Everybody In! Nobody Out!

News, Events, and Actions

HCAO Welcomes New Executive Director

Thanks to many of you. HCAO has hired Jevan Williams as its first Executive Director. Jevan comes with a strong background in nonprofit management and volunteer engagement. Jevan's stated: “I believe strongly that universal healthcare is the only sane answer to many problems, and that although it’s the right thing to do because it makes the world a better place and helps raise people out of poverty, but that it also frees business growth and entrepreneurship.” We are pleased that Jevan has agreed to join this movement. Jevan looks forward to connecting with advocates around the state.

HCAO Presents at the Medicare for All Strategy Conference.

On April 2nd and 3rd, the Presenting Panel from Oregon joined with the Presenting Panel from Washington on a State Based Single Payer on the Way to M4A: Comparing Legislative Approaches in Oregon and Washington State. Each state outlined its pathway forward that included much common ground and resulted in a plan to increase coordination going forward. There was much enthusiasm about each state's ability to achieve a universal single payer healthcare system. We will share the recording of this session when it becomes a available. Currently available at the Health Care Now YouTube channel are the plenary sessions from the conference. Hear the opening interview with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed here.

HCAO Announces Nominees for the HCAO Board of Directors Annual Membership Meeting Save the Date: June 11, 2022 Location: Virtual by Zoom Not a member--become one or renew. The Nominations and Elections Committee has done its due diligence and the HCAO Board has concurred. We are pleased to present the following Nominees for the HCAO Board: HCAO Treasurer: Lisa Bassett HCAO Member at Large: Renee Ruiz (currently serving as Nominations Chair) HCAO Member at Large: Rebecca Schoon (recently appointed to the Board) HCAO Member at Large: Wes Brain (currently serving board member) HCAO Member at Large: Sandra Coyner (currently serving board member) HCAO Member at Large: Antonio Germann (currently serving board member) HCAO Member at Large: Annie Naranjo-Rivera (currently serving board member) HCAO Member at Large: Zainab Alidina (currently serving board member) Board Members serve two year terms. Elections will take place at the Annual Membership Meeting on June 11, 2022. This is a reminder that the Member Meeting is limited to HCAO members. More detailed information will follow. Not a member--become one or renew.

HOPE is Here in 2022 The "Right to Health Care PAC" Get Active in Support

The HOPE Amendment campaign is here as the "Right to Health Care PAC". We are currently building organizational support for the campaign. List of organizations that have already signed on. Organizations can sign on in support here. Continue to inform everyone in your circle and network. Let them know that access to healthcare as a right is on the ballot in November and vote yes on HOPE in 2022. At this time you can support our efforts by providing additional financial support to HCAO. Donate Now.

Letters to the Editor (LTE's) Read One. Write One

Check out these two great LTEs by HCAO advocates. Rachael Atchison writes in the Statesman Journal to 3/18: "We are unable to move, change jobs or start a business because we would lose our insurance. We skip getting care we need because the deductible is too high.... And heaven forbid we actually get sick because for many, even the insured, medical bankruptcy follows." Read it all. Rick Staggenborg writes in the Corvallis Gazette Times: "Whether government has a role in guaranteeing access to health care has been needlessly turned into a partisan issue by both parties, but the issue is of concern to all Americans. Tens of millions of Americans can’t afford health care, and Republicans and Independents are as likely as Democrats to find themselves without adequate coverage in the event of serious medical need. To solve this problem, we must consider all options." Read it all. A great reminder that health care for all is a non-partisan issue. Step into action and build awareness. Write a LTE. Get your personal message out in this fight for universal healthcare. Here is how. (list of newspapers) Story sharing is another powerful tool in the movement. Share your story and/or help others share theirs at https://www.hcao.org/share-your-story.

Oregon Governor's and Legislative Races and Publicly-Funded Universal Healthcare Get Involved

With ballots being mailed in just 3 weeks, primary season is in full swing. What you do matters. Governor candidates are listed at Oregon Secretary of State site. If a candidate is non-affiliated, they will only be in the general election in November. Who is Governor in 2023 is extremely important. Will that person be ready to sign the bill that creates the Oregon Health Plan? Check in on the positions of candidates on universal healthcare by going to their campaign website. Contact the candidates and make your position clear. Know who the legislative candidates are in your district. We now know who is running. You can find out who is running here. Put in the following: Year: 2022 Election: 2022 Primary Election Filing for Office: e.g. State Representative District: (Select your district) (Here is link to new district map) Party: (Select a Party) Click Submit. You will find emails and phone numbers (often their personal ones) to contact them and express your thoughts. Don't hesitate! Make that call to express your thoughts! Find out where they stand on single-payer universal healthcare. Please: Report the results here. Your can review recordings of the Oregon PNHP candidate speaker series "Conversations with Candidates 2022". You can also register to see live video presentations yet to come.

Task Force on Universal Health Care Receives Community Report

The Task Force last met on 3/31/22. The next meeting is scheduled for 4/28/22. Written into the bill which created the Task Force was this requirement: "In developing recommendations to the Legislative Assembly for the plan, the task force shall engage in a public process to solicit public input on the elements of the plan.... The public process must: Ensure input from individuals in rural and underserved communities and from individuals in communities that experience health care disparities." The attached 32 page report from a series of focus group listening sessions with a range of underserved communities speaks to the tragedy of the current system in serving these communities. It speaks loudly for the need for true transformation. “We need to have the same quality of healthcare across the board. It can't be that the people of color or the native communities get the like brand-new people outta school or people who are outdated, that everybody gets the same quality of care as everyone. And that we get a universal like medical, I mean, for your dental, your eyes, everything, not just one thing. And we shouldn't have to go get referrals, cuz that takes months, sometimes weeks." - Native American Group Member. Next up will be a series of regional listening sessions. The schedule is yet TBD. Lots more public testimony is needed. Tell the Task Force what kind of a health system you want through your personal testimony. Keep it simple, for example: "I want a healthcare system that does not require me to sign up every year."  Go to this link to find out how to submit written testimony. Go to this link to provide oral testimony. (Ignore the given date in the information.) Here is the link to the schedule for future meetings. Here is the link to find the recordings. Public engagement is now the focus of the work of the Task Force and that of HCAO. HCAO is following carefully and staying closely involved to shape that plan to meet the intent of the bill which created the JTFUHC. You can help by providing testimony.

Advocates Getting Out Again to Build Awareness and Support at Oregon AFL-CIO Convention

That was more clear than ever when HCAO volunteers engaged with the union community at the the Oregon AFL-CIO 2022 Convention, held in Portland, March 18-20.  Oregon AFL-CIO is a member organization of HCAO along with many of their affiliate unions. Volunteers and attendees were all energized in having interactions throughout the weekend. The highlight was the unanimous vote on the Convention floor to support the constitutional amendment to declare access to health care as a fundamental right. “Health, wealth, employment, age, race, gender, immigration status, and other factors should not result in any barriers to health care or disparities in health outcomes.” #EverybodyInNobodyOut

To take action in your community to build awareness and gain supporters contact your local Chapter Chair or Kate Pfister-Minogue at mobilization@hcao.org

Your Financial Support Is Needed

The work to educate about and advocate for universal healthcare is possible ONLY because of YOU. Monthly Sustainers and Individual Memberships are the cornerstone of our organization's stability. Don't forget to renew your membership. One-time cash gifts in any amount really help, too! There are also Other Ways to Give to HCAO. Help HCAO when you shop, using AmazonSmile and Fred Meyer Community Rewards. For further information and questions, contact Linda Alband (operations@hcao.org).

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