Write Your Own Email to Secretary Sebelius

Add your voice of support to NAHA Board’s letter to Secretary Sebelius requesting that she, and HHS, “Do the Right Thing:  Stop Using the Invalid Hospice Cap Regulation”.

How to send an email to Secretary Sebelius in a few simple steps:

First, adopt the right attitude… remember Secretary Sebelius did not draft the hospice cap regulation BUT she can decide to not use it now that it has been invalidated (twice).  So, be firm, direct, open, and very polite.  Any lack of civility in your email will, at a minimum, diminish its value and, potentially, damage the overall cause.

Second, compose your own letter in your own words.  “Cookie-cutter” or “cut and paste” letters will be much less effective than a sincerely worded, personal letter.  The following text template is provided for your reference as to what types of information you should include.  Please use the full closing information (name, address, and phone number).  You will not be contacted but it is important that your email communicate that you are a “real” person rather than some computer generated mailing campaign.

Remember, the following is for guidance only, PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDS to maximize our impact.  To that end, please modify the content of your email as you wish.  What is important is that you identify your involvement (even if you are just a supporter/fan of hospice care) with and your commitment to continued timely hospice access and hospice care.

I am <Name>, and I’m <an owner of / a manager with / a nurse/chaplain/social worker/nurse’s aide/secretary/employee/other with>, <do business with>, <am a supporter of> ________ Hospice in <city/town, state>. _________ Hospice cares for ______ patients every day, over ____ hundred/thousand over the last several years and employs ____ caregivers.

Tell the Secretary of HHS, in a couple of brief sentences, something special about your job, your hospice or your patient(s), without revealing any confidential patient information.

I want to add my voice to that of NAHA’s Board of Directors in asking you to direct HHS and Medicare to do the right thing regarding the hospice cap. The federal courts have now clearly told you and all hospices that the regulation under which hospice cap demands are issued is wrong, and is harming hospices and our patients. Please stop using it, at least until you can write a regulation that is fair and legal.

Signed,

(Name)

(Address)

(Phone number)

Remember, your letter should be in your own words. Please be sure to include your full name, address, and phone number in your closing.

Third, once you have composed your letter, send it to Secretary Sebelius at:

email:  Kathleen.Sebelius@hhs.gov

subject line:  “Please Do the Right Thing: Stop Using Invalid Hospice Cap Regulation”

If you are using Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, you can simply click on the following link to create your email.  Then you can copy and paste your message into the body of the email.

Send email to Secretary Sebelius at HHS

Finally, send an email to colleagues, friends, employees, and anyone else you know who supports the NAHA request that HHS “Do the Right Thing…” asking them to express their support in an email to Secretary Sebelius.