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News, Events, and Actions
SAVE the Date: June 12, 2021
HCAO Annual Virtual Membership Meeting
Sponsored by the Oregon Nurses Association
Racism as A Public Health Crisis: From Declaration to Action
May 20, 3:00p.m.
(no need to travel)
HCAO has endorsed Racism as Public Health Crisis and co-hosts this forum. The Centers for Disease Control ,  American Medical Association and Multnomah County have recently declared racism as a crisis for public health. Now the Oregon Legislature is considering it, too. Hear from health equity advocates, clinicians and policy leaders about what these declarations may mean, if anything, for marshalling new resources to combat health inequities, police violence, environmental injustice related to this crisis, as well as for health care policy, practice, and patient outcomes. Register
HCAO Lane County Chapter Hosts Virtual Panel
Impact of Universal Health Care on Communities
This important panel discussion on how publicly provided universal health care would benefit those they serve took place on April 26.

Panelists were Eric Richardson, (NAACP); Jacob Trewe (DSA); Monica Beilski Boris (AFSCME); and Orin Falvey (Orchid Health). Listen to what the panelists had to say here.
Great News:
HOPE Amendment and Task Force Bills Continue Forward
Your Voice Still Matters
SJR 12 Sign Ons
HCAO Rogue Valley Chapter prepares for SJR 12 action.
SJR 12 (the HOPE Amendment to declare access to health care as a right) had a public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care on 5/6.

Listen to the compelling testimony of HCAO Board Member Zainab Alidina and that of Sen. Steiner Hayward, Rep. Nosse, Jacob Trewe, Emerson Hamlin, Kyla Schmitt, Olivia Asato (HCAO member org. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon), and SEIU President Mike Powers (an HCAO member org) here. It is the first agenda item of the meeting.

Supporting organizations are growing. See the current sign-on statement with supporters.

The House Committee on Health Care has a work session scheduled for 5/11. It will go to the Rules Committee.and then to the full House for final passage.
IMPORTANT ACTION:
With your help these bills will continue to move forward. Time to ensure health care access is a right. Is your state representative or senator a sponsor? If yes, thank them; if not, ask them to sponsor. Check for sponsorship of SJR 12, and SB 428.

Call, e-mail, and schedule meetings with your state representatives and senators. (They will usually set up a meeting using Zoom, so there's no need to travel. It's convenient for you and for them.)
  1. Find your legislator.
  2. Share your healthcare story.
  3. Tell them your thoughts on "healthcare as a human right."
'We Need Medicare for All': Video Shows People Worldwide Appalled by High US Healthcare Costsl
What Do Others Think of U.S. Health Care?
The "excellent" New York Times editorial video , said one viewer, exposes the "cruelty and inefficiency of our healthcare system."

In Case You Missed It--Medicare for All Introduced in Congress
H.R. 1976, to establish an improved Medicare for All national health insurance program
Legislation guarantees healthcare to everyone as a human right by providing comprehensive benefits, including primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, long-term services and support, reproductive healthcare, and more, with no copays, deductibles, private insurance premiums, or other "cost-sharing."

Coming soon: The State-Based Universal Health Care Act.
Don't Forget: Have Your Say, and Shape the System
Your Voice Matters
Listen to the latest meeting including public testimony (at 1:20 mark). Get involved with the public participation to help build the system through your personal testimony. Here are the links you need.

SB 428 (to continue the Task Force on Universal Health Care) passed the Senate Committee on Health Care and has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Expect a hearing this month.

IMPORTANT ACTION: Contact the members of the Ways and Means Committee to share your thoughts.

For assistance, contact:
Zainab Alidina, HCAO Legislative Chair (legislative@hcao.org) or
Linda Alband, HCAO Director of Operations (operations@hcao.org).
Your Financial Support Is Needed
HCAO's ability 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!