FROM THE LAW OFFICE OF ANTHONY OTIS, Montpelier, VT

Now is the time for the Pharmacy Community to raise its voice together in opposition to Governor Douglas’ proposal to reduce by 4% state prescription drug payments to your business. The Message . . . this reduction compromises the economic survival of your pharmacy.

I am asking you and your colleagues to contact your state legislators. Briefly explain how your pharmacy services reduce health care costs. Also, involve your employees and inform your customers who are community leaders, if that’s something you are comfortable with.

Call your local Representative(s) and county Senators, this coming weekend or as soon as possible thereafter. Tell them your story. Follow up with a brief letter or e-mail thanking them and asking them to speak with their party leaders about this issue.

Copy Lt. Governor Brian Dubie brian.dubie@state.vt.us and anthony.otis@comcast.net.

You may wish to fax a copy of a letter or e-mail to the Governor (802-828-3339) since the Governor does not publicize his e-mail address. Otherwise you can fill out a form on-line instead, using the link that follows. http://governor.vermont.gov/contact.html

Some key legislators to contact, other than those who may represent you, are the following:

Senate Health & Welfare Committee Chair (Chittenden County)
    Senator Douglas Racine 434-2013 dracine@leg.state.vt.us

Senate President Pro Tem (Windham County)
    Senator Peter Shumlin 387-4447 senprespt@leg.state.vt.us

Senate Majority Leader (Windsor County)
    Senator John Campbell 295-6238 jcampbell@leg.state.vt.us / vt13@aol.com

House Appropriations Committee Chair
    Representative Martha Heath 893-1291 mheath@leg.state.vt.us / mpheath@aol.com

House Health Care Committee Chair
    Representative Steven Maier 388-7669 smaier@leg.state.vt.us

House Human Services Committee Chair
    Representative Anne Pugh 863-6705 repannpugh@aol.com

Speaker of the House
    Representative Shap Smith 888-9214 ssmith@leg.state.vt.us

How do you find your Legislator’s contact information? Use the link that follows.

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm

Telephone messages may be left Tuesday-Friday at the State House for a call back from your legislators. 800-322-5616

Please e-mail or call our office to inform us of any legislators who state a position to you so we can get a list and headcount of supporters on this issue.

I thank you in advance for your assistance in this very important "grassroots" effort.

Anthony Riva Otis

Law Office of Anthony Otis
P.O. Box 1575
Montpelier, VT 05601-1575
(39 Court Street, 05602-2813)
(802) 229-5200
(802) 229-5930 (fax)
(802) 223-2322 (after 4:30 p.m.)
anthony.otis@comcast.net

Serving Clients on Public Policy and Administrative Law since 1981.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you believe you have received this communication in error, please contact our office immediately by replying to this e-mail or call us collect at (802) 229-5200. We also ask that you destroy all paper and electronic copies of the original message including all attachments.

Thank you.