In the wake of the Senate’s non-vote on HB 4714, Medicaid Expansion, several Tea Party groups, led by Wes Nakagiri of RetakeOurGov, have joined together to provide “scholarships” to key State Senators to an upcoming forum on alternatives to government run health care.
“We know that Governor Snyder is working hard to convince Senators to vote for Medicaid expansion,” said Madison Project Director, Jack Hoogendyk. “We believe Republican Senators should vote based on the best information about what works, not on intimidation by their own governor. Madison is happy to join with area Tea Party Leaders in providing the registration fee for any Senator who is willing to attend.” The forum will be held on July 20. Details can be found here.
Below is full text of the RetakeOurGov press release:
TEA Party Coalition Offers to Fund Senate Evaluation of Patient-Centered Medicaid Reform
Hartland, MI – Michigan State Senators can now increase their understanding of patient-centered health care reform thanks to a coalition of Michigan TEA Party groups. TEA Party groups from across Michigan have agreed to pay the registration fees for State Senators attending an upcoming forum on alternatives to government run health care.
This day-long healthcare forum is sponsored and organized by private Michigan physicians, the Michigan Alliance for Sustainable Healthcare, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, the Benjamin Rush Society and Docs4PatientCare. The forum, “Othercare: Liberation and Innovation in American Healthcare,” will provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding about viable alternatives to government-centered health care; healthcare that is decentralized, empowered and collaborative. The sponsoring host of the conference is the Altarum Institute and it will be held at their Ann Arbor location on July 20. See www.sustainablecare.org
“By providing funding for the registration fees, our coalition is encouraging key Senators from the recently formed Medicaid work group to avail themselves of all perspectives on health reform. The current debate over Medicaid expansion seems to be overlooking patient-centered reform.” said Wes Nakagiri, Founder of RetakeOurGov based in Hartland, Michigan. Senators appointed to the work group include Kahn, Caswell, Robertson, Pappageorge, Marleau, and Booher.
Other coalition leaders provided their perspectives on this important forum. “This conference fits in well with our objective of providing sound information for citizens and policymakers,” said Sharon Lollio of Rattle With Us based in Plymouth, Michigan. While Joan Fabiano, of Grassroots in Michigan based in Lansing added, “We believe Michigan has an opportunity to be a pioneer in innovating cost saving and better health outcomes alternatives to a Medicaid Expansion. This forum offers an occasion for work group members to be presented with pioneering alternatives from members of Michigan’s medical community. ”
Coalition members sponsoring this initiative include Berrien County TEA Party, Blue Water TEA Party, Grassroots in Michigan, Lapeer County TEA Party Patriots, Madison Project, Rattle With Us, RetakeOurGov, and VanKal TEA Party.
