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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=mrichert@afb.net href="mailto:mrichert@afb.net">AFB DirectConnect</A>
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<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=afbweb@afb.net href="mailto:afbweb@afb.net">AFB
Subscriber</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 25, 2009 11:08 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Health Reform Teleseminar Invitation, Dial-In Instructions,
Presenters</DIV></DIV>
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<P>You are invited to—<BR><BR>Readying for the Vision Loss and Health Reform
Endgame<BR>A Teleseminar, December 2, 2009, 3:30pm Eastern<BR><BR>(Please share
this widely with your networks. Call-in and additional information
below.)<BR><BR>For further information, contact:<BR><BR>Mark
Richert<BR>Director, Public Policy, AFB<BR>(202) 822-0833<BR><A
href="mailto: MRichert@afb.net">MRichert@afb.net</A><BR><BR>While every effort
should continue to be made now to reach out to members of the U.S. Senate to
communicate our field's health care priorities as the Senate moves toward
bringing a comprehensive health reform bill to the Senate floor, plan on being a
part of the December 2, 2009, 3:30pm Eastern, teleseminar, Readying for the
Vision Loss and Health Reform Endgame, to be fully prepared to successfully
advocate for the unique health care needs of people living with vision
loss.<BR><BR>To join the call, dial:<BR><BR>1-800-294-4202<BR>Participant Code:
140-915.<BR><BR>Please dial into the teleseminar a few minutes prior to the
3:30pm Eastern start time.<BR><BR>Presenters include:<BR><BR>Mark
Richert<BR>Director, Public Policy<BR>American Foundation for the
Blind<BR><BR>Eric Bridges<BR>Director of Advocacy and Governmental
Affairs<BR>American Council of the Blind<BR><BR>Roxann Mayros<BR>President and
CEO<BR>VisionServe Alliance<BR><BR>While it is common for bills passed by both
houses of Congress to have their frequently widely varying provisions reconciled
through a conference committee process, the health care reform debate is likely
heading for a conference process of historic proportions. Assuming that the U.S.
Senate can in fact pass its version of health care reform soon, our field needs
to understand the dynamics likely to be in play in the upcoming conference
process and how to best influence it to promote our field's health care and
vision loss agenda.<BR><BR>On Wednesday afternoon, December 2, 2009, 3:30pm
Eastern, you are invited to join in a teleseminar that will:
<UL><BR>
<LI>detail what the current health reform bills do and do not provide with
respect to drug label accessibility, coverage of low vision devices and other
assistive technologies, recognition of vision rehabilitation professionals by
America's health care system, and related policies; and<BR><BR>
<LI>discuss the specific legislative language and strategies needed to achieve
our field's objectives in conference.<BR></LI></UL><BR>To date, none of the
bills in play unambiguously advance the cause of reimbursement of the services
provided by vision rehabilitation professionals, and none of the bills solve the
problem of drug label inaccessibility. Both the House-passed health reform bill
and the pending Senate legislation ensure some degree of public and private
health plan coverage for devices and other assistive technologies, but the
merger of these various provisions in conference will require considerable
additional work to be meaningful.<BR><BR>Historically, it is exceedingly rare
for legislation to emerge from conference with provisions included in it that
have never before appeared in any of its previous versions. However, the sheer
size and scope of the health care bills that are likely to make it to conference
may present some very useful opportunities to advance some aspects of our
agenda.<BR><BR>Join the interactive teleseminar next Wednesday afternoon, come
with questions and comments, and help shape a strategy to achieve positive
change in health care policy for people living with vision loss.<BR><BR><BR>
<HR>
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