Health Care for ALL – Oregon (HCAO) is working for secure, affordable health care for each and every Oregonian. We believe the best way to do this is through a universal, single-payer health care system for every resident of the state. With everyone in the same insurance pool, we can lower costs while providing more comprehensive services than what most residents receive now.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION FOR A PUBLICLY OWNED & ADMINISTERED NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTH PLAN!!

Learn more about Sen. Wyden's health care proposal here.

Side-by-side comparison tables of Democratic and Republican candidates’ proposals for health care reform can be found at the Henry K. Kaiser Family Foundations’ website, www.health08.org

Health Care Reform Update, November 2007

There’s a lot of talk these days about how to fix the broken U.S. health care system, but many of the proposals repeat past mistakes or are unfair, or both. Here are several opportunities to help create something that’s not simply a band-aid solution:

The passage of SB 329 in the 2007 Legislature created the Oregon Health Trust. HCAO has reservations about the plan but it has the potential to be a transitional step towards more comprehensive reform. Oregon Health Fund Board members are now discussing details of how the system could work and will present the finalized plan to the 2009 Legislature, which will probably refer it to voters in November 2009. It is critical that citizens contact the Board to make sure that the reforms address key concerns.

Please tell the OHF Board that you want a state system that:

• extends access to essential health services for ALL Oregonians who want coverage (not just the uninsured)

• includes a PUBLIC Accountable Health Plan (currently, only insurance companies are being considered)

Links to more information, board and committee member names and contact information can be found here.

On the national level, HR 676, introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident. HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry.

HR 676 currently has 85 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. Co-sponsors and bill text can be found here. (Enter HR 676 in the search box.)

Please contact your Congressional representative today to urge support HR 676. See the hcao.org site for contact information for all Oregon senators and representatives.

The ongoing Presidential campaigns present a great opportunity to write letters to the editor about the candidates’ policy proposals. Only Dennis Kucinich, ow out of the race, supported single payer (“patient and doctor-run health care”). Other Democratic candidates support similar proposals that are transitional, at best; Edwards’ may have been the best among them, but he is also out of the race now. Side-by-side comparison tables of Democratic and Republican candidates’ proposals can be found at the Henry K. Kaiser Family Foundations’ website, www.health08.org.

Despite our best attempt in the state to coordinate our efforts, at this time there appears there will not be a serious health care ballot measure in November 2008. We think that’s a real shame. We’re currently shopping a proposal for a measure that would cut off health benefits that taxpayers currently provide to Oregon legislators if they fail to enact legislation that would provide to all Oregonians access to the same benefits by the end of the 2009 legislative session. Of course, the legislature could override such a statutory measure but that would be really embarrassing. The measure could serve as an impetus to have the Oregon Health Trust offer coverage to all Oregonians or make the 2009 OHT ballot measure seem more moderate and thus more likely to pass. Let us know what you think!

While your active participation in health care politics is important, you can also support comprehensive health care reform by making a contribution to HCAO. Donations from individuals provides HCAO’s only financial support—they pay for the copying, rent of meeting rooms, and other expenses needed to carry on the volunteer, grassroots organizing critical to creating the broad movement needed to make change. HCAO volunteers have spent the last year organizing forums, supporting groups of physicians seeking comprehensive reform, participating in We Can Do Better activities, monitoring progress of the Oregon Health Trust as it develops, making presentations to civic and church groups, organizing testimony on Oregon health care reform legislation, coordinating letter writing campaigns, etc.

HCAO also financially supports organizations that it collaborates with, including Universal Health Care Action Network, Physicians for a National Health Program, the Oregon Health Action Campaign, the Archimedes Movement and HealthCare-Now!. (HCAO is a 501c4, which is not tax deductible but does allow you to apply your donation for an Oregon state political contribution tax credit). Donations should be mailed to PO Box 51422, Eugene, OR 97405.

Thanks for all you do,

Mark Lindgren

Chair, HCA-O

11/14/07

Volunteers take to the streets calling for Health Care For All!

We are a statewide, grassroots organization with local Community

Leadership Teams in Portland, Albany/Corvallis, Lane County, and

the Rogue Valley. We are looking for volunteers in other parts of the state to start chapters in their area.

Regular meetings

Eugene: Lane County chapter of HCAO sponsors monthly meetings with the Eugene - Springfield chapter of We Can Do Better.

Our October meeting will be at 7 p.m., October 24 (not the usual last Weds of the month, since that is Halloween), EWEB Board Room, 500 East 4th Avenue, Eugene. We will show a DVD on the health care crisis, and give an update on The Healthy Oregon Act, Senate Bill 329; for more information: Frank (334-1760) or Charlotte (345-6867)

Albany/Corvallis: Mid Valley Health Care Advocates meet monthly

7 p.m., last Thursday of the month, Corvallis Caring Place, 750 NW 23rd, Corvallis

for more information: Rich Lague (541-757-2726).

People interested in getting involved in the Corvallis area can contact:

Josandra McLellan, Rapid Response Coordinator: If you want to go to legislative hearings in Salem, testify at hearings, or attend other special events where advocates are needed.

Joe and Lois Marie Zaerr, House Meeting Coordinators: If you want to host a house meeting to inform your friends and neighbors about health reform activities.

Shane McShane, Letters Coordinator: If you are interested in writing letters to legislators or the editor of the local newspaper.

During 2002 we collected around 100,000 signatures to place a pioneering ballot initiative on the November 2002 ballot. However, the thousands of hours of volunteer labor could not counteract the the $1.3 million spent on television ads and direct mail by insurance and hospital holding companies.

The drive to achieve secure and affordable health care for every Oregonian has just begun.

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