We are out numbered, not defeated!

My friend Brad works for Tennessee Health Care Campaign, THCC, to help improve the lives of individuals suffering with mental illness in our state. Recently, he sent me this email that reveals how consumer protection group's lobbyist are outnumbered on Capital Hill. This fact is stunning.

I wish Brad much success and happiness in his decision to continue his education. I greatly appreciate all of his hard work in his years with THCC. He will be sorely missed.


Dear Steve,

I was listening to NPR's Fresh Air yesterday morning as Dave Davies interviewed an author who mentioned that the top five consumer protection groups sent 20 lobbyists to Capitol Hill during the financial reform debate while the top five finance industry groups sent 406 lobbyists during the same time. In other words, consumers were outnumbered 20 to 1.

This is a story we know too well as the voice for Tennessee's health care consumers. During the implementation of health reform, we are constantly out numbered. Fortunately, THCC has a long history of working on your behalf and our success stories are many and varied. From the beginning days of TennCare to the passage and implementation of national health reform, we've been privileged to represent your interest during challenging times.

Through the years, THCC has had fantastic leadership to help make all of this possible, and I'm so lucky to have been able to follow in such tremendous footsteps. However, my time as THCC's interim executive director has come to an end. I'll continue with THCC and will be focused mostly on policy and communications as we move forward with enrolling hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans later this year. I will eventually be leaving THCC in August to pursue a Masters of Social Work at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work.

Until then, I'm happy to provide the transition and introduce you to THCC's new director - Walter Davis. Walter comes with much experience in organizing and building community partnerships, which is just what we need as we start planning for open enrollment, and I'm thrilled to be by his side as we move forward.

With gratitude,
Brad A. Palmertree, BSW
Sent from my iPad