Everybody In! Nobody Out!
News, Events, and Actions
SAVE the Date: June 12, 2021
HCAO Annual Virtual Membership Meeting
Announcing HCAO's New Partnership and Its Newest Member
(no need to travel)
HCAO and OHF have launched a strong new partnership that is sure to increase awareness about advancing health policy in the transformation of healthcare, and you can participate in conversations addressing key issues facing healthcare and healthcare transformation. Currently, OHF offers primarily no-cost programs for the community.

OHF Executive Director Robin Moody says, "The Oregon Health Forum is pleased to join HCAO, whose members from around the state have been enthusiastic attendees and frequent participants at our community events. The Oregon Health Forum is committed to advancing health policy through community dialogue, and appreciates the ideas and energy that HCAO brings to ensuring access to health care for all Oregonians."

Check out the next one: Feb. 11, 2021 | Supporting Survivors: Improving Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting in Oregon. HCAO is pleased to serve as a Facebook co-host for this and future events. For more information go to the OHF website and follow OHF on Facebook.
JAMA Editorial: "Health Care Is a Right, Not a Privilege"
The editorial opens, "Two fundamental questions about health care in the US remain unanswered: is health care a right or a privilege and, relatedly, is the US committed to ensuring that every individual has access to some form of health insurance like in every other modern high-resource country." Read the editorial.

We are on a path to definitively answer both of these questions in Oregon. See below. With your help, we will bring forward healthcare as a right and one equitable system for all, not "some form of insurance." The focus must remain on health, healthcare, and eliminating the flawed burdensome and complex system of insurance. Oregon is in a position to lead the way again.

Find a list of newspapers here.
Oregon Requires Health Insurers to Cover COVID-19 Vaccination Costs
From the Lund Report article: "Patients are not charged for the vaccine or the provider’s cost of administering it, whether they have commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or no insurance at all."

That said, payment for COVID testing remains complex and stressful for those needing to get tested. It may leave a person with a bill for hundreds of dollars. Read more about the complexity.
"Medicare For All" Rave

Raving Awareness for M4A
Time to RAVE
The M4A Rave will commence with a panel of Medicare for All leaders from across the state discussing the current strategy and the collective actions we can take to guarantee healthcare for all Oregonians by 2022. Following the hour-long discussion, we’ll take collective action together by reaching out to our friends about this issue, and we'll enjoy live music from a few of Oregon’s best performers, streamed live from Holocene.
Business Ally Speaks Clearly
Taproot Lounge and Cafe, located in Salem, has a message: "Eat Fresh, Local, and Happy Food."

Taproot is among HCAO's long-time Business Allies. Restaurants and their employees are among the most hard hit as they try ways to keep the business open while experiencing the rising cost of insurance.

Aptroot owner Christopher expresses support for universal high-quality healthcare so succinctly: "Without our health, we have nothing. Access to health care should be and can be for everyone."
With the realization of the failure and skyrocketing costs of employment-based insurance, small businesses continue to add their names to the HCAO Business Allies list. Newly added business allies include:
  • BeauxArts, Florence
  • Nixon Integrative Nutrition, Bend
Are you a business owner or know someone who is? Add business names here.
Important Legislation Moving Forward—Your Voice Matters!
The Task Force on Universal Health Care must continue with SB 428. Is your state representative or senator a sponsor? If yes, thank them. If not, ask them to become one. Check for sponsorship of SB 428, and find your legislator. SB 428 is scheduled for a Public Hearing on February 15. Submit testimony.

The HOPE Amendment to declare access to healthcare as a right is back as HJR 14 and SJR 12. With your help, we can ensure healthcare 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 HJR 14 or SJR 12, and find your legislator. SJR 12 scheduled for a Public Hearing on February 15. Submit testimony.

Call, e-mail, and schedule meetings with your state representatives and senators. (They will usually set one up using Zoom. There's no need to travel. It's convenient for you and for them.)
  • Find your legislator.
  • Share your healthcare story.
  • Tell them your thoughts on "healthcare as a human right."

The HCAO Board has endorsed the Fair Shot for All Oregon Agenda. Please get behind the items that are important to you. Look for more information in the future.
Don't Forget: Have Your Say, and Shape the System
Get involved with the public participation to help build the system. Here are the links you need.

For assistance contact
Zainab Alidina, HCAO Legislative Chair (legislative@hcao.org) or
Linda Alband, Director of Operations (operations@hcao.org).
Do You Have Appreciated Assets, Such As Stocks?
Consider Donating Them to HCAO!
Does your portfolio include appreciated stocks or similar assets that are held in a non-qualified account (that is, not in an IRA or similar retirement account)? If so, rather than selling them someday, you might want to consider donating those shares to HCAO. Donating appreciated stock to a tax-exempt charity like HCAO could result in tax breaks for you. There are four main reasons to consider donating appreciated stock:
  1. You can give more and avoid capital gains taxes at the same time.
  2. You may be able to reduce future capital gains.
  3. This can be part of giving your portfolio a health check.
  4. Donating stocks to HCAO is easy. 
Your Ongoing Support Is Needed

HCAO's ability to educate about and advocate for universal health care is possible ONLY because of YOU.

Monthly sustainers and annual individual memberships are the cornerstone of our organization's stability. One-time cash gifts in any amount really help, too!

Thinking about donating your stimulus dollars to a good cause? Consider giving to our movement for healthcare justice. Note that, in 2021, people who don't itemize can deduct up to $300 ($600 for couples who file jointly) on Form 1040.
Cash gifts are great, but there are other ways to give to HCAO, too.
Help HCAO when shopping, using AmazonSmile and Fred Meyer Community Rewards.
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!