Most of us get our news from TV. And a lot of us now "tune-in"
to the Internet.
Opinion leaders still take the pulse of constituents through
the Opinion page of newspapers.
Policymakers
are people, too. So, they watch TV news and peruse the Web.
They also read newspapers, both hard copy and online.
So, it's really, really, really a good idea to make your
voice heard by writing what's called a "letter to the
editor" or "LTE," to submit online to both
newspapers and TV.
LTE's use to be submitted to newspapers, exclusively, but today we should submit to TV and newspapers via email or online forms at the outlets' websites. You can duplicate your efforts with mass submissions to traditional and new media outlets (including blogs). 
It's pretty easy...
- Watch/hear/read a health care reform or health care justice news story;
- Respond—via a phone call, an email, or a fax—that includes:
A) “thanks” for reporting on this important issue
and B) gives a personal comment of what you liked or didn't
like.
The following links give more details about:
DON'T WAIT for outlet to cover an angle about our issue you
think is important. Be proactive! Write & submit an LTE
whenever the mood strikes you. If the mood strikes often,
you won't be able to get all your good letters published under
your name, so give the letters to friends to submit—or send
extras to THCC.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Let THCC know when you get published! Send
us your published LTE. And, send
a copy to your elected officals.
TELL IT. SELL IT.
Here are tools to use to be most effective in your interactions
with media:
|
Messages
that WORK!
Copy and paste these tested messages to write letters
to the editor (LTE), post to blogs, and give presentations. |
| 1) “Tennesseans (Americans)
know it’s just wrong for people who work hard and
pay taxes to go without affordable, quality health care.
Many of us are finding it harder to afford the health
care we now have for ourselves and our families. And too
many others of us have lost our jobs and our health care.
We need the choice of a public health insurance option
as a guaranteed backup that will always be there to ensure
quality affordable health care coverage is available no
matter what happens. That’s the peace of mind hard-working
Americans deserve.” |
| 2) “It’s time
to stop playing politics and solve the health care crisis.
Health care reform will give you the freedom of choice
to keep your current plan including keeping your current
doctor, or choose another private plan, or the choice
of a quality affordable public health insurance plan.
Health care reform will stop the insurance companies from
denying coverage for an illness you had 5 years ago or
some other pre-existing condition, or denying you care
because of your age. Health care will be affordable—it
will cost less and cover more. It will be a uniquely American
solution that gives you the peace of mind of knowing you
will always have quality, affordable health care.” |
| 3) “It is only fair
that folks who work hard, pay taxes, invest in their communities,
and pay for their health care should receive the same
access to and quality of health care as everyone else.
Where you were born should not be a factor, rather you
believe in the American Dream and contribute to making
America a better place for all.” |
| 4) “What health reform
will mean for you and your family is affordable choices
you can count on—if you like your current coverage
and doctors you can keep them. For others in
the audience who would prefer change, you can choose from
another private insurer or a quality public plan. Whatever
coverage you decide is right for you and your family,
you will have the peace of mind knowing that insurance
company abuses will be eliminated and there will be more
support for your doctor to provide you with the best quality
of care and treatments.” |
| 5) “Health care reform
will help your doctor care for you better. By
bringing about major changes to our health care system,
like reforming how we pay for care so doctors are rewarded
for better quality rather than quantity, will result in
better care for us all. And a reduction in waste and greed
will control costs, and make access more affordable. It
just makes good sense.” |
| 6) “Patients want their
doctors to be the best doctors they can be and provide
them with the best quality of care. Examining
and talking with patients, determining the most effective
treatments, and helping patients be more proactive in
preventing disease—that’s what our doctors
were trained to do. Bringing about major changes to our
health care system, like reforming how we pay for care
so doctors are rewarded for better quality rather than
quantity, will result in the best care for us all, control
costs, and make access more affordable. It just makes
good sense.” |
| 7) “Health reform means
access to the latest research comparing the effectiveness
of different treatments and which drugs have the best
results. Armed with that information, we can
offer our patients more informed choices and reduce the
risk of recommending less effective treatments.” |
| 8) “Health care reform
means you and your doctor will spend less time filling
out the same form over and over and more time focusing
on the job at hand—taking care of you and your family." |
| 9) “Health reform means
providing you and your doctor with the most up to date
information on which therapies work and which don’t.
This is a crucial component to making health
care better for you and your family. Armed with this knowledge,
your doctor and you can make informed and effective decisions
while avoiding wasteful, ineffective, or potentially harmful
treatments. That’s patient-centered health care
– the kind of health care we want.” |
| 10) “Health reform means
we will have the kind of healthcare system that provides
our doctors with the time, access to information, and
technological support to do their job the best they can.
And we will have peace of mind that comes with knowing
that our treatment options are effective, proven, and
affordable. This is patient-centered care, not the kind
of industry centered care that results in denials of coverage,
mountains of paperwork, and skyrocketing bills. This is
what all Tennesseans want—guaranteed affordable
quality health care.” |
|
