3. Write a BRIEF letter TODAY! <br>***State what
you want first, i.e., the change in wording; to be
effective, it would be good if we all ask for the same
change. ***Even if you are in a state that does not
license or recognize direct entry midwives, getting this
language included is still important - you and family
<br>members may not always live in that state, your state may
eventually enact regulatory legislation for these midwives,
and nurse-midwifery should also be a choice under
HMOs. ***Include something personal (also brief) about
why this is important to you. <br>***Below is an
example of a letter, but be sure to put the main ideas in
your own words. <br>***The important point is that
women should have access to midwives (direct entry
midwives as well as nurse-midwives) and out-of-hospital
birth, and <br>these should be included in ANY federal
health care bill. <br>***Several fact sheets on the
Citizens for Midwifery web site &lt;&lt;
www.cfmidwifery.org&gt;&gt; include pertinent information you could use in
your letter, but just the fact that nurse-midwives
already are legal everywhere and direct entry midwives
already are regulated in 18 states is a strong argument
for HMOs to include "nationally credentialed and
state-regulated midwives" as a choice for maternity care.
<br>***Your personal item could be first-hand experience, or
about a family or friend, or just general principle
that this good choice should be included in the bill.
Costs and access are important issues related to this
bill. Safety <br>is less of an issue as we are talking
about already-licensed midwives - i.e., <br>those
states have already decided the safety issue, which is
not really the focus of the Patients' Bill of Rights.
<br>***Legible hand-writing is great for faxed letters; typed
letters are fine also. <br><br>4. Fax or e-mail the
letter to your Representative TODAY or AS SOON AS
<br>POSSIBLE! <br><br>5. Also fax or E-mail a copy of your
letter to Pam Maurath (fax: <br>212-866-7626; e-mail:
&lt;&lt;pmaurath@...&gt;&gt; IMMEDIATELY. She will be going to
Washington, DC
on this Monday, July 2, and will personally deliver
copies of all of the letters (with a cover letter and
additional literature) to appropriate offices. She will also
make sure the most important Senators and
Representatives receive additional information regarding the
change in wording we want. <br><br>6. Send to your
Congressperson (federal Representative) a copy of the letter
that you are sending to your Senator, with a cover
note, or write an original letter to your
Representative.. <br><br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <br>Grassroots
Newsletter: <br>Susan Hodges - Gatekeeper
&lt;shodgesmwy@...&gt; <br>Debbie Pulley - Mailer
&lt;manamw@...&gt;
<br><br>olunteered to stuff all the Senate mailboxes with midwifery
information including the Midwives Model of Care brochure.
Here is what to do: