Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993 TAG: 9306030222
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"You, as a mother, should know what it's like to see your child sick," wrote Tammy Ohman, a St. Paul, Minn., woman who can't find health insurance for her 5-year-old daughter.
"Hillary, please deal with this issue with a certain urgency, as we all are looking to you as our last glimmer of hope," wrote Kathy Lanser of Elm Grove, Wis., who is worried that infertility treatments won't be covered.
Americans are pouring out their hearts to Clinton and her task force on health care, offering personal experiences and prescriptions for what's wrong.
"Here I sit awaiting my call for jury duty . . . so I decided to write you," began June Rawls. The Florida woman said her 13-year-old son ran up a $12,000 hospital bill after getting an infection from stepping on a nail after Hurricane Andrew.
Some 2,000-3,000 letters arrive each day at the offices of the health care task force. Many of them are form letters generated by interest groups lobbying for various positions, but tens of thousands of the 200,000 letters received so far are from Americans who have taken a few minutes to share their thoughts.
Many women write to her mother-to-mother. They tell their stories in gripping detail; often they attach copies of medical bills.
"Something has to be done about the cost of health care or we, and others like us, will all end up on welfare or just commit suicide (Yes! I've thought about it!) to do away with the problem," wrote Barbara Johnson of Ocean Springs, Miss. "PLEASE HELP US BECAUSE WE ARE IN DIRE NEED!"
Many urge Clinton to make sure there is coverage in a particular area - examples range from prescription drugs to acupuncture and beyond - or to speak to specific needs related to their own situation.
"Why should I be penalized for being self-employed, for having the independence of vision and the creativity to work by myself," wrote New Yorker Tony Robbin, who said he pays $20,000 a year for health coverage for a family of three. "This is a lot of money for someone who makes about $25,000."
Very few letter writers express direct criticism or anger, said Mary Schuneman, director of correspondence for the task force. Those who differ with the task force's proposals as outlined so far "argue all the more for what they want," but state their arguments in a civil manner, Schuneman said.
"Thanks for listening," wrote Lois Conover, of Robinson, Ill. "You're a lovely first lady."
Schuneman said 200 volunteers sort the letters, sending representative samples to Clinton.
"I've seen people in tears from letters that have just gotten to the heart of the person who's reading them," Schuneman said.
People who write to share personal experiences receive a postcard on which Hillary Rodham Clinton thanks them for their views and says health-care reform "won't be easy and it won't happen overnight, but with your help, we will bring costs under control while maintaining quality medical care and preserving the choice so important to us all."
Top health-care aides were required to spend a few hours sifting the mail themselves. Panels of consumers were drafted from the letter-writers to help the administration test-market its various proposals.
The task force also is receiving lots of reports, books, videotapes, even used medical devices like orthotic shoe inserts - "the kind of stuff you wouldn't ever want to receive in the mail because it's been used," Schuneman said.
The mail peaked in April at about 5,000 letters a day, but the task force is expecting more once the health-care plan finally is unveiled.
"It's going to get worse," Schuneman said. "We're planning for that."
by CNB