Everybody In! Nobody Out!
News, Events, and Actions
"Right to Health Care" Measure 111
Take Action
Final days to make access to health care a right. Great news! Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon's endorsement makes 50 organizations which have signed on and are amplifying the message.

Here is 90 year old HCAO activist Ruth Duemler's goodbye message and wish: "This is our chance to pass Ballot Measure 111. So everyone, please get out and vote to be sure it passes and the people that support it get elected."

Ruth's mother was a nurse in Canada and worked with Nobel laureate Dr. Fredrick Banting when he discovered insulin and gave it for $1 on the condition that it be available to all who needed it.

As the nation watches, what can you still do?

  • Join the remaining phone banks from anywhere.
  • Join the remaining canvasses in Portland Metro area.
  • Continue to inform everyone in your circle and network that the Right to Health Care Measure 111 is on the ballot and to vote by November 8.
  • Be sure to watch and share the video above.

Every vote matters. Check out this article from Grid News.

Here is the website where you can find information you need. Campaign Manager Emerson Hamlin can be reached at righttohealthcareoregon@gmail.com.
Save these Dates: November 21-29
A Mount Hood Cabin
A Sunriver Vacation Home
A Stay in NAPA
Another fabulous Giving Tuesday Auction is coming. The above and more.
Not too Late
Elections Matter! Know the Candidates. Get Involved!

  • Find the elections in your area by putting in the address at Ballotpedia.
  • Find the candidates.
  • Go to their website to see what they say about the issues.
  • Contact the candidates to say what is important to you.
  • Support those that support issues that you care about including universal health care in these final days.

Stay tuned post election for the next essential steps.
"Yale study found that despite growing investments in health care over the past 20 years, barriers to timely medical care are increasing, as are racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care...."
"Despite health reforms and innovations by the private sector, our nation is losing ground on access to health care. People are facing greater barriers now than 20 years ago despite the trillions more dollars that have flowed into the health care system." Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz
The authors ask this question: "How is it possible that, compared with the turn of the century, people are having a harder time getting health care in recent years – and disparities have not only not improved, but have worsened?" Then conclude: "Our current approaches are failing to improve access.” Read the Article

We know that now is the time for a single payer universal healthcare system.
HCAO Board Members Engaging Community
HCAO President Tom Sincic and HCAO President Tom Sincic and Board Member Mary Lou Hennrich gladly accepted the Portland Business Alliance's Leadership Portland invitation to to talk "Healthcare Transformation: Necessary and POSSIBLE". This was the closing part of a day long conference attended by the business leaders Class of 2023 at Cambia Health Health Solutions. The presentation with discussion was well received. From the conference organizer: "Your participation throughout the day was critical to the conversation and I was so overjoyed to have the opportunity to provide the class that level of engagement"
HCAO Board Members, Zainab Alidina amd Dr. Tony German were part of a panel at the October Oregon Public Health Association Conference. Attendees were eager to hear about "Universal Health Care is Public Health". They brought focus to the work of the Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care and Measure 111 to make access to health care a fundamental right for all in Oregon.
Private Equity Takeover
From KHN: "Private Equity Sees the Billions in Eye Care as Firms Target High-Profit Procedures"

"Christina Green hoped cataract surgery would clear up her cloudy vision, which had worsened after she took a drug to fight her breast cancer....

But the former English professor said her 2019 surgery with Ophthalmology Consultants didn’t get her to 20/20 vision or fix her astigmatism — despite a $3,000 out-of-pocket charge for the astigmatism surgical upgrade. Green, 69, said she ended up feeling more like a dollar sign to the practice than a patient. "You’re a cow among a herd as you just move from this station to this station to this station,' she said." Read about the profiteers here. What does Dr. Glaucomflecken say on the Future of Medicine? We need you in this fight.
Glitterfox Played on for Universal Health Care
The Band
Collin Gives the Pitch
The People Respond
On Friday, October 21, the sold out show was a treat for the lucky few who grabbed tickets early. Thanks Glitterfox, host Mike of Wonderwood Springs, Fuschia of Weird Sisters Yarn , Christine of Two Rivers Books and HCAO Portland Chapter Chair Collin for creating a great evening, building awareness and raising funds. Small businesses and musicians know the need for universal healthcare.
Your Financial Support Is Needed
The work to educate about and advocate for universal healthcare is possible ONLY because of YOU.
For further information and questions, contact Linda Alband (operations@hcao.org).
Please become a member, make an additional contribution, or volunteer.
Everybody in! Nobody out!