PNHPWW Monthly March Meeting - March 21st
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State Organizations
advocating for
Health Care
is a Human Right
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-Health Care is a Human Right - Washington
-Vermont Workers Center
-Health Care for All Oregon
-Maine People's Alliance
-Whole Washington
Organizations advocating for single payer, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All in Western Washington
-Health Care for All -WA
-United for Single Payer
-Progressive Democrats of America
-Health Care is a Human Right - WA
-United for National HealthCare - Bellingham
-Socialist Alternative
-Washington Community Action Network
-Backbone Campaign
-Whole Washington
Health Care is a Human Right -
Washington
Get Activist's Toolkit
2015 Legislation - HB1321 - 31 sponsors; SB5305 - 17 sponsors
"Intent to cover all Washington residents"
Information
Dr. Gerald Friedman's economic analysis of how a state single plan would affect our state
Right click to download Hi-Resolution copy
New WHST PowerPoint
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It's Time to Add
Your Voice
Since 1987, Physicians for a National Health Program has advocated for reform in the U.S. health care system. A large part of our work involves educating health professionals, and others, about the benefits of a single-payer system - including fewer administrative costs and providing comprehensive health insurance for all residents of the United States.
PNHPWW May 15th Monthly Meeting
Swedish Medical Center-Cherry Hill Campus
SE Conference Center, Room A, 7:30pm
Organizing and Cultivating Grassroots
North Seattle Progressives is an independent activist organization working to promote progressives values, policies, legislation and candidates. They have proven to be highly effective and are a growing grassroots presence in the Puget Sound area and beyond.
For our May 15th meeting, we were fortunate to have speakers from the North Seattle Progressives' Organizing Team. Thea DeYoung Liz Curran, Anne Udeloy, and Pam Dalan have been with NSP from day one. They shared the mission and history of NSP from its beginnings to its very vigorous advocacy work in 2019. They work in teams that focus on Health & Wellness; Environment; Elections & Taxation; Immigration; Social Justice; and Understanding attacks on our Democracy. Their insights about grass roots organizing, strategies for choosing and maximizing the efficacy of actions, and their successes and lessons along the way are well worth spreading far and wide.
You can watch the meeting on YouTube at - https://youtu.be/bQ2uU2KkIv4
Website:https://northseattleprogressives.org
Facebook: North Seattle Progressives
Twitter: @NSeaProgress
News: - Thanks to Health Care for All - WA and NorthWest Health Law Advocates for these reports:
Congressional Medicare for All Hearing - On April 30th, there was the historic first hearing on the Medicare for All Act of 2019 in the House Rules Committee chaired by Representative McGovern. Watch Activist Ady Barkan's opening remarks. Ady is dying of ALS, and speaks with the aid of a computer-generated voice gave powerful testimony about the urgent need for Medicare for All. Emergency Room physician, Dr. Farzon Nahvi, gave testimony about what it is like to practice medicine in an ER where patients are afraid they cannot bear the costs. There is also this short wrap-up video after the hearing. A second hearing on single payer legislation will be held in the Budget Committee on June 22nd. It is not likely to look at a specific bill. The House Ways and Means has agreed to hold a third hearing on Medicare for All, date not yet set.
You can find information about contacting House Committee members and questions to ask them have answered by the witnesses at the HOPE (Health Over Profit for Everyone)
website.
CBO Report on single payer - The Congressional Budget Office has released a report on the design and policy considerations for the development of a single-payer health care system. It did not specifically look at a specific plan such as HR 1384.
The "Pathway to Universal Health Care" resolution is funded. It directs the WA Health Care Authority to convene a work group on establishing a universal health care system in WA, funded with $500,000 from the general fund to contract with one or more consultants to do an actuarial and financial analysis of state universal system options. The work group must consist of a broad range of stakeholders with expertise in health care financing and delivery system - including consumers, patients and the general public, patient advocates and community health advocates.... Read Health Care for All - WA's commentary
NoHLA WA Legislative Wrap Up - There were many improvements made to health care this legislative session for Washingtonians. Please check out the Northwest Health Law Advocates (NoHLA) Legislative Wrap Up to learn more about other important bills.
Medicaid Cuts in Washington State? One major setback - cuts may be coming to Washington state Medicaid patients. "The Legislature assumed Medicaid "program integrity" savings of over $350,000,000 starting in January 2020 that seem to be unachievable without making program cuts of some kind. NoHLA, HCFA-WA and many other stakeholders have expressed great concern about this highly unrealistic assumption."
Past Events:
May 1st - 20th Annual May Day Rally/March for Workers and Immigrants Rights
Future Events:
May 22nd - Act Now Mantra's Health Care talk series #1" - "Public Health in the USA" 5:30pm, 925 Fourth Ave, Seattle - David McLanahan on panel.
May 30th - Showing of the movie "Fix-It: Health Care at the Tipping Point"sponsored by the North Seattle Progressives, on Thursday, May 30th, 6:30p, at The Verdant Wellness Center, 4710 196th St., Lynwood. There wil be a discussion following the movie.
June 4th - Health Care is a Human Right
meeting, 5:30pm, WSLC Office, corner of 16th Ave & S. Jackson St. Report on legislation in the WA legislature this session. Macri, Frockt, and Kennedy will attend. There will also be discussion about organizational structure. Snacks and drinks available.
June 19th - PNHPWW Monthly Meeting, 7:30pm, Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus, SECC Rm C. Program to be determined.
Actions you can take to help pass universal health care legislation: Encourage Congressional Representatives to support HR 1384, the true single payer Improved Medicare for All Act of 2019. So far, only two of our WA reps have signed on in support (Lead Sponsor Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith).
Senator Bernie Sanders re-introduced his modified Medicare for All Act of 2019 on April 10th (S 1129). It needs some improvements. You can use this link, put together by HOPE (Health OverProfit for Everyone), to send him a message about improvements you would like to see.
PNHPWW April 15th Meeting
“Community Health Centers - Today and Tomorrow
The Centers of Future Health Care"
For our April 17th meeting, we were fortunate to have two leaders in the community health centers system in the Seattle area. Raleigh Watts, CEO of the Country Doctor Community Health Centers and Rich Kovar, MD, longtime Country Doctor family physician who has taken a leadership role there for decades.
They talked about the role of CHCs - the patients they see and the type of unique comprehensive care they offer, and how they are financed now. "CHCs are the vision of health care of the future." They expressed concerns that a new improved Medicare for All system, such as the Medicare for All Acts of 2019 - Pramila Jayapal's HR 1384 and Bernie Sanders's S 1129, might interfere with the intricate wrap-around services that they can now provide for their mix of previously underserved patients. While expressing optimism, they wish to see more details.
The meeting was live streamed via Zoom, recorded, and is now on our PNHPWW YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/BXxlBprIqTk
PNHPWW March 21st Meeting
“The Future of the VA: Privatization or
The Model for a US Single Payer System"
If you missed this symposium, you missed great presentations and discussion on the strengths and challenges of the current VA system and, particularly, the recent attempts to expand its privatization. Fortunately, Mike McCormick of KODX filmed the forum which is available on the KDOX YouTube Channel by clicking here.
PNHPWW February 25th Meeting
“Structural Violence and Health Disparities”
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Dr. Lindo led the discussion on the intersection of race, immigration, and other social determinants of health with our current healthcare system and how a Medicare for All system could help address some of these issues.
The UW chapter of Students for a National Health Program sponsored the very well attended event held in a UW Med School campus lecture hall. It was co-sponsored by PNHPWW and served as our regular February Monthly Meeting.
You can watch the meeting on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/6oCPz9HlS_w
February 27th
Congress Member Pramila Jayapal introduces HR 1384
the new and improved Medicare for All legislation
Pramila Jayapal, WA CD 7, announced the long-awaited new and improved Medicare for All legislation at a press conference in Washington DC on February 27th. Other speakers included Adam Gaffney, President of PNHP (pictured) and others representing other orgnizations who had input on the bill.
You can watch the press conference here. Rep. Jayapal speaks for the first 10 minutes and Adam Gaffney at the 49-52 minute mark.
You can download the whole HR 1384 here
The bill has been refered to several committees, but is expected to have a hearing in the House Rules Committee by the end of March.
PNHPWW January 26th Meeting
“Winning Universal Health Care:
Federal, State and Local Action”
The Health Care is a Human Right - WA Coalition sponsored an important public forum on Saturday, Jan 26th, titled “Winning Universal Health Care - Federal, State and Local Action.” The forum looked at ways to move health care reform forward in 2019 and beyond. The panel was composed of lead sponsors of universal health care legislation at all levels. US Representative Pramila Jayapal, lead sponsor of Medicare
for All was unable to attend due to the gov't shutdown but addressed us by video from DC. State Rep. Nicole Macri, State Sens. Bob Hasegawa, Joe Nguyen and David Frockt, lead sponsors of state legislation, Rod Dembowski, King County Council Chair, and Seattle Council Member Teresa Mosqueda participated. It was held the at the El Centro de la RazaCommunity Center on Beacon Hill.
The meeting was lively and very well attended. Video was recorded so that watch the whole forum on our PNHPWW YouTube channel at - https://youtu.be/IlRjktDllmQ
PNHPWW co-sponsored the forum that served as our regular January Monthly Meeting
Of Note
The PNHP National Board recently voted to endorse the new Improved Medicare for All bill to be introduced in early February by lead sponsor Rep. Pramila Jayapal, based on three members
seeing the text of the bill and what is publicly known about it - with the caveat that PNHP will continue to educate about any changes it may like to see in the bill as it makes its way through Congress. The PNHPWW Board looks forward to seeing the full text of the legislation when it is introduced and will chart our advocacy strategy at that time.
photo - Maria Kearney
PNHPWW December 19th Monthly Meeting
Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill Campus
7:30pm - James South East Conference Center, Room C
“The Nuclear Arms Race versus Our Health ”
Coordinator, Nuclear Arms Abolition Campaign (Lilly)
Organizers, Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition
The meeting was videotaped and is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qDWreJypU0E
We had a great meeting with speakers Lilly Adams and Joe Berkson, MD, from WPSR as our speakers and discussion leaders.
They are building a statewide coalition - Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition to raise the awareness of what the nuclear arms race is doing to many issues of social justice, including the social determinants of health and access to care.
How We Win - National Improved Medicare for All
Health over Profits for Everyone (HOPE) describes an in-depth strategy analysis on how the single payer movement can win National Improved Medicare for All (NIMA).
PDF; Word.docx
HOPE recently sent a letter to Rep. Jayapal regarding the need for transparency in updating HR 676 before it is introduced in February.
Some Important Recent Articles
Medicare for All legislation in the House - HR 676 ("updated" version to be introduced in the 2019 Congress), Senate - S 1804, and "Faux Single Payer legislation." and what would be essential for a state single payer plan::
1. HR 676 vs. S1804 - Analysis and Recommendations
2. Table of side-by-side Comparison
of Medicare for All Public Plan Proposals
3. Aligning House And Senate Single-Payer Bills - Removing Medicare's Profiteering Incentives Is Key
4. Essential Elements of State Single Payer
5. Section by Section draft of Updated Medicare for All - Jayapal bill
6. Proposed Top Five Policy Improvements in Updated Medicare for All - Jayapal bill - Chart
PNHPWW November 20th Meeting
Report from the PNHP Annual Meeting in San Diego
Meeting Attendees Reporting
Seven PNHPWW and SNaHP-UW members attended the 2018 PNHP Annual Meeting in San Diego, Nov 8-11. The theme of the weekend was "Tearing Down the Barriers to Care."
Materials from the meeting including slideshows, handouts, and some video is available at - http://pnhp.org/sandiego/
On Friday there was an educational session for folks new to single payer advocacy followed by a march/demonstration in support of immigrants in front of the San Diego ICE headquarters. Also, there was a meeting for people working on state-based universal health care legislation - summary here.
For this PNHPWW meeting, attendees reported on the state organizing meeting, the plenary sessions and some workshops. A video of this meeting is available on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoNM8dxU1s
PNHPWW October 17th Meeting
TrumpCare
John Geyman, MD, joined us via the internet from his home in Friday Harbor to describe his just-released book "TrumpCare: Lies, Broken Promises, How It Is Failing, and What Should be Done." It's four goals are: 1) to describe TrumpCare; 2) show how it is failing patients, families, taxpayers, and the nation: 3) describe the growing crisis is health care in this country; and 4) to compare the only two real alternatives before us - continuance of TrumpCare or moving to single-payer Medicare for All. Also, John compared HR 676 and S 1804 and gave us his thoughts about their relative strengths and weaknesses.
The meeting can be viewed on our YouTube channel at - https://youtu.be/gl1OKCxcUMs
Copies of "TrumpCare" are available at cost for $15 plus shipping, while supplies last, at pnhp.westernwashington@comcast.net
Dr. Geyman's recent books:
Common Sense: US Health Care at a Crossroads in the 2018 Congress (pamphlet_
Crisis in US Health Care: Corporate Power vs. Tho Common Good looks at how, over the last 60 years, our health care system got to be where it is now - how it changed from a system devoted to patient care to one devoted to maximizing revenues.
The Human Face of Obamacare - Promises vs. Reality and What Comes Next shows the human face of the ACA as the stories of real patients and their families best illustrate continuing problems of our health care system. It also shows how many of the promises made by the Obama administration have not been kept.
How Obamacare is Unsustainable - Why we need a Single-Payer Solution for All Americans documents where the ACA fails and the fix we need.
Health Care Wars - How Market Ideology and Corporate Power Are Killing Amercians examines how our market-based system benefits the 1% at the grave expense and suffering of the 99%.
"Breaking Point - How the Primary Care Crisis Endangers the Lives of Americans" documents the crisis in primary care in the US and what we must do about it.
John's Web Site
PNHPWW September 19th Meeting
"Updating HR 676 and S 1804
Keeping Single Payer in Medicare for All
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PNHPWW August 15th Monthly Meeting
"Community House Calls/Interpreter Services Harborview Medical Center"
You can watch this very informative and moving video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/V_LQf-fqmyw
PNHPWW June 20th Monthly Meeting
"The State-Based Universal Health Care Act"
Rachel Berkson CD7 District Director for Rep. Pramila Jayapl, described HR 6097 and led the discussion. David Loud, Jim McDermott's staff who worked on similar bill & helped with HR 6097 also lent his expertise to the discussion.
HR 6097 would facilitate states to combine several federal health care funding streams if the state offers a comprehensive universal health care plan that guarantees all residents of their state are covered. The benefits provided by states have to be equal or greater than what beneficiaries receive now.
PNHPWW May 24th Meeting
"Moving Toward Single Payer"
Community Town Hall
The regular PNHPWW May Monthly Meeting was held in conjunction with a Town Hall programmed and sponsored by the Students for a National Health Program - UW Chapter (SNaHP-UW) and co-sponsored by PNHPWW and Health Care for All - WA.
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Panelists:
1) Aaron Katz, MPH, School of Public Health; 2) David McLanahan, MD, Co-founder and Coordinator of PNHPWW; 3) Anirban Basu, PhD, UW Professor of Health Economics; 4) Bevin McLeod, the Healthcare for All-WA Program Director; 5) Christopher Wong, MD UW Medical Center or Harborview
You can watch the forum here on YouTube
PNHPWW April 18th Meeting "Homelessness and Healthcare" Jacqueline Martin and George Sidwell Vendors, Real Change Newspaper
PNHPWW March 21st Meeting "The I-1600 Initiative Campaign" Georgia Davenport Interim Campaign Director, Whole Washington Georgia Davenport of the Whole Washington organization talked about their campaign to pass a ballot initiative Initiative I-1600 that would create the Whole Washington Health Care Trust that would run a new universal health care program, housed within the state Department of Health. Senate and House Testimony on State "Single Payer" bills  Jan 16th - PNHPWW President Sherry Weinberg testifies for Senate Hearing on SB5701 - The Apple Care Trust PNHPWW February 21st Meeting PNHPWW January 17th Meeting This documentary film explores the problem of extreme drug prices in the US and how drug costsimpacts on the public, on businesses and the overall US economy. It makes an effective business case for realizable change, digging deeply to answer key questions. You can watch the film by clicking here - https://fixithealthcare.com/big-pharma-movie/? "Big Pharma" was produced by Richard Master, the producer of "Fix It: Health Care at the Tipping Point." We were fortunate to have pharmacist Ronnie Shure with us to comment on the film and lead the discussion.
Considering the continuing bad news at the about the current state and future threats to our health care system, it was very nice to hear some good news about an influx of dedicated, socially conscious physicians who work for health care for all. PNHPWW November 15 Meeting Report on PNHP Annual Meeting in Atlanta
At this meeting PNHPWW and SNaHP-UW members who attended discussed their impressions of the weekend and gave reports on the high points of the workshops they attended. |
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Students for a National Health Program at University of Washington |
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Students for a National Health Program at the University of Washington (SNaHP-UW) brings the movement for universal healthcare through a national single-payer system to campus. SNaHP-UW seeks to educate and organize undergraduate and graduate students from health science, law, economics, political science, and beyond to add their voices to the growing chorus of healthcare professionals and students calling for healthcare for all. |
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Video on Single Payer for Washington State
PNHPWW member Mark Hickling has produced a 12 minute video describing the US health care system and those of other developed nations in a down-to-earth way that we can use in our advocacy with friends and family. This video is great for opening a meeting or houseparty.
You can watch this on YouTube by clicking here or on the photo. If you'd like a DVD copy ($5 for materials and postage), send a request here.
Click to watch new short single payer video for Washington State
For the latest news on health reform legislation - check PNHP articles of interest and opinion - or research a topic by clicking on the Google Custom Search image below:
For the latest news on health reform legislation - check PNHP articles of interest and opinion - or research a topic by clicking on the Google Custom Search image below:
The information You Need to Remain Up-To-Date on Health Care Reform:
Sign up for Don McCanne's Quote of the Day
For invaluable daily current health care reform information and analysis read PNHP Senior Staff Policy Analyst Don McCanne's Quote of the Day
Listserve free subscription http://two.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/quote-of-the-day
Opinion and Information
"Fixing Obamacare: Move to Single Payer" - Joe Martin - Seattle Times LTE - 4-2-15
“What Happened in Vermont: Implications of the Pullback from Single Payer” - Steffie Woolhandler, MD, and David Himmelstein, MD, -Jan, 2015
“Lesson On The Struggle For Health Care As A Human Right: What happened in Vermont where a so-called single payer proposal died?”- Margaret Flowers, MD, in Populare Resistance, Jan 2015
Backgrounder on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Healthcare - Margaret Flowers, MD
Stephen Kemble, MD - The Business Case for Single Payer - March, 2014 Powerpoint
Dr. Arnold Relman, Outspoken Medical Editor, dies at 91" - New York Times obituary
Health Care for All Oregon Speakers Resources - Powerpoints, Tips, References, Logistics, Friedman & other videos
Why Oncologists Should Support Singe-Payer National Healthy Insurance - Ray E. Dragon, MD and Lawrence H. Einhorn, MD
10 Things Unions Need to Look Out for When Bargaining Under Obamacare - Labor Campaign for Single Payer Healthcare
A Perspective on the Relationship between State and National Single Payer Work.doc - Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein- PDF
Obstacles to State Based Reform: Vermont - slideshow - Dr. Marvin Malek
Immigrants and the Human Right to Health Care - National Economics and Social Rights Initiative
People of Color and the Human Right to Health Care - National Economics and Social Rights Initiative
Women and the Human Right to Health Care - National Economics and Social Rights Initiative
Obamacare and the New Deal - Michael Lind, Comment Don McCanne
What Kind of a Problem is the ACA Rollout for Liberalism - Michael Konczal
Strategy and Creativity for Grassroots Power (video) - Bill Moyer, Backbone Campaign
A close look at ACA Exchanges-Paul Criag Roberts
Funding HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act - How we can afford a national single-payer plan - Gerald Friedman, Phd
Peter Bohmer's notes on Social Movements - Word.doc - PDF
Roadmap to State Single Payer - Public Citizen
ACA vs Single Payer - Accessibility, Affordability, Cost Control - PNHPWW
Real Danger of Obamacare: Insurance Company Takeover of Medicine - Nomi Prins
Some thoughts on What's Ahead - Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein
It's Time for Single Payer - Dr. James C. Mitchiner
Will Pay for Performance Backfire?; Insights from Behavioral Economics - Woolhandler and Ariely
Medicare Overpayments to Private Plans, 1985 - 2012 - Hellander. Woolhandler, Himmelstein
The Nuts and Bolts of Medicare Premium Support Proposals - Kaiser Foundation
Committee Responsibilities - Health Care for All Oregon
Minnesota Single Payer Economic Study - The Lewin Group
Funding a National Single-Payer System - Gerald Friedman - Prof Economics, U. of Massachusetts-Amherst
"Occupy" and US Health Care - Dr. Mary Obrien
The Wyden-Ryan Plan: Deja-vu All Over Again - Uwe Reinhart
Sustaining the Movement for the 99% - Steering Committee of the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer
A Difficult Pill to Swallow - Margaret Flowers, MD
Privatize Medicare? No Thanks! - Dr. James Mitchner
Why won't Corporate America Support Single Payer Medicare for All - Mark Dudzic
Ryan turns Knife on Medicare, Medicaid - Dr. Margaret Flowers
Pay Much Attention to the Insurers Behind the Curtain - Wendell Potter
Medicare for All is the Solution - Robert Reich
Stop the Bipartisan Assault on Medicare - Support the People - Claudia Chaufan
What Happened to Social Justice in Health Care Reform? - Arthur Sutherland
What You Can Do To Help:
*Join the Campaign to Pass HR 676 and HR 1200
by sending an email to pnhp.westernwashington@comcast.net. We'll keep you posted with important updates and actions
*Lobby your members of Congress
Tell your representatives that you support HR 676 and HR 1200 and they should too. You can use this email form or - better yet - call their office
*Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor
You can find tips, templates and examples by clicking here
*Speak out about the single-payer solution
Educate yourself about single-payer using the resources & materials -here and here. Bring materials and talk to your church, labor, community or other group about the singlepayer solution.
Email: pnhp.westernwashington@comcast.net