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News, Events, and Actions |
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HCAO Annual Membership Meeting
June 11, 2022
Location: Virtual by Zoom
Featuring: Welcome by AFT-Oregon President Jaime Rodriguez
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HCAO Announces Nominees for the HCAO Board of Directors |
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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. Registration and information available at hcao.org
HCAO Nominations and Elections Committee Nominees:
Sarah Spansail (Medford--currently serving)
David Young (Portland--currently serving)
Nominations Committee Members serve one year terms.
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Now Available the Oregon and Washington Presentation
on State-Based Single Payer
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There was much enthusiasm about each state's ability to achieve a universal single payer healthcare system.
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Alarming Reports on the State of Oregon's Healthcare System |
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From: "Impact of Health Care Costs on Oregonians"
"In 2019, 15.7 percent of people in Oregon reported delaying medical care due to costs, but some communities were more likely to experience delays in care due to costs than others."
"In 2019, over 10 percent of people in Oregon reported using up all or most of their savings because of medical bills."
"In 2019, family health insurance premiums were $19,405 and the average price of a compact car was $20,972."
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From Lara Media Focus Groups: "Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care Study"
The attached 32 page final 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.
"The communities interviewed have made it clear that the current system’s mode of operation is dysfunctional and provides many stressors and barriers to the healthcare they consider a necessary and fundamental right."
"Their current healthcare system does not offer them the affordability, coverage, dignity, or ease of care they are seeking. The processes in place to help them access or mitigate those services have not been equitable and have instead enforced a system of degradation. These communities, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, rural communities, and people with disabilities and mental health issues, are now looking for a new affordable health care system that will provide inclusive, flexible, comprehensive, and culturally responsive care."
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Update: Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care |
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The Task Force met on 4/28/22. During the meeting the Task Force discussed the above Lara Media report.
HCAO President Tom Sincic has been participating in the community engagement subgroup which did preliminary reviews of the report.
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."
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. 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.
The next meeting is scheduled for 5/19/22.
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Coming Soon:
JTUHC Statewide Regional Listening Sessions.
Schedule TBD.
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HOPE is Here in 2022
The "Right to Health Care PAC"
Get Active in Support
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Eighteen (18) organizations have already signed on to support the HOPE Amendment SJR 12 including Oregon Recovers and the American College of Physicians. Momentum is building with kickoff coming after the primaries. See full sign on list of organizations..
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 SJR 12 in 2022.
At this time you can support our efforts by providing additional financial support to HCAO. Donate Now.
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Watch LIVE on Monday, May 23 at 1pm Eastern the discussion on the latest threat to Traditional Medicare: the recently announced REACH program.
Seniors will speak about the dangers of private equity interfering with the patient-doctor relationship, while Congressional Representatives will speak about what they have done, and what we should all plan to do, to protect our seniors.
Invited speakers include representatives from Jane Addams Senior Caucus, the California Alliance of Retired Americans, the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, and the Wisconsin chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, as well as U.S. House Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Katie Porter, Mark Pocan, and Jan Schakowsky. Register here.
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Dahna Black, Sen. Merkley's Southern Oregon Field Representative recently met with (left to right) Dahna, Ivy, Brenda, Beverly, Ivend and Wes (not pictured). These community members warned about the ("nearly secret" plan “Direct Contracting Entities (DCE)”, now called REACH, which moves people into Medicare Advantage plans or a similar privatization move. |
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With ballots mailed, what you do matters.
Who is Governor in 2023 is extremely important. Check in on the positions of candidates on universal healthcare and other issues you care about by going to their campaign website. Contact the candidates and make your position clear.
You can find all candidates contact information here. Put in the following:
- Year: 2022
- Election: 2022 Primary Election
- Filing for Office: e.g. State Representative
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District: (Select your district) (Here is link to new district map) Your district number will be on your ballot.
- Party: (Select a Party if your )
- 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.
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Volunteers Build Awareness and Support
Around the State
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Volunteers joined the union community at the AFT-OR Spring Training 2022 in Salem on April 30. HCAO Membership Chair, Lou Sinniger coordinated with HCAO Marion Polk County volunteers to provide engagement. (Pictured are Lou, Dana, and Lee.)
AFT-OR along with their affiliate unions ONA and OFNP are HCAO Members. We look forward to AFT-Oregon President Jaime Rodriquez providing some welcoming remarks at the HCAO Annual Membership Meeting.
“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.”
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Your Financial Support Is Needed
HCAO Attains Guidestar (Candid) Platinum Seal
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The work to educate about and advocate for universal healthcare is possible ONLY because of YOU.
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Please become a member, make an additional contribution, or volunteer. |
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Everybody in! Nobody out! |
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