http://ican-online.org/advocacy/be-change-you-want-see

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ACT NOW!*

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*Time is limited! Call and write before Tuesday, when voting will take
place.*



The AMA has proposed a resolution that would allow them to create billing
codes that would categorize any disagreement and exercise of autonomy on the
part of the patient as "non-compliance," "abuse" or "hostility," creating a
pathway for insurance companies to deny coverage to patients. Because there
is not a "one-size-fits-all" approach to medical care, the use of these
labels fails to recognize patients as partners in their own care and may
jeopardize their ability to find other care providers. If patients are
faced with the consequences of this, their rights to informed consent and
refusal are threatened. The AMA will vote on this resolution this week, so
we must act NOW. Here's what you can do:



1. *Write a Letter to the Editor.* Go to
http://www.ican-online.org/content/how-write-letter-editor for tips on
how to be most effective.
2. *Contact your local media.* Go to
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/ to find out how to contact
your local newspapers, radio, and television stations. If you have a
personal anecdote to share to get the reporter interested, do so briefly
and
without getting sidetracked onto other issues. You can send your local
reporter this handy link which gives them information on how to reach the
AMA during the convention and voting:

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news-events/news-events/ama-meeting-shapes-polic\
y.shtml
"
3. *Call your local AMA representative.* Go to

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/the-federation-medicine/sta\
te-medical-society-websites.shtmlto
find the contact info for your state. Tell them this resolution is
unacceptable.
4. *Contact your elected officials.*
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml Ask them if they are aware of
how this resolution will impede on your rights to full informed consent
and
refusal, and how you can work together to make sure this doesn't happen.
Let them know what's been proposed and that you are afraid of how your
rights will be affected as a result. *Because the AMA is voting this
week,
we recommend that you call or fax your officials, but emails can be
effective as well.*
5. *Call your doctor.* Ask them if they are aware of this resolution and
how they can help make sure it doesn't pass so that you can continue to
work
together as partners in your health care decisions.
6. *AFTER** you have done one or more of the above, please share this far
and wide! * This resolution affects everyone who may see a doctor in the
future for routine or emergency care. Share this with your family,
friends,
parenting groups, birth organizations, social clubs. anyone and everyone!
But we will not make an impact unless you write or fax or call someone
outside your circle. Merely being outraged with other people who share
your
outrage isn't enough. Take a risk and make today the day!