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A PRESCRIPTION TO VOTE. Sponsored
by the APA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
We are just months away from Election Day in the United States.
On Tuesday, November 4th, individuals across the country can
make their voices heard on a range of issues, from state initiatives
to choosing the President of the United States. As pediatric
professionals, we want our patients' families to have their
voices heard, too.
The APA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee is pleased to
announce a new program, “A Prescription to Vote,” to
help you encourage families in your practice to register to
vote and to vote on Nov 4th.
Our goal is to give a Prescription to Vote to each family
visiting our offices and clinics between now and November 4th.
Each prescription is a 2-sided handout that can be downloaded in English
or downloaded in Spanish, printed and duplicated in your
office, and given to parents.
One side gives parents a “Prescription to Vote,” complete
with instructions and resources for more information on voter
registration, deadlines, candidates, etc. The other side is
a quick comparison of the health plans proposed by the two
major party candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.
The information is completely non-partisan and focused on healthcare
issues only. For more information on the candidates’ positions
on other issues important to the well-being of children, parents
can refer to the web resources provided.
You can also have voter registration applications available
on the spot for parents who aren’t registered to vote.
Just contact your County Clerk or State Elections Office (click
here for information) to order a stack of voter registration
applications for your office or download and print them yourself
(click here for directions for use). You may also consider
asking your hospital to get involved by offering its own voter
registration services. Be sure to check with your administration
or governmental affairs office for your institution’s
policies. Our goal is to encourage parents to exercise their
right to vote and to be involved in the political process;
remember to be sensitive to parents who are not legally permitted
to vote.
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We hope that you will implement the Prescription to Vote
Program in your own offices and clinics by downloading
the handout and giving it to parents.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions
for us,
please contact:
Tumaini Coker, MD, MBA at tcoker@mednet.ucla.edu
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Voting Information:
www.eac.gov www.vote411.org www.VoteSmart.org www.ProjectVote.org www.DeclareYourself.com www.RockTheVote.com
Educate yourself on the issues and get involved:
http://aap.grassroots.com/election2008/ (AAP password required)
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The 2008 United States Presidential and General Election
Academic Pediatric Association’s Prescription to Vote!
To the Parent(s) of: _____________________________
Prescription: Vote on November 4, 2008
Directions:
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Register to Vote
**Deadlines differ by state, but in most states you must be registered to vote
by October 6,
2008 (30 days before election day).
- Find out where to vote (“polling place”)
- Learn about the candidates and issues (Your vote can make a difference!)
- Vote on November 4, 2008
Resources:
Clinician’s signature _______________________________
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Children’s Health: Guide to the Presidential Candidates’ Plans for Health Care
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John McCain
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Barack Obama
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What is the plan, in the candidate’s own words?
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“The key to health care reform is to restore control to the patients themselves. We want a system of health care in which everyone can afford and acquire the treatment and preventive care they need. Health care should be available to all and not limited by where you work or how much you make. Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over care.”
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“My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.”
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| Are children required to have coverage?
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No. Opposes required coverage for all children.
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Yes. Requires all children to have health insurance
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| Will candidates expand the number of children covered by public insurance plans (SCHIP and Medicaid)?
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No.
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Yes. Plan includes expanding free and low-cost public insurance plans to cover more children.
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| Will families who do not qualify for public insurance plans receive help to pay for private insurance costs?
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Yes.
1) Tax credits of $5,000 to families and $2,500 to individuals to help with costs of purchasing insurance. (Workers would be taxed on the value of employer-paid health benefits and employers would no longer receive tax incentives for providing insurance to employees.)
2) Subsidies (financial help) for individuals denied coverage due to health problems (based on income level)—they can buy into a government-supported plan.
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Yes.
1) Employers are required to offer health benefits or contribute to the cost of the new public plan.
2) Subsidies (financial help) for those who do not qualify for public insurance (based on income level)—they can buy into the new comprehensive public plan or a private plan.
4) Insurance companies could not deny coverage or charge higher rates to people with health problems.
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| How will the plan be funded?
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Savings within the health care system.
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By discontinuing tax cuts for people with incomes over $250,000 per year.
Savings within the health care system.
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| What about prevention and chronic care?
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Both candidates’ plans describe ways to improve prevention and chronic disease care, and to reduce prescription drug costs.
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| Sources: www.barackobama.com; www.johnmccain.com; www.health08.org; www.AAP.org; NY Times Election Guide 2008; www.factcheck.org
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