Lynda

Here they go again!

Lynda
----- Original Message -----

> URGENT ACTION ITEM!
> >FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
> >==================================================
> >Watergate Office Building
> >2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100
> >Washington, DC, 20037
> >Website: www.lp.org
> >E-mail: pressreleases@...
> >For information: (202) 333-0008 ext. 222
> >==================================================
> >June 13, 2001
> >==================================================
> >
> >Only three days left to kill
> >Federal anti-privacy regulation
> >
> >Dear Friends:
> >
> > We have an urgent request: Please pick up the
> >phone and call Congress today, or the fight for medical
> >privacy could be lost. That is because the Health and
> >Human Services regulation that turns your medical data
> >over to the government will go into effect permanently --
> >unless Congress passes HJR 38 by Friday, June 15.
> >
> > Please read this short memo, immediately take the
> >action at the bottom, then forward it to others who might
> >be interested.
> >
> > BACKGROUND:
> >
> > On April 14, President Bush quietly directed
> >Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to
> >impose the so-called "medical privacy regulations" that
> >were originally developed by the Clinton administration.
> >Bush's maneuver came despite the fact that the HHS had
> >been inundated with nearly 100,000 angry letters and
> >e-mails from Americans around the country.
> >
> > The most dangerous aspect of this regulation --
> >and the one most overlooked in news reports -- is that
> >for the first time the government, rather than patients
> >and doctors, would be in complete control of your
> >private medical records. That's because the regulation
> >forces doctors and hospitals to share all electronic
> >medical records with the government for a variety of
> >vague purposes, such as to "streamline medical billing
> >procedures" or for "public health surveillance." Then the
> >government, rather than individual patients, will decide
> >who gets to see them.
> >
> > No wonder Americans are so worried. This
> >regulation, which was published in the Federal Register
> >on December 28, 2000, would:
> >
> > * Give dozens of government agencies and thousands
> > of bureaucrats access to your medical records --
> > including the private notes of a psychotherapist
> > -- without your consent.
> >
> > * Let government agencies share your records with
> > marketing companies. The rules specifically allow
> > pharmacies to share prescription records "for the
> > purpose of marketing health-related products and
> > services" without your consent.
> >
> > * Do nothing to prevent the government from
> > accessing your DNA information and transferring
> > it to "third parties."
> >
> > * Permit police agencies to access medical records
> > without a search warrant.
> >
> > * Allow private insurance companies to compile the
> > medical information into a database.
> >
> > * Prevent patients involved in health research
> > projects from accessing their own medical records
> > in some cases.
> >
> > How would you like a prospective employer to know
> >that you have a "genetic predisposition" to contract a serious,
> >and expensive, illness?
> >
> > What if an acquaintance who worked for an insurance
> >company or government agency could read the private notes of
> >your psychotherapist, or find out if you have ever undergone
> >drug or alcohol treatment?
> >
> > Would you want others to know whether you've had an
> >abortion or been treated for an embarrassing disease?
> >
> > All of those things could happen if this
> >Clinton-Bush regulation is allowed to stand.
> >
> > That's why it's so important to pick up the phone
> >and call your U.S. representative today. If we can't get
> >Congress to vote on HJR 38 by Friday, you can kiss your
> >medical privacy goodbye!
> >
> >
> >WHAT TO DO:
> >
> > Call your U.S. House representative immediately at
> >202-225-3121 or 202-224-3121 to request an immediate vote on
> >House Joint Resolution 38 (HJR 38). This measure, sponsored
> >by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, declares that the HHS
> >regulation "shall have no force or effect."
> >
> >
> >WHAT TO SAY:
> >
> > (1) Identify yourself and let them know you are a
> >voter in their district. Leave your name, address, complete
> >with ZIP code, and phone number. Please be brief, especially
> >if you are leaving a message.
> >
> > (2) Ask them to tell House Speaker Dennis Hastert to
> >schedule an immediate vote on HJR 38. Let them know that this
> >measure must pass Congress by Friday -- or the HHS rules will
> >remain in effect.
> >
> > (3) Ask them to vote *YES* on HJR 38. Then ask for a
> >letter confirming their position.
> >
> >
> > Is there anything else you can do? Yes! Please
> >forward this E-mail to a friend, and ask them to call their
> >representative as well.
> >
> > Thank you for your help!
> >
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >Steve Dasbach
> >National Director
> >Libertarian Party
> >
> >-----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/
> >2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008
> >Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072
>

Sharon Rudd

Dear Lynda.......no rest for the weary.......Sharon

--- Lynda <lurine@...> wrote:
> Here they go again!
>
> Lynda
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > URGENT ACTION ITEM!


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more.
http://buzz.yahoo.com/