Health care events 2011

[eridani]

Health care events around the state. Defend Medicare and Social Security

[eridani]

1. Don't Cut Our Medicare to meeti in Seattle Saturday 1/8

Our next meeting will be

The next meeting of Don’t Cut Our Medicare will be on
Saturday 1/8/11 from 1pm-4pm
Beacon Hill Library
2821 Beacon Ave S
Seattle, WA 98144


There is a long term threat to both Social Security and Medicare,
which will require an ongoing fight. The Catfood Commission's report
from its chairs is going to for the basis for a legislative attack on
both programs.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/134531-warner-chambliss-will-introduce-debt-commission-bill-next-year

Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Monday said
they will introduce a bill early next year based on the report from
President Obama’s deficit commission.

Warner and Chambliss have been meeting with a group of 18 senators on
finding a way to balance the budget, and said they have concluded the
debt commission's proposal is the best basis for bipartisan talks.

Despite the failed vote, Warner and Chambliss want to use the debt
commission's work as a starting point for deficit talks in Congress.
The senators said they expect their legislation to evolve as they seek
supporters from both parties, but they said the final plan will
reflect the commission’s goals of balancing the budget by 2035 by
bringing spending down to 21 percent of gross domestic product.



A "Pledge of Resistance" to Defend Social Security (and Defund the
Empire)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/a-pledge-of-resistance-to_b_804692.html

For the third time in the last 20 years, establishment voices, with
high-profile slots in traditional media, are trying to convince the
public to accept cuts to Social Security by endlessly claiming such
cuts are necessary without giving coherent evidence to justify the
claim. Twice, under President Clinton and the second President Bush,
these voices were defeated. But they didn't give up. And now they are
in striking distance of their goal: the fact that Republicans have
taken over the House, combined with the fact that the president
appointed a deficit reduction commission which nearly recommended a
cut in Social Security benefits, and might well have done so if Rep.
Schakowsky hadn't worked to undermine the co-chairs' plan, means that
one can't be complacent; some reports have suggested that the
president may indicate support for cuts to Social Security in his
State of the Union speech. Of the two principal Washington political
actors who will shape the outcome -- the Republican leadership and the
president's team -- one is a determined adversary of the public
interest, the other a very uncertain ally. The most successful anti-
poverty program in U.S. history is again in grave danger.

<snip>


Consider, for example, proposals to raise the normal retirement age.
How much would that save? How else could we save the same amount of
money?

On September 29, the Washington Post editorial board - Fox on 15th
Street - expressed outrage that President Obama, as portrayed in Bob
Woodward's book, "repeatedly cites the cost of the war and the need to
shift resources to domestic priorities," despite the fact, the Post
assured us, that "spending on Afghanistan is well below 1 percent of
U.S. gross domestic product." Thus, for the Washington Post, when
considering the war, spending of less than 1% of US GDP is not a big
deal.

At the time, I asked economist Dean Baker of the Center for Economic
and Policy Research how much then-current proposals to raise the
Social Security retirement age would save. He said they would save
about 0.7% of GDP. For example, a proposal to raise the retirement age
to 70 by 2040 would save $155 billion by 2020. CEPR's Deficit Reduction Calculator.] Thus, less than 1% of GDP is not
a big deal when it is spending for the war that the Washington Post
supports, but it is a very needed savings when it comes to proposals
for cutting Social Security benefits by raising the normal retirement
age, a proposal that the Washington Post - Fox on 15th Street -
supports.

[eridani]

7. Next meeting 2/12 Seattle

Beacon Hill Library again


Save Medicare

We now know what the "Deficit Reduction Commission" proposes to cut in Medicare to balance the budget, and factions in the upcoming Congress promise to keep up their efforts.


--Limits Medicare Spending
The co-chairs' proposal limits the government's total health expenditures (Medicare,Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), exchange subsidies, employer health exclusion) at the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) + 1 %. This radical spending limit does not account for new Medicare beneficiaries.

--Introduces Premium Support
Currently, Medicare operates as a defined benefit system. It pays for medical care without limits. If the government does not meet its spending reduction target, the co-chairs' proposal recommends using premium support, which means beneficiaries would receive a fixed
amount of money to purchase health benefits.

--Raising Medicare Retirement Age
While the co-chairs' proposal does not single out raising the Medicare retirement age as a solution, the report does offer it as an option if the spending reduction targets are not met.

--Increase Beneficiary Premiums or Cost-sharing
The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IP AB) is entrusted under the new health care law to provide recommendations on how to reduce medical costs under Medicare; however, they are forbidden from recommending changes that would impact beneficiaries, such as increases in cost-sharing or reductions in benefits. The co-chairs' proposal recommends doing away with this prohibition and allowing IP AB to make cost-sharing changes.

--Restrict First-Dollar Coverage in Medigap Policies
In an effort to discourage the use of Medicare benefits, the co-chairs' proposal prohibits Medigap plans from covering the first $500 of enrollee's cost-sharing and limits coverage to 50 percent of the next $5,000 in Medicare cost-sharing.

(For more information, see Alliance for Retired Americans, Update on Final Actions of the Fiscal Commission, 3 Dec 2010.)


Improve Medicare

These are the suggestions that most supporters of Medicare mention as ways of improving a widely-accepted model of Single Payer financing of health care delivery.

--End the uneven payment formula that penalizes medical providers in states like Washington.

--Find a permanent "DocFix" to reimburse physicians and other providers fairly so that they can see Medicare patients without bankrupting their practices.


--Establish a direct Medicare prescription drug benefit that allows the Medicare governing body to negotiate prices.

--Establish an independent national board with the ability to set fair prices for health services, drugs, and devices and advise the Medicare governing body. Establish a national board to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic tests, therapies, drugs and devices, and to advise the Medicare governing body.


Expand Medicare
Any categorical expansion of Medicare can be financially sound. But schemes to allow the young or the healthy to opt out by shopping for cheaper coverage is not. Therefore, most plans for a voluntary 'Public Option' would bankrupt Medicare.

--Lower the Medicare eligibility age to 50 in five-year increments.

--Cover all children and young adults up to age 26, and then allow them to choose to continue with Medicare or change to a private insurance pllan

--Cover all unemployed and those working part time, and then allow them to choose to continue with Medicare or change to a private insurance plan when they move to full-time employment.


During conversations with our elected officials--

Ask our elected state officials publicly to call for Congress to protect Medicare as a vital safety net to the vast majority of American seniors.

Ask our elected state officials publicly to call for Congress to expand Medicare by 'federalizing' the Medicaid program, and fold it into Medicare, which would be a significant tax relief for state government

o In the first two years of this recession, the number of W A residents on Medicaid has risen from 862,500 to 1,006,800 , 18 % of our population.

o The federal government currently spends $3.242 billion for W A residents on Medicaid - 51.5%. W A state taxpayers pay $3.051 billion¬48%

Figures for WA are from http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.ispcat=4&sub=52&rgn=49

[eridani]

2. PNHPWW 6th Annual Public Meeting in Seattle 2/5

PNHPWW 6th Annual Public Meeting

Moving Forward with Health Care for All in 2011
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Margaret Flowers
Saturday, February 5th, 7PM
Kane Hall, University of Washington Campus, Seattle



Dr. Margaret Flowers is a Maryland pediatrician with experience as a hospitalist at a rural hospital and in private practice. She is currently the Congressional Fellow of Physicians for a National Health Program, working on single payer health care reform full time. In addition to her activity with PNHP, she is a member of Healthcare-Now! of Maryland and a co-founder of the Conversation Coalition for Health Care Reform. Dr. Flowers obtained her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and did her residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She has appeared on Bill Moyer’s Journal, the Ed Schultz Show and many other venues.

Also speaking will be tireless single payer organizer, Katie Robbins, National Organizer of HealthCare-Now. Margaret and Katie, proud members of the “Baucus 8,”were arrested during the Senate Finance Committee hearings on health care reform in May 2009 for protesting that single payer legislation, such as HR676, was not even being considered as an option for national reform.

iting confirmation of speakers representing the Washington state and national perspectives. Bob Wickline will entertain & PNHPWW will present the 2011 “John Geyman Health Justice Advocate Award.” We also hope to set up a separate meeting with students at UW and a single payer activist strategy session. Final agenda – second week in January.

[eridani]

3. More details

Physicians for a National Health Program 2/5 in Seattle

Western Washington Chapter Annual Public Meeting

Featuring Katie Robbins, Nationa Organizer for Health Care NOW!
Margaret Flowers, Congressional Fellow, Physicians for a National Health Program
Mark Dudzic, National Coordinator, Labor Campaign for Single Payer

Saturday, February 5th, 7pm
Kane Hall Room 120, University of Washington Campus
Easy parking under Kane Hall--enter via 15th Ave NE
For more information, email [e-mail]

FREE ADMISSION
Public invited

[eridani]

4. Labor meeting in Seattle on health care 2/3

Few issues are as important to working people in this country as health care.

For Union workers with employer-provided health care, it is a constant struggle to maintain the benefits that we've won through years of hard struggle. We face constant challenges from even the best of employers, increasingly hard-pressed to provide both quality health care benefits and living wages that keep pace with inflation. The result is that we are often faced with a choice of sacrificing either affordable health care or reasonable raises.

For working people who do not have health care, the system usually places adequate benefits out of range. There's no question that the recent Congressional action has improved the situation for millions of people. But there's also no question that we still have a long way to go if we are to match the health security provided by other developed nations.

I'd urge you to join us for an important discussion on what labor should be doing to resolve these issues. I've attached a flyer on the event; if you want additional copies, please either let me know or have them printed by a Union printer (Trade Printery will have the original). We will have simultaneous translation into Spanish at the forum, and flyers in Spanish are also available.


National Health Care: What's next for labor?
Join us for a discussion led by:

Teresa Mosqueda, Legislative & Policy Director, Washington State Labor Council
Greg Devereux, Executive Director, Washington Federation of State Employees
Sofia Aragon, Senior Governmental Affairs Advisor, Washington State Nurses Association

Larry Brown, Political Director, Machinists District 751
Hilary Stern, Executive Director, Casa Latina
Mark Dudzic, National Coordinator, Labor Campaign for Single Payer
Thursday, February 3rd
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Seattle Labor Temple, Hall One
2800 First Avenue, Seattle

Cosponsored by:
* Washington State Labor Council *Labor Campaign for Single-Payer
*American Federation of Government Employees 3937 *Casa Latina
* Communications Workers of America 7800 *Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific
* International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees 15 *International Association of Machinists 751
*Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council * Office & Professional Employees International Union 8
*Washington Federation of State Employees *Washington State Nurses Association


TRADUCCIONES AL ESPAÑOL REALIZADAS
For more information, please call 206-214-6169, or email stagerep {at}bia15.org

[eridani]

6. A note from attendee Rich Austin

Last night I attended the Labor Forum on National Health Care, in Seattle .

The panel consisted of representatives from the WA State Labor Council, WA State Federation of State Employees, WA State Nurses Association, Machinists District 751, Casa Latina, and the Labor Campaign for Single Payer. All said that while there are some parts of the PPACA that benefit some people, and that we should therefore oppose repealing the Act, our combined efforts must be geared towards winning single payer health care for everyone..

Comments from the audience echoed those sentiments.

I spoke and said that if we pin our hopes on getting “our friends” elected and thereafter rely on legislative relief, we will lose the battle. I went on to say that the gains America ’s working class have made over many decades have come about because we took to the streets, but more importantly, we threatened corporate profits by staging work-stoppages. Congress ran to catch up! After all, commerce and enterprise are what lawmakers protect, and whenever those bastions of corporatism were endangered Congress suddenly found a “conscience” and thereafter enacted worker-friendly legislation to quell the uprisings. From the New Deal to civil rights to the Vietnam War, we took to the streets, thus forcing Congress to move towards justice.

Here again, the reaction from the audience was very supportive.

One high point of the evening was when Teresa Mosqueda of the State Labor Council spoke about the costs of wars and how they are robbing our nation of its ability to fund essential human services. She urged people to align themselves with the War Resisters League or other peace groups. Wow! Her words signal a change of direction on the part of the Labor Council. (It has new leadership.)

So, dear friends, there is hope. It seems to me that by working with other functioning and truly progressive organizations, such as PNHP, Healthcare-Now, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, the War Resisters League, and ANSWER, we can remain autonomous while at the same time plugging into their operational resources.

Rich Austin

[eridani]

5. United for National Health Care to meet in Bellingham 2/9

nited for National Healthcare is Considering a New Direction


Rather than only advocating for national single payer health care, we are considering expanding our mission to include educating the public regarding the federal health care law, current State initiatives, and other health care reform models.

Before embarking on this proposed new direction, we need your input and ideas; and we ask that you attend our Supporters meeting on:

Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 7 p.m.
Laborers Hall (downstairs)
1700 N. State St, Bellingham WA 98225

Once UNHC sets its new direction, we will need volunteers to write articles, prepare informational materials, staff informational tables, help organize and work at our educational events, and help raise funds. The articles below provide more information on why the UNHC Board is considering a new direction.

_______________________________________________________________


A Proposed New Direction


Since 2005 United for National Healthcare has educated and mobilized the public for national single payer health care. We have specifically supported HR 676, a U.S. House bill that would establish a greatly expanded and improved Medicare type system (Information on HR 676 is provided at the end of this newsletter)

The UNHC Board is considering expanding our mission to include educating the public on other alternatives for health care reform . The UNHC Board believes that we need to stay abreast of the current political climate and address issues that are relevant to the general public.

The passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on March 23, 2010 changed the political climate for health care reform as follows:

1. A federal law (PPACA) was enacted that would provide health insurance to 32 million of the approximately 50 million uninsured. Additionally, important health insurance consumer protections were enacted .



See this link to learn how the PPACA will benefit consumers, and particularly consumers in Washington State:
http://blog.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/ranker/health-care-reform-update/

2. In November 2010 a majority of voters opposed the PPACA, and largely for that reason, the Republicans won control of the US House of Representatives. Recently the House voted to repeal the PPACA. Because Democrats control the Senate and the Presidency, it is unlikely that the PPACA will be repealed before 2013.

As a result the prospects for enacting national health care reform are highly volatile at this time.


It is uncertain if the PPACA will stand as is, be revised, or be repealed in 2013. Currently a small majority opposes the law. However, the same polls show that virtually all consumer provisions are popular except the individual mandate. The individual mandate is the provision that every individual must purchase health insurance unless they can’t afford it, have religious objections, or already have insurance through an employer or government program. Most low income individuals will receive subsidies to help them pay for health insurance.

See these links for recent poll information
http://kff.org/ (On left side of page, go to Special Features, click on Polls)
http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com

The States differ greatly in their approach to health care reform. Recently Missouri voters rejected the PPACA, but Connecticut is considering enacting a Statepublic option and Vermont is considering enacting a State single payer system.

See these links for further information:


Vermont http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=2687

Connecticut
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/01/17/a-look-at-sustinet-connecticuts-potential-public-option/

Missouri
http://www.globalshift.org/2010/08/05/missouri-becomes-first-state-to-reject-national-healthcare/

General information
http://www.pnhp.org/news/state-single-payer-news/

Due to the projected $5.1 billion budget shortfall in Washington State for 2012-13, it is not likely that funds are available to establish a public option or a State single payer program at this time. Nevertheless, it is important to educate Washington residents on health care reform options in preparation for the time when the economy improves or other measures are taken to close the budget shortfall.

Washington State has been progressive in providing health care access to its residents. In 1992 Washington enacted the Basic Health program to provide health insurance to residents with incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level. It seems likely that when funds are available, Washington State will consider a state system that is more comprehensive than that provided by the federal PPACA.

The United for National Healthcare Board has concluded that the American public is primarily concerned about the federal health care law (PPACA) because it has been enacted and will directly influence their access to health care. The public has a right to accurate information about the PPACA—what it will do and where it falls short. Information about the PPACA should be supplemented with information about other health care reform proposals that would improve and expand it—such as the proposed Connecticut public option , the Vermont single payer proposal, and HR 676, national single payer health care.

[eridani]

8. Support RiteAid workers in Bellhingham 2/14

NATIONAL VALENTINE'S DAY ACTION

To Support Rite Aid Workers Right to Health Care

Rally Downtown Bellingham Rite Aid
Monday, February 14 at Noon
1400 Cornwall (Cornwall & Magnolia) Bellingham


Background: Rite Aid, the nation's third largest retail drug chain, has been struggling financially for years. Yet, despite management's serious and costly mistakes--which have left the company deeply in debt--Rite Aid bosses have rewarded themselves with handsome compensation packages. Now top management is trying to balance their books by overcharging workers for health insurance:

At their giant Lancaster, CA warehouse Rite Aid is trying to gouge employees by marking up their cost of health insurance by 28 times over the increases being charged by insurers.
In Cleveland, dedicated Rite Aid clerks who have foregone raises for years in order to maintain affordable health care are facing such severe increases in health insurance costs they may be forced to strike.

In New Jersey, Rite Aid is trying to gouge employees by changing their already expensive health care plan to an unaffordable plan and trying to deny non-union workers the right to organize.

Instead of battling against workers, Rite Aid executives should be working with employees to solve problems, improve service and ensure customer satisfaction. That's the best way to turn the company around.

For more information: Rich Austin, 360-941-3216

www.ilwu.org
www.jwj.org
www.usas.org

Sponsors include: International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Jobs With Justice
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880
AFL/CIO
United Students Against Sweat Shops

[eridani]

9. Bellingham vigil against cuts to children's health care 2/22

In this time of state budget deficits, legislators are tempted to take the easy way out.
They want to balance the budget by taking away health care access from those who can’t defend themselves—children, low income families, and persons who are disabled and/or seriously ill. Here's how you can act to defend the right of health care for all in the State of Washington.

STOP THE CUTS: DON'T BALANCE THE STATE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF CHILDREN & LOW-INCOME FAMILIES


Tell the State Legislature: CUT CORPORATE TAX BREAKS,
Not funding for childrens' healthcare
and the Basic Health Plan


Attend the Vigil: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 5:30 pm.
Corner of Champion and Grand Avenues in downtown Bellingham.
Walk to nearby social service agencies that will be hurt
by proposed state cuts.

Background: Which will we choose: Tax breaks for big banks? Or healthcare for our kids?

Deep cuts to basic healthcare, education, eldercare, and public safety essential services are on the table in Washington State, while corporations continue to receive millions in tax exemptions, costing us $6.5 billion in lost revenue every year. Big banks like Bank of America and Key Bank alone receive $100 million a year in tax exemptions while working families struggle to make ends meet. Other frivolous tax breaks benefit private jet ownership, out-of-state coal, and elective cosmetic surgery.
As the legislature considers how to balance the budget, they need to consider what choices are right for our state: tax breaks for banks, or healthcare for our kids?

Add your voice to the growing call to close tax loopholes and end subsidies. No cuts-only budget!

Sign the petition online: http://bit.ly/closetheloopholes
For more information, visit http://www.oureconomicfuture.org

Sponsored by SEIU 1199NW and Whatcom Organizing Committee of Washington State Jobs with Justice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aileen Satushek
Board Member

[eridani]

10. United for National Healthcare to meet in Bellingham 3/30

A Progress Report on UNHC’s New Direction

United for National Healthcare is working to reach a consensus on our new direction. To continue our work, we will meet:

Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 7 pm
Laborers Hall (downstairs), 1700 N. State Street
Bellingham WA

After the Public Option was proposed in 2009 and the federal Patient Protection and Affordability Act became law on March 23, 2010, there has been a division of opinion within UNHC as to how we educate the public and relate to non-single payer health care reform proposals and laws.

In our February 9, 2011 Supporters Meeting the group reached the following consensus:

1) United for National Healthcare will educate, agitate, and organize for national and state single payer health care (Medicare for All) as the solution for providing universal, continuous, comprehensive and sustainable health care for all.

2) United for National Healthcare will educate the public regarding existing and proposed solutions to health care reform, in addition to single payer. We will point out both the benefits and shortcomings of proposed and actual non-single payer health care reform systems. We will not advocate for or promote the federal health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but will approach it from a single payer perspective.

Due to time limitations, the group briefly discussed how UNHC should relate to non-single payer health care reform system.. At the March 30, 2011 UNHC Supporters meeting we will discuss this issue in depth and attempt to reach a consensus.

If you would like to submit comments regarding these proposals, I will publish them in a newsletter prior to the March 30 meeting.

Here are the proposals that will be discussed:

Relating to non-single payer health care reform

Below are four separate proposals on how UNHC relates to non-single payer health care reform. The four proposals are mutually exclusive. You can only vote to accept one.

1) United for National Healthcare will not endorse or organize the public to support non-single payer health care solutions.
__Accept

OR

2) United for National Healthcare will not endorse, but it may participate in actions of other groups to support non-single payer health care solutions that meet the UNHC purpose, which is to support proposals that: promote social welfare by engaging in education, outreach and political action toward achieving the passage of legislation that provides quality, affordable, universal, continuous and sustainable health care for all
__Accept

OR

3) United for National Healthcare may both endorse and also participate in actions of other groups to support non-single payer health care solutions that meet the UNHC purpose, which is to support proposals that: promote social welfare by engaging in education, outreach and political action toward achieving the passage of legislation that provides quality, affordable, universal, continuous and sustainable health care for all
__Accept

OR

4) ___Reject all three proposals 3A), 3B, and 3C

The United for National Healthcare Board, at its February 16 meeting, recommends Proposal 3 because it would allow us to continue to recommend and endorse proposed and actual health care programs. In the past UNHC has participated in actions for programs such as Washington State Basic Health, ILWU workers’ on the job health benefits

[eridani]

11. Physicians for a National Health Program April 20th Monthly Meeting

Venue: Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus, Conference Center Auditorium
Address: 500 17th Avenue, Seattle, 98122

April 20th, 2011
What next for health care? Defend what we have, and push for what we want.

Physicians for a National Health Program
meets at:
7:00PM
Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus
James Conference Center Room B
http://www.pnhpwesternwashington.org

[eridani]

12. United for National Healthcare Meeting; Bellingham 4/27

United for National Healthcare Meeting

Wednesday , April 27, 2011, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

United for National Healthcare is planning community outreach and a conference. Attend the meeting and give us your ideas on how we should educate and mobilize the public to achieve a national single payer health care system. [phone].

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eridani]

14. Free health clinic in Tacoma 4/30

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014882654_freeclinic27m.html?syndication=rss

More than 1,000 uninsured people are expected to receive medical care Saturday at the first large-scale free-clinic event in the state.

The National Association of Free Clinics and the Washington Free Clinic Association are sponsoring the event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome.

Because walk-in slots are limited, organizers strongly recommend calling ahead for an appointment.

About 13 percent of the state's population, or more than 850,000 people, are uninsured, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation

[eridani]

15. Physicians for a National Health Program; Seattle 6/15

June 15, 2011
Physicians for a National Health Program meets from
7:00PM-9:00PM at
Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus
Conference Center Auditorium

We will have a presentation on Project Access, a program for people with no regular access to health care sponsored by the King County Medical Association.
http://www.pnhpwesternwashington.org/
[e-mail]

[eridani]

16. Don't Cut Our Medicare meeting 6/11 in Seattle

Time to move further on defending Medicare

Meeting at the Beacon Hill Library
Saturday June 11th, 1-3PM
2821 Beacon Ave S
Seattle, WA 98144-5813


You may have heard about the intense anger sparked by Paul Ryan's plan to eliminate traditional Medicare. Though the Senate defeated this after it was passed by the House, the plan is still very much on the table. Less discussed is Medicaid, which the plan would turn into block grants, endanering access to health care for vulonerable poor people. Also, 70% of seniors in nursing homes depend on Medicaid--what will happen to them if they are cut off?


We need to reach out to stakeholders and make sure they stay informed on this. Help us plan outreach to them.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/22/969251/-Town-halls-turn-hostile-for-Republicans-over-tax-cuts-for-rich,-Medicare
It's August, 2009 again. Except this time the disgruntled town meeting attendees aren't teabaggers, they're everybody. And the targets are now Republicans. Here's Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA), at a town hall meeting facing constituents over a broken campaign promise to not privatize Medicare. An angry constituent confronts him: "If you voted to abolish Medicare, how would you explain that to people in their 50′s out of a job?!"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mzYN2QY11zk
It's not just Meehan, or the most prominent example so far, Medicare abolishment plan author, Rep. Paul Ryan who was booed by his constituents at a town meeting for defending tax breaks for the wealthy. Turns out, it's happening in districts all over the country. HuffPo's Jason Linkins has a round-up of all the GOP members facing major hostility at home for their vote to end Medicare.


http://www.truth-out.org/paul-ryan-your-pockets-government-people-who-hate-you
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan put out a budget proposal last week that will leave the vast majority of future retirees without decent health care by ending Medicare as we know it. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis, most middle-income retirees would have to pay almost half of their income to purchase a Medicare equivalent insurance packageby 2030. They would be paying much more than half of their income in later years.


<snip>


The proposal to end Medicare relies on market efficiencies to get health care costs under control, as though we had not tried this before. Has Representative Ryan never heard of Medicare Advantage or Medicare Plus Choice? Doesn't he know that we already have the opportunity to see the effectiveness of private insurers in containing health care costs in the vast non-Medicare insurance market?


Based on this extensive experience, we know that the private insurance market does not control costs. This is why the CBO calculated that Ryan's plan would hugely raise the cost of health care for seniors. If every senior got a Medicare equivalent policy under Representative Ryan's plan (which most will not be able to afford), the added cost of his system would be more than $20 trillion over the next 75 years.


http://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/134942260/democrats-rally-to-support-social-security
Rep. CANTOR: I mean, just from the very notion that it said that 50 percent of beneficiaries under the Social Security program use those moneys as their sole source of income. So we've got to protect today's seniors. But for the rest of us? For - you know, listen. We're going to have to come to grips with the fact that these programs cannot exist if we want America to be what we want America to be.


http://www.epi.org/analysis_and_opinion/entry/ryan_plan_to_slash_medicaid_will_cost_the_economy_nearly_two_million_privat/
Ryan plan to slash Medicaid will cost the economy nearly two million private sector jobs

[eridani]

17. United for National Health Care meeting 6/23 in Bellingham

Those of us who support national single payer health care* have both cause for optimism and cause for concern.


.We have cause for concern because Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has proposed converting Medicare into a Voucher program that would eliminate traditional Medicare within 10 years and make health care unaffordable for many Seniors. We have cause for optimism because this time those who would destroy federal health care benefits in the USA may have overplayed their hand. Recent polls show public opinion is strongly against Ryan's Voucher Care and the Republicans who voted for it.

United for National Healthcare will rally community support for Medicare by sponsoring a Medicare Birthday Party on July 29 at The Leopold in Bellingham. (see the article below).

Another cause for optimism is that the AFL-CIO has expressed its support for national single payer health care. At the June 3, 2011 Labor Campaign for Single Payer National Meeting in Washington DC AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called single-payer "the only way to cure the healthcare problem". Rich Austin will report on the Labor Campaign for Single Payer at our June 23 meeting (see meeting notice below).

*National single payer healthcare is a system, such as that proposed in U.S. House Resolution 676, wherein providers such as doctors and hospitals remain private but where all medical bills are paid by a government entity rather than a multitude of private insurance companies. Under HR 676, residents of the USA would pay no more than 4.75% of income in payroll taxes for health care; and all health care, medicines, and other forms of medical care would be free to the patient. For more information, contact us at:
[e-mail] or go to our website http://www.ufhc.org

United for National Healthcare Meeting

Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

Report on Medicare Birthday Party
Report by Rich Austin on Labor for Single Payer Conference
Report on Community Outreach

[eridani]

18. Medicare Birthday Party 7/29 in Bellingham

On the eve of Medicare’s 46th Birthday, Bellingham based United for National Healthcare is holding a Medicare Birthday Party on Friday, July 29 from 5 to 7:30 pm at The Leopold Crystal Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall in Bellingham. The public is invited to this celebration which will feature swing dance music by Traveling Light, guest speakers, food, beverages, and a Medicare birthday cake.

The event is co-sponsored by: Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, Whatcom County Jobs With Justice, Whatcom Democrats and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center

The theme of the party is “Support Medicare and Medicaid!” Admission is free. Donations will be accepted. Further information is available at [e-mail] 360-398-2295.

This is your opportunity to attend a party and have fun; but at the same time help build the movement in our community to save Medicare and Medicaid. We look forward to seeing you on July 29 at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom in Bellingham.


More information on the anniversary of Medicare and how Medicare and Medicaid can be saved is available at http://www.healthcare-now.org

[eridani]

20. Mor info, including location

On the eve of Medicare’s 46th Birthday, Bellingham based United for National Healthcare is holding a Medicare Birthday Party on Friday, July 29 from 5 to 7:30 pm at The Leopold Crystal Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall in Bellingham. The public is invited to this celebration which will feature swing dance music by Traveling Light, guest speakers, food, beverages, and a Medicare birthday cake. A cash bar will be available, provided by Boundary Bay.

The event is co-sponsored by: Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, Whatcom County Jobs With Justice, Whatcom Democrats, 42nd District Democrats and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center

The theme of the party is “Support Medicare and Medicaid! Expand and Improve for All.” Admission is free. Donations will be accepted. Further information is available at [e-mail] 360-398-2295.

This is your opportunity to attend a party and have fun; but at the same time help build the movement in our community to save Medicare and Medicaid. We look forward to seeing you on July 29 at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom in Bellingham.

[eridani]

19. Flash mob for Medicare birthday 7/30 in Seattle

GOTTA SING! GOTTA DANCE!

Help celebrate Medicare’s birthday on July 30! Join a singing and dancing flash mob in downtown Seattle!

To participate or to find out more about it, contact Kathleen Myers at
kdm00001 {at} gmail.com

Lyrics below. Check out the New York video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JyxM1vUkc


Stop! in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!

Hey there Congress, we know just where you’re going
When you talk about cutting down our spending
We know you’re lying to our nation
To try to cut our health and education

This time don’t treat us like dirt
Leaving us sick and hurt
Think it over
Think it over

Stop! in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!
Stop in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!
Think it over
Think it over

We know that you’ve pretended to be nice
We even fell for it maybe once or twice
Are all those corporate donations
Worth more than our health and education?

But now we’re up in arms
And we’ll resist your charms
Think it over
Think it over

Stop! in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!
Stop in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!
Think it over
Think it over

We’ve tried so hard, so hard to be patient
Hoping you would stop this desecration
Each time that Congress gets together
We’re afraid of losing Medicare forever

Stop! in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!
Stop in the name of health
Don't take our Medicare!
Stop!

[eridani]

21. Save Our Life Line - Medicare, Medicaid & Social Security; Seattle 8/18

Public Meeting
Save Our Life Line - Medicare, Medicaid & Social Security

Moderator: City Council Member Nick Licata

Thursday, August 18, from 7-9pm,
Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave, Seattle

What: A panel of speakers from labor and community groups will begin by briefly giving their perspectives on how the proposed cuts would affect us and how we can move to solve this crisis.

Speak Your Mind: Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata will circulate through the audience asking people to express their own experiences and ideas or ask questions that panel members or others in the audience can answer.

Music: Jim Page and Joe Martin will perform some especially topical songs.

Take this Opportunity: Show your representatives that we will not sit by passively while our social safety net is chipped away! Come to join and support the fight to stop the cutbacks being threatened by those acting to benefit corporate interests that endanger the very future of our country.

[eridani]

22. Confront lobbyists in Spokane 9-28

Wednesday September 28 10 am Spokane WSU Riverpoint

Health Reform Implementation, Joint Legislative Select Committee* -
9/28/2011 10:00 a.m.

There be many lobbyists; wanted Medicaid recipients and those affected
by health care exhanges

Full Committee
WSU - Riverpoint Campus
412 E Spokane Falls Blvd/S Campus Fac. Court
Spokane, WA

REVISED ON 9/27/2011 AT 10:25 AM

Agenda:
Medicaid Issues:
Introduction to Medicaid Expansion for new eligible population.
Update on the CMMI waiver discussions.
Update on other key projects.
Public comment.
Exchange activity:
Introduction to the Exchange.
Summary of previous public education meetings.
Public question and answer opportunity.
Additional project overview.
Public comment.

Visitors to the Riverpoint Campus are encouraged to use public
transit; STA Route #29 serves Riverpoint. Drivers should use the
meters in the green parking lots or park in the Pay and Display lot
located just off of Spokane Falls Boulevard to the west of the South
Campus Facility at 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. One-hour parking on city
streets is also available.

Christine E Clark, 7th DCC Chair, real single payer advocate

[eridani]

23. New health care group starting up in Seattle

Message bodyThursday, Sept 29th at 7:00 PM at Tully's, 2100 N 45th St (at Meridian Ave N)
Organizing meeting for MoveOn members interested in advancing and improving our delivery of affordable healthcare to all Americans
Universal healthcare for our nation is one of the pivotal issues of our time. Ours is the only developed nation without such a system.

Please join us if you want to learn more about how we together can move toward a truly universal, affordable and cost-effective healthcare system.
This is not just another group working in isolation on an issue. We intend to join with, partner with other organizations to pool our resources and enhance our effectiveness.
We are interested in direct action, not just more talk. If you want to DO SOMETHING, please plan to attend.

Draft Agenda

-Introductions
-Lakoff article on messaging (what should our message be?)
-Other organizations working on this same issue the we can collaborate with
-Ideas for actions -- what can we do in the next month?
-Set next meeting time and place

[eridani]

24. United for National Health Care annual meeting in Bellingham 10/27

United for National Healthcare
Annual Meeting



Thursday, October 27, 2011, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

The program will feature a legislative update, a skit on Medicare for All, and a holiday celebration with pumpkin pie, cider, and other seasonal treats.

We will accept nominations for the Board and volunteers for our committees.

[phone] supporter {at} unitedforhealthcare.org

[eridani]

25. United for National Healthcare Annual Meeting 10/27 in Bellingham

Thursday, October 27, 2011, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

The program will feature a legislative update, a skit on Medicare for All, and a holiday celebration with pumpkin pie, cider, and other seasonal treats.

We will accept nominations for the Board and volunteers for our committees.

[phone] supporter {at} unitedforhealthcare.org

[eridani]

26. Health Care for All-Wa annual meeting 11/12 in Seattle

HCFA-WA Annual Members’ Meeting, Sat. Nov 12th

“Getting from the Exchange to Single Payer”

Health Care for All - Washington announces its 11th Annual Meeting , featuring Dr. Samuel Metz, from Portland OR, and Dr. Steven Kemble, from Honolulu HI speaking on current efforts to get beyond the limits of P.P.A.C.A. The event will be held again at Horizon House Performance Hall at 900 University Street in downtown Seattle. Don’t forget to bring a friend!

The afternoon will start with registration and a lunch buffet offered to visitors and members at 12 noon on Saturday Nov 12th, with introductions and program at 12:30. The main presentation with Drs. Metz and Kemble begins at 1 pm, with dialog between them, then among those in attendance until 2:30. A dessert break will be followed by the annual business meeting for members.

Readers may remember Dr. Metz’ from NPR’s Warren Olney’s radio program To The Point on Oct 3rd 2011 debating “Healthcare Reform: Should Obama have fought for Single-Payer?” It begins at 7 min. 30 sec. http://www.kcrw.com/media-player/mediaPlayer2.html?type=audio&id=tp111003healthcare_reform_sh

Institute of Medicine supports very weak levels of benefits

for the coming Exchange plans; responses welcomed

Physicians for a National Health Program has been alerting advocates of health care reform of that the Institute of Medicine is recommending a grossly inadequate, skimpy, spartan standard for the package of benefits to be offered by health plans in the state insurance exchanges being established under the Affordable Care Act:

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2011/october/ioms-disturbing-report-on-essential-health-benefits

Following is a letter asking the Obama administration to reject this recommendation. We encourage everyone who concurs with the views expressed to sign: http://www.pnhp.org/iom-letter/index.php?UID=1348

[eridani]

27. Brown Bag Lunch demos to defend SocSec and Medicare in Tacoma and Everett

Our senator, Patty Murray, is co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Although Murray's record for progressive goals is better than most other Democratic senators', scuttlebutt from the other Washington says that the six Democrats on the Super Committee are leaning to the right of the Cat Food Commission in their recommendations for spending cuts.

Since Simpson-Bowles recommended cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, at this point cuts to those essential programs are certain to be in the Super Committee's recommendations, since every Republican on the Committee has spoken out in favor of cuts—or worse—to those programs.

Before they submit their report on November 23, let's have our say where we can best be heard: at her offices.

Our two congressional districts, WA-02 and WA-06, are coordinating this month's noontime Brown Bag Lunch Vigils on Wednesday, November 16, to be at Patty's offices in Tacoma and Everett. While we're there, we'll pay visits to our respective representatives, Rick Larsen and Norm Dicks, whose offices are conveniently near Patty's.

The message will be strong and unambiguous:

•No cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid!
Cosponsor H Con Res 72
•Stop the handouts to Big Pharma!
Negotiate prescription drug prices under
Medicare Part D
•Make Wall Street pay and create JOBS!
Sponsor the Financial Transaction Tax
Make jobs, not cuts
Bring a sign or use one of ours. Just be there—and bring your friends.

WA-02
http://www.pdamerica.org/events/view/wa02-rep-rick-larsenbrown-bag-lunch-vigil-116
WA-06
http://www.pdamerica.org/events/view/wa06-brown-bag-lunch-vigil-rep-norm-dicks

RSVP for WA-02's BBLV here and WA-06's BBLV here, where there will be maps to the events. Find out more about this month's BBLV here, and learn about Operation Super-committee here.

Remember, that's next Wednesday, November 16, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. It's not too late to sway Patty back toward The People instead of the corporatocracy. Raise your sign and voice with us at the Brown Bag Lunch Vigil.

In solidarity,

Bob Burr, WA-02 Brown Bag Lunch Vigil organizer
Roberta McNair, WA-06 Brown Bag Lunch Vigil organizer

[eridani]

28. Save Social Security and Medicare rally in Spokane at Murray's office 11/16

I realize this is short notice. There is a national day of action planned for Nov. 17. We were going to join in with MoveOn.org on that day, but their Spokane event will not be focused on the Supercommittee, but bridge infrastructure. We think it essential to focus on No Cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and to transmit this message directly to our Supercommittee member.


We need to make sure our Democratic Supercommittee member Sen. Patty Murray understands our support for deadlock over a bad plan that puts the burden on working folks. Please join PDA-Spokane at Sen. Murray's office at 2:00 p.m.on Wednesday, Nov 16 to deliver that message.

Sen. Murray contact info:
Spokane office 624-9515, fax-624-9561
Seattle office (more staff- toll free) 866-481-9186.
web contact form: http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe
Snail mail- 10 North Post Street Ste 600, Spokane, WA 99201 (mail received in Spokane is directly forwarded to DC and bypasses the anthrax quarantine)

Background and Talking Points:

No Plan is Better than a Bad Plan- All we see right now are bad plans.
Even the Democratic plans that have been floated so far are totally unacceptable, even as a starting point for negotiations. If the Supercommittee deadlocks, Bush tax cuts will expire, defense will share the burden of cuts, many important programs are walled off, and the cuts will not take effect until 2013 and be subject to revision by the new Congress. With President Obama sending Defense Secretary Leon Panetta out to falsely claim that the defense cuts would damage national security, it is clear we can expect no help from the president.

Moral Argument-
Social Security and Medicare did not cause our financial meltdown, it is totally unfair to expect working people who are already bearing the brunt of foreclosures and unemployment to have their essential services cut.

Political Argument-
Support for cuts to Social Security and Medicare are a political LOSER for Democrats of every stripes. The GOP used this issue effectively in 2010 and is already trotting it out for 2012. Many of their Congressional candidates are reminding voters that it was President Obama who put cuts to Social Security on the table.

Walt Kloefkorn
Springdale

[eridani]

29. United for National Healthcare in Bellingham 12/22

You are invited to attend our December 22 meeting and become involved in working for single payer health care. More than ever before we need national single payer health care. There are 84,000 preventable deaths each year in the USA caused by lack of access to health care. National single payer health care, unlike the federal Affordable Care Act, would provide affordable and comprehensive health care for all.

United for National Healthcare
Supporters Meeting


Thursday, December 33, 2011, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

We will review health care reform developments on the state and national level and discuss our strategy and tactics for educating the public and developing actions in northwest Washington.

[phone] supporter {at} unitedforhealthcare.org
http://www.ufhc.org