based on pre-existing conditions in the purchase of health
insurance
Cover essential preventive care and improve access to primary care
Ensure affordability of health insurance for low- and moderate-income families
through sufficient subsidies of families and small businesses.
Slow the rise in costs of healthcare and health insurance premiums for
everyone
Adopt a shared responsibility for achieving savings and financing the added
coverage through contributions from employers, insurance companies,
hospitals, doctors, drug companies and patients
Support and disseminate the results of Comparative Effectiveness research to
help practitioners and patients chose the best healthcare
Expand the Federal, State and private sector commitment to improving the
quality of healthcare for all citizens
While this list may not meet all of the policy changes that any one of us supports, it
does offer a core set of provisions that each of us can support.
We are extremely concerned that a small but vocal minority of people in the current
debate have misstated and distorted numerous facts in an effort to scare our citizens.
This is unconscionable and you must not be distracted from the critical task at hand.
For the record, here are facts that you must consider as you move forward. The
current bills
Do not allow government to ration healthcare. To the contrary, they promote
the use of Comparative Effectiveness Research to give doctors and patients
more information about the latest research so that patients can get the best
care available. How can anyone be opposed to giving physicians the best
information available to treat patients?
Will not promote or allow euthanasia. To the contrary, they only allow senior
citizens to have an optional consultation with a physician about what end of life
procedures they want or do not want.
Will not allow government to deny benefits to Down-Syndrome children or any
other disabled person. By expanding Medicaid the proposals will provide
coverage for many disabled persons not now eligible for insurance.
Will not break the budget. The President and Congress have vowed to make it
budget neutral.
May slow the rate of increase in some provider payments but will not diminish
benefits or access to physicians. Providers will receive additional payments
from the newly insured persons that will offset proposed savings to help
finance coverage.
Will not take away existing health insurance coverage. The bills will give
anyone without insurance the option to purchase health insurance regardless
of their health status and economic ability.
Will not cover illegal aliens. The legislation being considered does not cover or
include immigrants not lawfully present in the US.
In summary, we strongly believe that the legislation being considered by the
Congress significantly improves upon the status quo of our healthcare system.
Congress has a moral and ethical obligation to conclude their deliberations this fall
and send to the President a Health reform bill that will be signed. We often hear that
America has the best healthcare system in the world. While that is debatable, we do
know that no other nation spends the amount of money for healthcare and has such
poor outcomes as we do. This is simply unsustainable. It is time to improve
healthcare for all our citizens.
Respectfully,
THE UNDERSIGNED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
(Due to the overwhelming response, we are delayed in updating. If your name is not
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Stuart Altman, Ph.D. Larry Lewin
Sol C. Chaikin Professor of Nat'l Health Executive Consultant
Policy Chevy Chase, MD
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA Clifton Gaus, ScD.
President
Uwe Reinhardt, Ph.D. Health Professor, Inc.
James Madison Professor of Political Holmes Beach, FL
Economy
Princeton University Kenneth Thorpe, Ph.D.
Princeton, NJ Robert W. Woodruff Professor & Chair
Emory University School of Public Health
Peter Budetti, MD., JD. Atlanta, GA
Edward E. & Helen T. Bartlett Foundation
Professor Carl Volpe
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Healthcare Consultant
Center Agoura Hills, CA
Tulsa, OK
James Robinson, Ph.D.
Judy Feder, Ph.D. Kaiser Permanente Professor of Health
Professor of Public Policy Economics
Georgetown University University of California, Berkeley
Washington, DC Berkeley, CA
Charles Kahn Greg Scott
President Partner
Federation of American Hospitals Deloitte Consulting
Washington, DC Pittsburgh, PA
Donald Berwick. MD. Dr. James Block
President and CEO President J A Block Health Associates,
Institute for Healthcare Improvement Former President Johns Hopkins Hospital
Boston, MA Senior Health Advisor, The Center to
Advance Palliative Care
Linda Aiken, Ph.D. Baltimore, MD
The Claire M. Fagin Leadership Professor
of Nursing Jerri Kaple Boswell, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA AZ Health Sciences Center
Tucson, AZ
Christopher Dawes
CEO Len M. Nichols, Ph.D.
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Director, Health Policy Program
Stanford New America Foundation
Palo Alto, CA Washington, DC
Harvey J Cohen, MD., PhD. William Nevin, MD.
Deborah E. Addicott-John A. Kriewall and Pulmonary Associates of Southern AZ
Elizabeth A. Haehl Family Professor in Tucson, AZ
Pediatrics
Stanford University Judith Lave Ph.D.
Palo Alto, CA Professor and Chair, Health Policy &
Management
Anya Wallack Graduate School of Public Health
Executive Director University of Pittsburgh
Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute Pittsburgh, PA
Boston, MA
Gloria J. Bazzoli, PhD
Dorothy Rice Bon Secours Professor of Health
Professor Emerita Administration
Institute for Health & Aging Department of Health Administration
University of California, San Francisco Virginia Commonwealth University
San Francisco, CA Richmond, VA 23298-0203
Robert M Crane Arnold Epstein, MD.
Health Policy Consultant Professor and Chairman
Encinitas, CA Dept of Health Policy & Management
Harvard Medical School
Merwyn R. Greenlick, Ph.D. Boston, MA
Representative
Oregon House of Representatives Michael Lin, MSPH, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair Emeritus Assistant Professor, Department of
Oregon Health & Science University Health Policy and Management
Portland, OR University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Thomas Rice, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Health Services Howard Degenholtz
Vice Chancellor, Academic Personnel Associate Professor
UCLA School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh
Los Angeles, CA Pittsburgh, PA
Bruce Merlin Fried, Esq. William L. Roper, MD, MPH
Attorney Dean, School of Medicine
Washington, DC Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs
CEO, UNC Health Care System
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Ellen Rigsby, Ph.D. Sheryl M Neely, MSW
Associate Professor Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
Saint Mary's College of CA Butler, PA
Berkeley, CA
J. Sanford Schwartz, MD
Sherri Sager, MPA Leon Hess Professor of Medicine and
Chief Government Relations Officer Health Management & Economics
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital School of Medicine and the Wharton
Palo Alto, CA School, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Fernando R. Kirchner, MD
Retired Professor Michelle M. Mello, J.D., Ph.D.
Head and Neck Surgery Professor of Law and Public Health
Univ. of Kansas Med. Sch. Department of Health Policy and
Tucson, AZ Management
Harvard School of Public Health
Lisa Simpson MB, BCh, MPH, FAAP Boston, MA
Professor and Director
Child Policy Research Center Marianne Martin, M.Ed.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Tucson, AZ
Center
Cincinnati, OH Jean C. Whelan, Ph.D., RN
Assistant Adjunct Professor of Nursing
Gordon H. DeFriese, PhD School of Nursing, University of
Professor of Social Medicine Emeritus Pennsylvania
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Philadelphia, PA
Chapel Hill, NC
R. Vance Hall
Katheryn Ruffel Senior Scientist, Professor Emeritus
Retired Medical Social Worker APA, Univ. of Kansas Bureau of Child
Butler, PA Research
Overland Park, KS
Stephen S. Mick, Ph.D.
Glasgow Professor Jerome L. Epstein. BSc.Phm., M.D.
Virginia Commonwealth University Scottsdale, AZ
Richmond, Virginia
Judith Bonaduce
Barbara J Turner MD, MSED Associate Course Director
Professor of Medicine School of Nursing
Director, Primary Care Physician Scientist Family Community Health
Fellowship Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Philadelphia, PA
Patricia W. Stone, PhD, FAAN Lauren M. Massimo MSN, CRNP
Associate Professor of Nursing Nurse Practitioner
Director, Center for Health Policy University of Pennsylvania Health System
Columbia University School of Nursing Philadelphia, PA
New York, NY
Pamela Ryan BA, RN
C. Ross Anthony, Ph.D. Tucson, AZ
Director of Global Health
RAND John F. Beasley
Arlington, VA 22202 President and CEO
ARCHIMEDES, INC.
Julie Fairman, Ph.D., RN San Francisco, CA
Professor
School of Nursing Leonard M. Fleck, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania Professor of Philosophy/Medical Ethics
Philadelphia. PA College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University
Joy Buck, APRN, Ph.D. East Lansing, MI
Associate Professor WVU School of
Nursing & RCB HSC, Eastern Division Francis E. Johnston
Martinsburg, WV Professor Emeritus of Anthropology
Distinguished Senior Fellow
Ciaran S. Phibbs, PhD Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute
Associate Professor of Pediatrics University of Pennsylvania
Stanford University School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA
Stanford, CA
Alexander G. Fiks, MD, MSCE
Ahrin Mishan Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Executive Director Attending Physician, Children's Hospital
The Alex Hillman Family Foundation of Philadelphia & University of
Philadelphia, PA Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
Karen Drenkard, PhD, RN
Fairfax, Virginia Joan Mechlin, PMHBC, MSN
Philadelphia, PA
Eileen Lake, PhD, RN
Associate Professor, School of Nursing Arlene Smaldone, DNSc, CPNP
Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Assistant Professor
Research Columbia University School of Nursing
University of Pennsylvania New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Charles H Debrovner, MD Joanne Spetz, Ph. D.
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Professor
Gynecology University of California, San Francisco
NYU Langone Medical Center San Mateo, CA
New York, NY
Jack Needleman, Ph.D.
Gary S. Kaplan, MD Professor of Health Services
Chairman and CEO UCLA School of Public Health
Virginia Mason Medical Center Los Angeles, CA
Seattle, WA
Judith Baron, Ph.D.
Gordon R, Lang, M.D, FACP Psychologist
Kidney Disease Specialists S.C. West Chester University
Schaumburg, Il Berwyn, PA
Salimah Meghani, Ph. D. CRNP David S. Abernethy BA, MPH
University of Pennsylvania Senior Vice President
Philadelphia, PA EmblemHealth
Washington, DC
Mary A. Blegen, RN, Ph.D.
Professor in Community Health System Arthur Caplan, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for Patient Safety Director Center for Bioethics
School of Nursing - University of University of Pennsylvania
California, San Francisco Philadelphia, PA
San Francisco, CA
Ann Rhodes, MA Nursing, J. D.
Patricia Rogers, MA Nursing Clinical Associate Professor
Nurse University of Iowa
University of Pennsylvania Iowa City, Iowa
Haddon Township, NJ
Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Sarah Kagan, Ph.D., RN George S. Pepper Professor of Public
Professor of Gerontological Nursing Health & Preventive Medicine
University of Pennsylvania Vice Dean for Institutional Affairs, School
Philadelphia, PA of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Barbara A. Blakeney M.S., RN Philadelphia, PA
Innovation Specialist
Massachusetts General Hospital Gary Raskob, Ph. D.
Waltham, Massachusetts Dean, College of Public Health
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center
Oklahoma City, OK
Rebecca H. Bryan, MSN, CRNP Dylan Small, Ph.D
Faculty and Clinical Coordinator Associate Professor, Department of
Family Health Nurse Practitioner Program Statistics
University of Pennsylvania School of The Wharton School
Nursing University of Pennsylvania
Haddonfield, NJ Philadelphia, PA
Marjorie Muecke, Ph.D. Diana W. Hilberman, Dr.PH, MSPH
University of Pennsylvania School of Professor and Director
Nursing MPH Programs in Health Policy and
Philadelphia, PA Management
UCLA School of Public Health
Lynn Unruh, PhD, RN Los Angeles, CA
Associate Professor
Department of Health Management & Paul Batalden, M.D.
Informatics Professor, Center for Leadership and
University of Central Florida Improvement
Orlando, FL The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy
and Clinical Practice
Jeane Ann Grisso, M.D, M.Sc. Dartmouth Medical School
Professor of Medicine and Nursing Hanover, NH
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA Sonia C. Smith
Program Coordinator
Bernard Wagman, MD University of Maryland School of Nursing
Clinical Associate Professor Office of Professional Development &
George Washington University Continuing Education
Bethesda, MD Baltimore, MD
Sankey Williams, MD Tina Foster MD, MPH
Sol Katz Professor of Medicine Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
University of Pennsylvania Lebanon, NH
Haverford, PA
Kathleen Brochu, RNC
Neera Goyal, MD Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Philadelphia, PA Team Leader for ObGyn Generalist Team
Weathersfield Bow, Vermont
Leif Wellington Haase
Director, California Program Jo Ivey Boufford, M. D.
New America Foundation President
921 11th Street, Suite 901 New York Academy of Medicine
Sacramento, CA New York, NY
Dianne L. Chambless Ph.D. MA Carol Emmott, Ph. D.
Professor Leader, Health Services Practice
University of Pennsylvania Russell Reynolds Associates
Philadelphia, PA San Francisco, CA
Barbara Krimgold, Maureen Bisognano
National Program Director, Kellogg Executive Vice President and Chief
Health Scholars Operating Officer
Center for Advancing Health Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Washington, DC Cambridge. MA
Julia Lynch Ph.D. Jessica Way, BSN
Janice and Julian Bers Assistant Health Related Technology Instructor
Professor in the Soc Sciences Philadelphia School District
University of Pennsylvania Elkins Park, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Cynthia Connolly Ph.D., RN
Eleanor Rees, MS, CGC Associate Professor
Certified Genetic Counselor University of Pennsylvania School of
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Nursing
Waterbury, VT Philadelphia PA
David G. Smith Tom Tomlinson Ph. D.
Senior Research Scholar and Richter Professor, Director for the Center for
Professor of Political Science Ethics and Humanities in the Life
Swarthmore College Sciences, College of Human Medicine
Swarthmore, PA Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Dr. Barbara Riegel
Professor and Interim Chair, Family and June Roman, MSN, RN
Community Health Division Faculty
School of Nursing University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pa
Philadelphia, PA
Nancy E. Donaldson, RN, DNSc.
Jack Hudes, Dr.PH. Nurse Scientist
Former Vice President San Carlos, CA
Health Plan Program Management
Kaiser Permanente Judith Long, MD
La Canada, CA Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
David A. Asch, MD, MBA
Executive Director, Robert D. Eilers
Professor of Health Care Management
and Economics
Leonard Davis Institute of Health
Economics
Philadelphia, PA
Barry D. Smith, MD
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Emeritus
Chairman Emeritus Dartmouth Hitchcock
Medical Center
Lebanon, NH
Karen L. Peifer PhD, MPH
College of Nursing
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, CO
Michael A Ashburn, MD, MPH
Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical
Care
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Janet D. Allan Ph.D. MS
Dean & Professor
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Ian M. Bennett MD Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine
Philadelphia, PA