ABCD Exchange : November 1998 : President's Letter - ABCD is Effective

ABCD Members Make Their Voices Heard
by Joanne Lynn, MD

Here in Washington, it is especially apparent that policymakers in all branches of government are seeing the issues differently. The fight over the proposed "Lethal Drug Abuse Act" illuminated issues and shaped language, creating a real opening for serious discussion. This next year is certain to bring hearings, proposals, and even congressional action.

While debating drug policy, many congressional staff learned for the first time just how deficient is our medical treatment of pain. While debating physician assisted suicide, many learned too that the dysfunctions of Medicare financing and its incentives make comprehensive and patient-centered care hard to provide. It became evident that end-of-life care is overwhelmingly federally financed and regulated.

Our fledgling ABCD group was quite a force in all this. We learned to meet Hill staff requests for reliable information - RIGHT AWAY! Our members should know that:

• ABCD was one of the first organizations to oppose the bill, and we let the proponents know about our principled opposition early.
• By mail and personal contact, we informed hundreds of other public and professional groups, encouraging them to join the coalition, which eventually numbered 58 groups.
• We twice sent letters to Member of Congress explaining why the bill’s implementation would court disaster.
• We talked with our members in key states and helped them to talk with their representatives effectively.
• We were stalwart members of the coalition that coordinated opposition.
• We provided hospice and long-term care nurses to help back other groups in their lobbying.
• Now that the Congress has adjourned, we are bringing together all who are concerned with care at the end of life, no matter what their stance on that bill, to stir up ideas for better approaches!

What next? We need clever ideas for change - high leverage, important policy directions. Check out our web site for a starter list. Then think about what would make care better, more reliable, more inexpensive, or more comprehensive. When you see a promising policy agenda, tell us about it right away. When you read the current list and you think of some angle that might make it work better, send that along too. We need a good agenda ASAP!

We need members and friends to develop contacts with their legislators and other organizations (AARP, professional and consumer organizations, disease groups, etc). Get to know your legislators, local, state, and national, now. Be sure they know that you can help as issues arise, and let us know what you find them to be interested in. This is a very important relationship. Most people in leadership really want to do well for suffering people, and they need some people who care about the subject and can help with insights.

We also need you to help us out! We need your financial support more than ever. We need members to grow. Many Washington offices want Exchange, but they are not likely to pay for a subscription. Support us enough to keep it free on the Web and to allow us to get it in the hands of policymakers and leaders of health care reforms. We were the group with the dedication and flexibility to get the word out fast on this bill and we are the group with the broad agenda and respect that can help convene disparate parties. Please help us where you can - join, recruit new members, and send a gift (we are qualified as 501(c) (3) charity).

Without our members, we really would be nothing!

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