contactrepresentatives

Common Good is committed to advancing federal and state public policy that promotes health courts.  We encourage you to contact your Congressional and State Representatives on legislation and programs that advance and promote health court initiatives.  Use the following as a brief guide for communicating with your legislators and learning more about the legislative process.

How Do I Identify My Legislators and Find Their Contact Information?

Find out who represents you at Project Vote Smart.  When you enter your 9-digit zip code in the box on the left-hand side of the page, a page will pop up listing your Congressional and State Representatives and their contact information. 

Don't know your 9-digit zip code?  Find it using your address here. 

How Do I Correspond With My Legislators?

In corresponding with your legislators, it's helpful to address them as:

Dear Senator (name)
Dear Representative (name)
The Honorable (name)

We suggest you contact your legislators by phone, fax, or email.  Regular mail correspondence experiences lengthy delays due to security inspection.

What Are Some Basic Tips for Sending an E-mail or Letter to My Legislator?

Letters or emails to your Congressional or State legislators can make a difference when it comes to educating your legislator on issues such as health courts that are important to you.  Your legislator SHOULD listen to you in order to understand the view of the people he/she represents.  Keep in mind that your legislator receives numerous pieces of correspondence on a daily basis, so you need to be clear and concise.

Here are some basic tips on how to correspond effectively with your representatives:

1. In the first paragraph, identify yourself as a voting constituent in your legislator’s state or district.
2. In the first paragraph, indicate whether you are writing on behalf of yourself, or on behalf of an organization or coalition.
3. Provide facts and examples to support your position.  For key facts about the current medical liability system and how health courts can help, see our Fact Sheets. 
4. Personalize the issue you are writing about and how the legislation would positively or negatively affect you or those you represent.
5. In the concluding paragraph, thank your legislator for his/her time and interest and ask for a response in a timely fashion. Provide a method for follow-up, such as a phone number or email address.
6. Limit your letter to one page!

What are some Basic “Talking Points” on Health Courts?

When speaking to your legislator about health courts and the importance of reforming the medical injury compensation system in your state, try using the following points.

Key Points About Health Courts Why They Are Needed, and What Needs to Be Done ►        America’s current medical malpractice system works poorly for patients and doctors.  It raises costs and hinders quality medicine.  It also creates unnecessary delays, litigation red tape, and legal uncertainties. ►        America needs a new approach to resolving medical malpractice disputes.  Creation of health courts is the practical, equitable reform America has been waiting for.  ►        Health court pilot projects would get the ball rolling on this important reform, and would provide states with key information on “best practices” about how to develop health courts in the long-term. ►        Both patients and doctors deserve a new system that is efficient and fair. Pilot projects can be an important step in making medical justice more reliable and less costly, for health care providers, patients, and employers. ►        Efforts must be undertaken at the federal and state level to develop pilot projects.

Where Can I Obtain Copies of Current and Past Legislation?

View copies of current and past federal legislation with Thomas.  Here you can view the summary and status of any bill, the complete bill text, who sponsorsed the bill, and you can follow the actions of the bill.

You can find most of the same information on bills in your state on your state legislature's website.  To find your state legislature's website, visit the National Conference of State Legislature's State Legislatures Internet Links.

Common Good maintains a list of health court-related legislation in Congress and the states, including bill texts, here.