Subject: mmi UPDATE AND ACTION ALERT FROM NYS

Hi folks, More than 50 Lyme patients went to the NYS capitol last Tuesday to lobby for two bills that would save our doctors from continued persecution from the state medical disciplinary board, the OPMC.

We need these bills to protect NY LLMDs.

Protecting the NYS doctors from persecution could  finally end the climate of fear that has kept doctors throughout the country from treating chronic Lyme disease.

We had a big impact on the legislature.  The word from that mysterious place known as "behind the scenes" is that Lobby Day moved the negotiations to a new level of intensity.

We are closer than we have ever been to getting legislation that will protect our doctors!

But we are not there yet.

This means that we have REALLY got to put on the grassroots pressure for the next few weeks.   The legislature is now scheduled to recess for the year on Jue 22nd.

If you want to be sure you will have your doctors next year, please , please just consider the next weeks as a period that needs to be dedicated to activism to save our medical care.

TWO ACTIONS ARE REQUESTED FROM LYME DISEASE PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

1. WRITING GOVERNOR PATAKI.
You can make the following points:
• Definitely begin your letter by asking him to support both the OPMC Reform bill, S5221, and the Mayersohn bill, A7365a.
• You can tell him your Lyme story emphasizing how important your current doctor has been and what you fear would happen if he/she could no longer treat you.
• DO NOT MENTION THE NAME OF YOUR PHYSICIAN - Ý UNLESS IT IS DR. BURRASCANO.
• You can tell Pataki that two thirds of the doctors in NYS who treat chronic Lyme disease have been targeted by the OPMC, and the result is that doctors across the country have been afraid to treat chronic Lyme disease.
• Both bills you are asking him to support would require the OPMC to follow due process and ,thereby, enable doctors to defend themselves against unjust prosecution by the OPMC.

To Write To The Governor:
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

518-474-8390

To Email The Governor:
http://161.11.3.75/
Please include your mailing address.
 

2. KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON SENATOR HANNON BY GETTING NYS PHYSICIANS TO CALL OR WRITE HIM..

Please continue to contact physicians in New York State asking that they urge Senator Hannon to pass the OPMC Reform Bill, S5221, (This means non-Lyme doctors, since Hannon needs to know that ALL doctors support this bill). Ý
 

• a) Print out the flyer at www.healthlobby.com/OPMCreformLetter.htm This explains the essence of the OPMC Reform bill to physicians who might not otherwise know that the bill exists.
• b) Get a list of physicians in NYS and send the flyer to them. No need to write anything with the flyer; it is self explanatory. Ý
• Go to http://yellowpages.superpages.com and type in any city in NYS. Type physicians and surgeons where it asks for a keyword, and you will get lists of NYS doctors.
• c) Stamps. Everybody is pitching in on  this project. People in Europe have sent me stamps to give to patients who can stuff and address hundreds of envelopes but are unable to pay for so many stamps
• Please email me ASAP with your address if you want me to send you stamps
• d) If you can fax the flyer, please contact Maureen at Mojim@frontiernet.net and she will send you a list of fax numbers for NYS doctors.
• e) If you live in New York State and are physically able, you can canvas the offices of doctors with the flyers.

Introduce yourself to the receptionist as a member of an advocacy group of doctors and patients working for legislation to give physicians due process in defending themselves aganst unjust investigations by the state disciplinary board,the OPMC.  Ask that the flyer be brought to the doctor's attention. Tell the receptionist that we think the doctor would want to know about the bill so that he or she could contact the key Senator to get the bill passed.

If you get in to see the doctor, then you can explain about the OPMC harassment of  Lyme doctors that brought you to this activism. Ý If they ask questions about the bill that you are unable to answer, refer them to the website on the flyer. <> -------------
Please do whatever you can to get everybody else working on this, as well. I will keep you posted on our progress.

Thanks,
Ellen