As a healthcare consumer in Lee County, Virginia, I have a choice of healthcare providers for me and my family. Healthcare is an important issue for families in the Lee County community and, as such, consumers are encouraged to choose providers that have a likelihood and potential for future growth and development in my community. Recent changes to service options in my community have left me with a sense of insecurity related to my healthcare options in Lee County and in southwestern Virginia.

In October of 2013, Lee Regional Medical Center was closed for three primary reasons: reimbursement cuts that are associated with the Affordable Care Act, extremely low community use of the hospital and a lack of consistent physician coverage. The healthcare system that closed this facility also operates in other areas of southwestern Virginia and has assured healthcare consumers in Lee County that they will still have access to their other facilities in the community and the region.

Healthcare systems facing difficulties such as those cited for closure of the Lee Regional Medical Center may or may not be viable in the future in our community and the region because their viability is based on me as a consumer, my choices, and my decision to select them as a healthcare provider.

As a consumer, I have a voice. As a consumer, I have a choice. I am making my voice heard by reasonably considering who I want my healthcare provider to be. I have a choice to put my money in the hands of those healthcare systems that do not close facilities in my community. I can speak loudly with my money and the money of my selected insurer.

By signing this petition, I am acting in solidarity with other signers, my brothers and sisters of the Lee County community, to actively seek healthcare services from health systems in our community that do not close their facilities. By signing this petition, I make a promise and a commitment to my bothers and sisters of the Lee County community, consumers united together, to boycott any and all facilities, both locally and regionally, that are affiliated with health systems that choose to close their facilities, close offices, or cease beneficial programs in my community.

Signing of this petition in no way declares any animosity, ill will or negative sentiment towards any healthcare system that closes its facilities in my community. Signing of this petition simply means I have a choice as a consumer and I have chosen to exercise that right through boycott of those health systems that close facilities in my community.

This petition is important because it unites my community. This petition is important because it declares the solidarity of my community. This petition is important because I need to have assured healthcare options in my future. This petition is important because it will lay a foundation for the building of a stronger infrastructure in my community, an infrastructure that will know it has accountability to me and other consumers in my community.