Hi fellow listers,
I am forwarding this to the list because many organizations serving persons
who have a visual impairment teach computer skills, and this bill could
affect the coverage of such instruction through medicare by professionals
such as rehabilitation teachers.
Hi All,
I'm forwarding this out to a variety of folks who either have a visual
impairment or work with those who do, particularly those who may be affected
by the passage or non-passage of the bill mentioned below. For those not
familiar with it, the bill relates to the coverage of visual rehabilitation
services by medicare, much like Occupational Therapy services are covered,
but this would include Rehabilitation Teaching, Orientation and Mobility,
and Low Vision Services. For more information on this bill go to
www.medicarenow.org
Below you will find a list of some of the key players to contact in the
various states.
Thanks,
Patty Arnold
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 1:41 PM
Subject: An urgent message from Bruci Hawkins, your Division 11 Chair
Dear Colleague,
The consumers you serve and your fellow colleagues need your help. The
Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act (S.1967/H.R.2484) has reached a
critical point. To be successful, our bill must be attached to a larger bill
dealing with payments for medical services if it is to have a chance of
reaching Congress for a vote. TIMING IS CRITICAL.
The most important Senators and Representatives to reach at this point are
those with jurisdiction over Medicare. (See the list at the end of this
message.) Please CALL your Senator or Representative and let them know
1. Call their local office or the toll-free U.S. Capitol switchboard at
1-866-727-7726 and ask for your Senator's/Representative's office. When
connected to that office, ask to speak with the Legislative Assistant
responsible for health care.
2. ask that the Senator/Representative commit to including S.1967/H.R.2484
in the Medicare legislation being considered this fall. Be polite but
persistent. Stress that vision rehabilitation services will benefit many
older people in their states and districts.
3. If they ask you a question that you can't answer, promise to get back to
them, then call or email Lorraine Lidoff for assistance.
4. E-mail ([log in to unmask]) or call (508 240 6510) Lorraine with the results
of these contacts, whether positive or negative. Each one is very important,
and they follow up after you make each call.
The first time or two that I called my Senator/Representative, I was very
nervous, but I soon found out that it wasn't so difficult after all. A quick
1-2 minute conversation letting the Aide know you are a constituent, that
the bill is important for seniors, and if they have any questions you (or
someone) will get back to them with answers is all it takes.
This is an important time for our seniors and our profession. I hope you
will join me in making these critical phone calls.
Thank you!
Bruci Hawkins, RTC, COMS
Chair, Division 11 (Rehabilitation Teaching)
AERBVI
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS - *sponsors of S.1967
Sen. Baucus (MT)
Sen. Bingaman (NM)
Sen. Breaux (LA)
Sen. Conrad (ND)
Sen. Daschle (SD)
Sen. Graham (FL)
Sen. Gramm (TX)
Sen. Grassley (IA)
Sen. Hatch (UT)
Sen. Jeffords (VT)
Sen. Kerry (MA - prime sponsor of S.1967)*
Sen. Kyl (AZ)
Sen. Lincoln (AR)
Sen. Lott (MS)
Sen. Murkowski (AK)
Sen. Nickles (OK)
Sen. Rockefeller (WV)*
Sen. Snowe (ME)
Sen. Thomas (WY)
Sen. Thompson (TN)
Sen. Torricelli (NJ)*
HOUSE REPUBLICAN WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE MEMBERS - *sponsors of H.R.2484
Rep. Thomas (CA)
Rep. Crane (IL)
Rep. Shaw (FL)*
Rep. Johnson (CT)
Rep. Houghton (NY)*
Rep. Herger (CA)
Rep. McCrery (LA)
Rep. Camp (MI)
Rep. Ranstad (MN)
Rep. Nussle (IA)
Rep. Johnson (TX)
Rep. Dunn (WA)
Rep. Collins (GA)
Rep. Portman (OH)
Rep. English (PA)
Rep. Watkins (OK)
Rep. Hayworth (AZ)
Rep. Weller (IL)
Rep. Hulshof (MO)
Rep. McInnis (CO)
Rep. Lewis (KY)
Rep. Foley (FL)*
Rep. Brady (TX)
Rep. Ryan (WI)
HOUSE REPUBLICAN ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS - *sponsors of H.R.2484
Rep. Tauzin (LA)
Rep. Bilirakis (FL)
Rep. Barton (TX)
Rep. Upton (MI)*
Rep. Stearns (FL)
Rep. Gillmor (OH)
Rep. Greenwood (PA)
Rep. Cox (CA)
Rep. Deal (GA)
Rep. Largent (OK)
Rep. Burr (NC)
Rep. Whitfield (KY)
Rep. Ganske (IA)
Rep. Norwood (GA)
Rep. Cubin (WY)
Rep. Shimkus (IL)
Rep. Wilson (NM)
Rep. Shadegg (AZ)
Rep. Fossella (NY)*
Rep. Blunt (MO)
Rep. Davis (VA)
Rep. Ehrlich (MD)
Rep. Buyer (IN)*
Rep. Radanovich (CA)
Rep. Pitts (PA)
Rep. Bono (CA)
Rep. Walden (OR)
Rep. Terry (NE)
Rep. Bass (NH)
Rep. Fletcher (KY)*
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
|
