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Contact: Media Relations Officer , AAMC, Alicia Mitchell, AHA 202-626-2339, Dan Boston FAH 202-624-1522
Leading Hospital and Business Groups Launch "Coalition to Protect America's Health Care" Ad Campaign To Run During Political Conventions
Washington, D.C., July 24, 2000--Hospitals, national, state and local hospital associations, and major business groups today launched the "Coalition to Protect America's Health Care." This unprecedented public education campaign was assembled to raise awareness about the financial difficulties many hospitals are facing and the impact these struggles are having on their patients and local communities.
The first Coalition initiative is an ad campaign to run during the political conventions and congressional recess, beginning today.
The formation of the Coalition is part of an attempt to achieve additional relief from the continuing financial pressures health care providers are experiencing from the deep Medicare cuts called for in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA). Although Congress and the Administration last year provided modest relief from the BBA cuts, it was not enough to create a stable environment for the hospital community. The cuts ultimately have an effect on the ability of caregivers to provide health care services that patients rely on.
However, there are remedies to help solve this problem. The announcement of a more than $2 trillion budget surplus confirms that the resources are available to repair the damages caused by the BBA.
In addition, there are several proposals before Congress that were introduced to specifically address this issue. These bills are designed to provide relief to hospitals that care for the elderly, poor and uninsured, as well as those hospitals whose mission is to advance medicine and teach future health professionals.
With the large surplus and help from these bills, the Coalition hopes to shape the health care debate in the next legislative session both at the Presidential and congressional levels. Subsequent phases of the campaign will occur throughout the fall and in 2001. The overall campaign is expected to cost roughly $30 million. American Hospital Association President Dick Davidson is interim chair of the Coalition, while fundraising co-chairs are Gary Mecklenburg, president and CEO of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Barry Schochet, vice chairman of Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
The Washington, D.C.-based communications firm of McCarthy, Marcus and Hennings is developing the Coalition advertising. The first ad entitled "Nurse" is set in a hospital emergency room with a nurse discussing the impact federal cuts to health care providers are having on her ability to provide patient care. Versions of the ad will appear nationally in broadcast and print media.
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Editor's Note: A complete listing of the Coalition members is available upon request.
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