LETTER OF HELP
Joined: 07 Jul 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:38 pm Post subject: LOOKS AS IF WE HAVE FINALLY FOUND AN HONEST POLITICIAN
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I have written talked to all the politicians in Oregon and Washington. No one has taken the time to help out until now....! Here is the letter that was received today.<
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>Dear Arlene:<
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>Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the dialysis industry. I appreciated receiving the information packet you sent to my office as well as the information you provided during our telephone conversation in May.I commend all of you for the diligence you have shown in your efforts to improve medical care and quality of life for dialysis patients.<
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>After carefully reviewing the documents you provided, I did ask a member of my staff to contact Carl to discuss the situation from his prospective. I believe the conversation was beneficial to both parties,and I appreciate the letter you sent thanking my office for the call to Carl.Also in the letter, you asked if I am going to assist you in your efforts.<
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>Since we spoke, I have asked my staff to draft a letter to Tom Scully,the head of CMS, and the ranking members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The letters will outline the concerns and request hearings and an investigation into the practices. We will make sure you are copied on the letters. Also, I already have spoken to Bill Thomas, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. We had a frank discussion, and he expressed his interest in and concern over the information I shared.<
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>I will continue to do what I can to raise awareness of the situation. I, too,very much want patients to receive quality care from the dialysis industry. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact my health care legislative assistant, Paula Burg,in my Washington DC office. She can be reached at 202-225-3536 or 1-877-912-2473.<
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>Thank you again for sharing your concerns with my office.<
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>Sincerely, <
>Brian Baird<
>Member of Congress<
>_________<
>I would really like to stress the fact that you can all contact this office and tell the way the situation is. I however hope someone will find out the fax number when you call the toll free number. He needs to be aware of all problems...<
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Dave
Joined: 07 Jul 2003
Posts: 10
Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2003 4:30 pm Post subject: an honest congressman
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When we call or write to him, what do we need to say? Should it be short and general or long and specific? Is it better to call, write or both?
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Opinion
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 13
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 2:03 pm Post subject: FYI
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Personally I feel that each patient should state what issues they have had to deal with.<
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>Patient choices and issues that personally have happened when you have had no one to go to.<
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dr john
Joined: 19 Jul 2003
Posts: 2
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:48 am Post subject: healthcare
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I read your response to Arlene Mullin and was pleased youseem to have a genuine concern for patients who are poorly treated and even abandoned by the Dialysis Networks; I have an excellent working knowledge of the health care system and I am well aware of the abuses forced not only on patients, but on physicians caught in the trap of the traditional system; I welcome the opportunity to share my experiences with you. John M. Puskas, M.D. (Alliance for Hippocratic Principles) drjohn63@hotmail.com <
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brenda
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 103
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:55 am Post subject: Honest and answers letters from non-state voters
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Surprise of all today when I got this via email today--made the day somewhat better. There is actually one person in the Government that answers emails.... and from people that don't live/vote in his state. Perhaps one was right when she said we might have an honest Politician out there. Perhaps I can find a few more...... <
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>I wrote a letter to Congressman Baird about some of the issues that we are fighting for along with a
ief history of how I know this from a personal level. Here is the reply I received. While it may not answer all the things I asked, there seems to be one out there that has been taking an interest in all or this.<
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>Dear Ms. Seglem:<
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>I appreciate and understand your concerns on this issue, especially since<
>you have first hand knowledge of the procedure and safety concerns.<
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>Every year, nearly 286,000 Americans undergo dialysis treatment. Like<
>healthy kidneys, dialysis keeps one's body in balance by removing waste<
>products and regulating chemical and water balance. This valuable<
>procedure has been used in place of normal kidney functions since the late<
>1960s, but in the United States we have seen an unfortunate trend in our<
>mortality rates.<
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>Statistics show that dialysis patients in the U.S. suffer mortality rates<
>at 23 percent - double that of countries in Western Europe and Japan.<
>Numerous studies have shown this disparity exists and I believe we should<
>fully investigate the potential causes into this health care phenomenon.<
>The lives of patients like yourself depend on high quality care at<
>dialysis treatment centers, and these inadequate, harmful situations<
>cannot go unresolved.<
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>I have requested a hearing by the House Committee on Ways and Means and<
>the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the quality of care dialysis<
>patients receive and to examine what steps are needed to improve the<
>success of our nations dialysis treatment<
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>You may also want to consider contacting Senators Patty Murray and Maria<
>Cantwell to find out if hearings on the Senate side will be rescheduled in<
>the near future.<
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>Thank you again for writing to express your views on this issue. In the<
>future, you may find it helpful to visit my Congressional website at<
>www.house.gov/baird for more information about my activities in the<
>District and issues of importance to you. Please also be aware that all<
>incoming postal mail to my Washington, DC office may encounter delays of<
>eight to eleven business days because of increased security precautions.<
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>As a result, contacting me by email on my website may help to expedite my<
>response to your concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if<
>I may be of further assistance.<
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> Sincerely,<
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> Brian Baird<
> Member of Congress<
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