450,000 Doctors Demand: ‘Heal Health Care Now’ -- Media Center -- American Academy of Family Physicians

450,000 Doctors Demand: ‘Heal Health Care Now’ -- Media Center -- American Academy of Family Physicians:

Today marks the launch of “Heal Health Care Now.” This Web-based initiative (HealHealthCareNow.org) consists of several elements, including a provocative video of family doctors speaking in support of the health system reform legislation Congress is debating currently. The video culminates with a call to action encouraging viewers to let their legislators know they stand behind nearly half a million doctors to support reform. The Web site also provides a quick and easy tool that encourages viewers to contact their legislators directly.

Also today, organizations representing 450,000 doctors signed and delivered a joint letter indicating their support of health care reform to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his colleagues in the U.S. Senate. The American Academy of Family Physicians along with the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Medical Student Association, Doctors for America and the National Physicians Alliance signed the letter which reads in part, “We are confident that the reforms being proposed will allow us to provide better quality care to our patients, while preserving patient choice of plan and doctor.”

Two national nonpartisan health care organizations — the AAFP and the Herndon Alliance — developed the online “Heal Health Care Now” initiative in a strategic effort to counter some of the most potent anti-reform arguments with the most trusted spokespersons — front-line family doctors. The AAFP represents more than 94,000 family physicians and medical students. The Herndon Alliance is a nationwide coalition of more than 200 minority, faith, labor, advocacy, business, and health-care provider organizations, including the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AARP, the Mayo Clinic and Families USA.

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