AFL-CIO joins reform debate. (Short Takes: News at Deadline).The nation's largest union, the AFL-CIO AFL-CIO: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. AFL-CIO in full American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations U.S. , has served notice that it intends to be a major player in the upcoming debate on health care reform. The labor federation has warned congressional candidates they will pay a heavy price f they fail to back a sweeping managed care reform bill. Gerald McEntee Gerald W. "Jerry" McEntee is an American union activist. Since 1981, he has been the International President of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), one of the most aggressive and politically active organizing unions in the , Chairman of the AFL-CIO's political education committee, said, "If there is no legislation passed in terms of a Patients' Bill of Rights, then that will be, I think, a significant issue in the election." The union is funding an ad blitz Noun 1. ad blitz - an organized program of advertisements ad campaign, advertising campaign crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; in 20 congressional districts and in five states. One ad singles out lawmakers who oppose a patients' bill of rights. A second ad lauds Lauds is one of the two "major hours" in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. It is to be recited in the early morning hours, preferably near dawn. Structure of the hour those in support of such a measure, while a third ad urges voters to contact their elected officials with their concerns. Union members have consistently ranked a managed care overhaul as one of their top priorities. A January survey of union households found that nearly 70 percent of those responding were concerned about the restrictions HMOs placed on their access to care. Nearly half of those surveyed said that they had personally encountered such problems or knew someone who had. A key component of any reform bill, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the union, is giving patients the right to sue their HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, for withholding treatment. Union officials say they will oppose any reform measure that does not include such a provision. James A. Hawkins is Publisher of Healthcare Briefings, a newsletter available in print, on cassette, via fax, and on computer disk. He can be reached at 800/338-5486. |
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