Speaker Message #2: Response Needed to Pending Legislation Related to Medicare MNT

Date: June 11, 2008
Message Priority: High
To:

House of Delegates

HOD Core Function: Member Focus
From: Marsha Schofield, MS, RD, LD, Speaker
Subject: Speaker Message #2: Response Needed to Pending Legislation Related to Medicare MNT

What Do You Need to Know? An important bill is before the US Senate that could avert fee cuts and expand Medicare MNT services.
What Do You Need to Do? Encourage members to contact their senators today regarding pending Medicare legislation that includes preventive services.
When Do You Need to Complete It? Respond today — do not delay.


Your Assistance Is Needed

  • We are at a pivotal moment in the 110th Congress, where you as members of ADA’s House of Delegates can help ADA reach one of its goals for expanding medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitians.
  • We ask you to immediately share the contents of this message on electronic mailing lists and that you e-mail many of the member leaders you rely upon, for their help in sending a specific, unified message to senators in Washington, DC about the importance of new preventive services — including MNT — in Medicare.
  • By directing members to the (members-only) Grassroots Manager on the ADA Web site, you are providing them with access to reach their senators, with the right message cued up to go directly to senate offices.
  • The detailed instructions for completing this task are included at the bottom of this message. You can promise that the entire process for the average member will take less than five minutes.
  • Members should act today. ADA will share additional information and next steps following a procedure vote scheduled for Thursday.
Here Are the Facts
  • Last Friday, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a Medicare bill, S. 3101, to avert an imminent 10-percent cut in payments to all providers covered under the physician fee schedule. Baucus also included new preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries in S. 3101, so that people on Medicare could see a professional to help them prevent the onset or the prolongation of a disease. If the Baucus preventive services provisions became law, those who are at risk for developing diabetes, certain cardio-vascular diseases and various other conditions could receive MNT as a covered service.
  • Sen. Baucus’ bill has bi-partisan support in the Senate, but to ensure that his bill becomes law, we need a veto-proof majority. That is where you and your fellow ADA grassroots activists come into the picture.
  • ADA has posted a letter to senators on its Grassroots Manager Web site. ADA members can easily send an e-mail to their senators, urging them to support Sen. Baucus’ Medicare bill.
  • You can remind everyone that this letter can be strengthened by adding personal information or insights. For example, if the member has met with the senator or the senator’s staff and discussed this or other nutrition issues, they can put that information in the letter. If the member works in a setting where he or she has seen preventive services work cost-effectively, they can include that as well. In other words, encourage members to add simple, compelling first-person information to make the letter and the “ask” for support stronger.
  • Time is of the essence, so encourage your affiliate members to send a letter as soon as possible, and no later than June 15. If you or others have questions about the legislation or how to participate in this call to action, you can direct them to contact their Public Policy Coordinators. To find a complete list of ADA’s PPCs, go to www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_leadershipdirectory_ENU_HTML.htm?C=80003107
Instructions for Using Grassroots Manager to Contact Your Senators about Medicare MNT
  • To access Grassroots Manager, follow the instructions below:
    • Go to www.eatright.org  
    • Go to Advocacy and the Profession
    • Enter in your ADA member # and password
    • Click on Grassroots Manager
    • When taken to the Grassroots manager site, click on Take Action
    • Select “Support Sen. Baucus’ Medicare Bill”
    • Select your recipients
    • Add in your personal message at the bottom
    • Send letter via email or fax
  • If members like, they can follow up with a phone call. Grassroots Manager provides all contact information for elected officials.
  • Thank you and good luck!
For More Information or Assistance
Contact Marsha Schofield at mschofield@schd.org or 330/926-5661or Harold Holler at hholler@eatright.org or 800/877-1600, ext. 4896.