1,000 Letters Campaign

VGM is calling
on all DME providers and their employees to send letters to the
editors of local press. As the discussion on health reform
continues, the Waterloo, Iowa-based member services group said it’s
time that Congress understands home health care is the solution to
rising costs and is also preferred by the majority of
Americans.

While the group commends those who have called and met with
congressional members in the past few weeks, “our actions must
continue, and we must work from all avenues to get our messages
conveyed” as lawmakers work to pass health reform legislation
before August, a VGM Legislative Update said Friday.

“The goal will be to get thousands of letters published with
similar messages,” according to the call to action. “Messages
should express the fact that when facing chronic or terminal
illnesses, patients prefer to be independent in their own homes,
not in hospitals or nursing homes …

“In the next four weeks, please take a moment to write to your
editor and ask that your story be published.”

VGM has posted sample letters on its Web site for its “Write the
Editor” campaign, and is asking providers who have their letters
published to report back to the VGM site to let others know.

“The noise that the letters create will help to sway the opinion
and to educate your beneficiaries and the public,” VGM said. “It’s
time to get on board and get our voices heard!”