posted
Dear friends, An EXTREMELY SERIOUS THREAT to the OPMC bill has just arisen, and we ALL need to act IMMEDIATELY.
The Governor's counsel has suggested that the bill be VETOED this year and that they start with a new so called "governor's program bill" next year.
This would be a disaster for Lyme. The OPMC is currently investigating two of our LLMD's, and failure to pass a bill this year could very well mean losing these important doctors.
Also, we have fought long and hard to get a bill that is fair and will protect our doctors from persecution. A totally new bill opens the door for the OPMC to demand provisions that will keep the process unjust.
For me, it is hard to see the Governor's counsel's "suggestion" of vetoing our bill and starting anew as anything but a ploy to get us off their backs.
We are willing to make compromises on the bill this year, but are absolutely, positively against veto of the bill, absolutely and positively against a "program bill" next year.
BETWEEN NOW AND WEDNESDAY, PLEASE CONTACT GOVERNOR PATAKI AND ENLIST EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO DO THE SAME.
THE MESSAGE WE NEED TO GET ACROSS IS:
PLEASE SIGN THE OPMC REFORM BILL, A4274b, THIS YEAR. WE DO NOT WANT A PROGRAM BILL NEXT YEAR.
posted
I just sent the governor email requesting he sign the OPMC reform bill IMMEDIATELY. Please do the same! DaveS Posts: 4567 | From ithaca, NY, usa | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Thanks Melanie. I'll try to correct my original post.
Dave, thanks so much for writing.
Come on , everyone, please let Pataki know we don't want no "program bill" (whatever the heck that is). We need the bill signed this year!
BTW. all the variations you have seen in my username (ellenl, ellenluba, and ellenlu) are all me. Ellen Lubarsky. I've been having trouble getting into Lymenet to post. so just keep changing my user name. Ellen
Posts: 819 | From New York, NY | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
The thing is that basically all of the doctors remain threatened if this law is not passed. The OPMC is part of a national organization of state medical disciplinary boards. We need to establish that we have the powr to fight attempts to take the licenses away from our docors. Passing both this and the bill in PA. are extremely important.
People always wonder why it is so hard to find a Lyme doctor. This is the reason. Until we can make it safe for the to treat us, until we can protect them from losing their licenses to the state medical discipllinary boards, many will be afraid to treat us. Ellen
Posts: 819 | From New York, NY | Registered: Oct 2001
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Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Done.
Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Ok..
I didn't ACTUALLY say to poop or get off the pot... just wanted to freak you out a bit... hehehe
Dear Governor and staff,
Again I write to you asking.. NO ... begging that you PLEASE sign the OPMC Reform Bill... now, not later. I am too tired to keep messing around with this situation... and I am quite sure you are tired of hearing from me all the time about this issue.
I mentioned the other day that I have sent more letters to you than I have to my own family in the last few years.
I actually think the folks at my local post office think we are having a personal relationship after seeing me .. so many times.. sending you letter after letter!
Your actions in NY are being monitored in every state in the country and in many countries around the world.
Many peoples lives depend on getting this bill passed. Your signing this bill will make history.. and many people will be thankful once this whole mess is put to rest.
We are counting on you to help all of us and take a stand to do the right thing.
You already know all the boring details and how I feel from all my other letters.. so I will cut this one short. Before I go.. once more I will ask that you..
PLEASE SIGN THE OPMC REFORM BILL, A4274b, THIS YEAR!
WE DO NOT WANT A PROGRAM BILL NEXT YEAR.
Don't zap what little energy we have left and keep us hanging... PLEASE!
Thank you for taking care of us by signing the bill.
Today would be a good day to sign it.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Now.. for a phone call.
I wonder if he is there waiting for my call at 2 AM?
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
He was there and answered the phone at 2:30 in the morning when I called.
He said..
"Tincup! Good to hear from you again. Not to worry dear... I will sign that stupid thing just for YOU! But ONLY if you promise to keep writing me and calling me. I just LOVE to hear from you."
I said..
"Sure Governor.. I will call you every day if you just go ahead and sign that bill NOW."
He said..
"Please tell EllenLu not to have a cow over this situation. Tell her I want her to make plans for a nice long vacation and not to worry her pretty little head over this anymore."
I said..
"Thanks Governor, I will be sure to tell her. I know she will be pleased."
Then I woke up from the dream.
Actually.. there was a voice mail and I left a message.
dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
This is my letter to the Gov, emailed today:
Dear Governor Pataki,
I am asking you again to PLEASE SIGN THE OPMC REFORM BILL A4274b THIS YEAR.
Lyme Disease patients DO NOT WANT A PROGRAM BILL NEXT YEAR.
My life depends on this. I am improving after many years of illness with this dreaded disease and I have to thank a very brave doctor for helping me to A. correctly diagnose me where others failed FOR MANY YEARS and B. giving me my life back.
If you do not approve this bill, my life will again fall apart as it will for thousands of other Lyme patients.
Not only will our health deteriorate again if treatment is stopped too soon. But, our relationships will suffer as well as our entire families, not to mention our career prospects and productivity!
I BEG you to PLEASE support us here! Not doing so will have horrific consequences for many of us.
DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
If someone will send me the current letter to doctors, I will fax. Got e-mails, phone calls in to the organizers, still don't have the letter. Please send me the letter!
Are you reading this thread, Ellen? Please look at your email.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
Here's mine:
Dear Governor Pataki,
Please sign the OPMC Reform Bill. Do NOT veto it now, or wait to propose a new bill next year. I feel that doctors who are being accused of wrongdoing should be allowed to hear any charges brought against them, and should be able to present whatever evidence they feel will help their case at any OPMC hearing. I believe that doctors who treat Lyme disease with long-term antibiotics are being unjustly targeted, unjustly investigated, and are not allowed to put on a reasonable defense. I believe the OPMC Reform bill will rectify this matter in New York, and will set a precedent of fair procedure that will be copied around the country.
Governor Pataki, you recently visited my home town. As a registered Republican and voter, I had hoped to attend. If I had, I would have asked you to sign this bill. Unfortunately, I could not go. I was just too exhausted from Lyme disease to make the trip to the apple orchard that evening.
Lyme doctors are few and far between. (I travel to CT to see mine, when I can.) They are on the frontiers of medicine, battling a fairly new and debilitating disease. They need to be able to treat according to the latest scientific research, without worrying that their licenses will be taken away. If any are suspected of malpractice, they should have a FAIR hearing, just as any other individual would have if they broke the laws of the land.
PLease remember that people all over the country are watching what you do about this issue, and we have voices, and votes.
Regards, [shaz]
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
I just want you to know, that Pataki is interested in running for federal office, possibly President in '08. I am sure that is one reason why he came all the way to Maine to stump for Bush a week ago.
Pataki needs to know that we will remember what he did in NY. Even if you do not live in NY, you should make your opinion heard in Albany.
Regards, Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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But, please, no one feel you have to write something on the level of the letters here. Just be sure you let Pataki you want him to sign the bill THIS YEAR and that next year will be too late.
It's true that Pataki wants to run or President. That's why we're urging everyone from around the country to call him. He will want to please all these potential voters.
Remember that there can be power in numbers if we manage to get EVERYBODY we know to email and call Pataki.
The bill gives due process rights to ALL doctors, not just Lyme docs, so all patients have a vested interest in getting it passed. Nitey night.
posted
Hi Liz, The election that Pataki is worried about is the one in 2008, since we think he would like to be President. He wasn't running for Governor this year, anyway. So the incentive is that he would like to be popular with folks all over the country ---- and we would like him to be popular with us. Ellen
quote:Originally posted by liz28: But does Pataki have any incentive to sign this now that the elections are over?
Posts: 819 | From New York, NY | Registered: Oct 2001
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Enjoyed your quip about your long-term relationship with the Gov!
I'd sure like to break it off with him, too! How about it, Gov? Set us free!
Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
Good point, Ellen. Typical New Yorker, seeing the cynical view. Well, wait a minute, New York politics do require some cynicism. But you're right, you never know when you'll break through.
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posted
It seems to me that a governor who wants to run for higher office would want to be able to demonstrate that he has taken a leadership role in resolving health crises in his own state rather than to perpetuate them.
I guess it's the short-sighted, quarterly-report-to-the-stockholders mentality that we have to fight.
Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I sent an e-mail, too. Gosh, I hope this works! I can't believe they are considering giving into the pressure from the insurance companies.
Posts: 41 | From Dutchess County, NY, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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Please don't forget to put it out to groups and organizations..
Everyone you can reach. We just can't accept this, the numbers everybody here have generated in these actions before are what got this Bill this far..we can do it again!
By way of mass contacts, let them know once and for all: DON'T mess with Lyme!!
Mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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cootiegirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3216
posted
Done! Keep those emails and phone calls coming!!!! cootiegirl
Posts: 1728 | From New York State | Registered: Oct 2002
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aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
Sent email will call when off the net.
Posts: 6918 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
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..."your immediate signature is critical and has significant national influence"...
love, andie &JC
Posts: 278 | From weston,ct.usa | Registered: Aug 2004
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
Have just called again and also called up everyone I know in my old neighborhood in NY and asked them to call...and asked them to ask their friends also, etc.
DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Is it true that if you get 10 Lyme patients or family members of Lyme patients to contact the Governor you get to sit at Tincup's table?
Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
Done......again......added some info......hope I'm right in everything I said....here it is:
PLEASE SIGN THE OPMC REFORM BILL, A4274b, THIS YEAR!
DELAYING THIS BILL FOR NEXT YEAR WILL ONLY HARM THE WELLFARE OF THIS STATE.
DOCTORS NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THIS DISEASE, ADEQUATE LABORATORY TESTS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED, AND INSURANCE COMPANIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING LYME EFFECTIVELY.
LYME CAN HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THOSE WHO CONTRACT IT. PEOPLE ARE RUTINELY MISDIAGNOSED, AND THERE IS AN ALMOST PERVERSE RELUCTANCE AMONGST THE MAINSTREAM MEDICAL PROFESSION TO TREAT AND DIAGNOSE LYME.
LYME SURVIVES IN OUR BODIES. WOMEN CAN PASS IT ON TO HER UNBORN CHILD. LYME CAN BE PASSED ON IN BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND WHEN DONATING BLOOD.
LYME IS NOT A NEW RECENT DISEASE AND LYME IS NOT A DISEASE RESTRICTED TO NEW ENGLAND. LYME IS A WORLD-WIDE DISEASE AND IS THE MOST RAPIDLY SPREADING INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN SEVERAL INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, INCL THE USA.
I BEG YOU TO TALK TO THE CDC AND TO DIG INTO THE MEDICAL LITERATURE YOURSELVES AND LEARN THAT THERE ARE STRONG LINKS BETWEEN LYME AND DISEASES SUCH AS MS, ALZHEIMERS, COGNITIVE PROBLEMS, DEPRESSION, IMMUNE DEFICIENCIES, ETC.
posted
Thanks for writing Cm......! Lots of good info in your letter. I would hope that the Governor talks especially to the doctors who are in the trenches dealing extensively with actual chronic Lyme patients (LLMDs).
Many, if not most, in the Lyme Community think that the CDC has been part of our problem, particularly because the CDC has allowed their surveillance criteria to be used as diagnostic critieria rather than for their intended purpose. This has spelled doom for many patients. That said, the CDC could obviously be very helpful should they choose to be.
Thanks again for writing!
Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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