Saturday, July 7th @ 9am – 4pm
Learn about the Campaign for a Healthy California and the Healthcare Justice Movement in California • Network with other advocates working to guarantee healthcare for all Californians • Develop skills through interactive workshops: -‐ Labor & Medicare for All -‐ Building a Coalition of Diverse Communities -‐ Answering FAQs
Sunday, July 8th @ 9:30am – 4pm
Gain necessary skills to build a successful movement in California • Strategize with other healthcare advocates from throughout California • Receive in-‐depth training in key areas of organizing: -‐ Talking to the Media -‐ Legislative Advocacy -‐ Organization & Outreach -‐ Delivering Your Pitch
For More Information:
Email: info@HealthyCaliforniaCampaign.org
Visit: www.HealthyCaliforniaCampaign.org
Call: 800-745-3090
Tickets: $10 (Sliding Scale)
Across the country and throughout California, people are being denied healthcare. People have lost their homes, their retirement, even their lives due to healthcare costs and lack of care. Now Californians are saying enough is enough.
Some people thought the Affordable Care Act, also known as Healthcare Reform, would solve the problem. But the ACA continues the system of profit-based care and would force people to buy insurance without controls on insurance costs.
Now California has the opportunity to set the standard of care for our country by adopting a single payer Medicare for all model of healthcare. The Campaign for a Healthy California (CHC) believes everyone has a right to care. Join students, nurses, doctors, seniors, faith-based communities, small businesspeople, people of all backgrounds and ethnicities as we come together in CHC for a better California, and a healthy tomorrow.
Zombie and vampire corporate health monsters will chase sick patients through the streets dragging their bags of money behind them, only to be lured through a “re-humanizing” tent by doctors and nurses to be “cured” of their inhuman greed with souls, hearts, and brains!
SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012 MARCH ASSEMBLY: 1:30pm Blue Cross, 801 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA
Corner of 8th and S. Figueroa
Metro: 7th St/Metro Center, Red/Purple Line
MARCH BEGINS @ 2pm ACTION and PRESS RALLY @ 3pm
Pershing Square Metro: Pershing Square, Red/Purple Line
TAKE ACTION:
Attendees are encouraged to participate and come dressed as greedy zombies, vampires, ill patients, doctors, or nurses.
This action comes as California’s largest health insurers are raising average premium rates by 8% to 14% for thousands of patients with individual coverage in California, according to the LA Times.
INFORMATION:
Contact Molly at
molly@pnhpcalifornia.org
408-892-1255
The Campaign for a Healthy California (CHC) today denounced the failure of the California Senate to pass SB 810, the California Universal Care Act. The bill died when it remained two votes short of passage.
Democrats fell short of previous levels of support, which successfully passed similar bills through the legislature twice before, only to be vetoed by then Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. This year 19 voted in favor of the bill, two against, and four abstaining in spite of intensive efforts at persuasion by grassroots proponents. The bill received no support from Republicans.
The California Universal Care Act would have created a single public health insurance program for all Californians, much like an improved Medicare-for-All plan that has been proposed at the federal level.
CHC member organizations spoke out against the disappointing vote, “Nurses will not give up on winning guaranteed universal healthcare, like SB 810” stated DeAnn McEwen, RN, Co-President of the California Nurses Association, “because we will not abandon our patients who need this vital reform.”
Nan Brasmer, President of the California Alliance for Retired Americans, stated: “This is a very sad day for seniors and all Californians. With millions of us uninsured or underinsured, SB 810 offered the only solution to our skyrocketing health care costs while covering everyone. And the added bonus is that it would save the State billions of dollars once implemented, at a time when essential programs for seniors are being slashed and out of pocket costs for health care have gone through the roof. We will continue to fight for single payer in the legislature and at the ballot box.”
SB 810 would create a new California Healthcare System to provide health insurance for all Californians, replacing the private insurance providers. Critics claim that such as system, often referred to as “single payer,” would be too costly. “Not true,” said Dr. Henry L. Abrons, President of PNHP California. “Currently the U.S. spends twice as much as any other country on health care. We have plenty of money in the system, enough to insure 100% of us; we just need to spend it more wisely.” He continued, “The best way to save money is to take the private insurers out of the system. They are responsible for 30% of each healthcare dollar being lost to pay for exorbitant CEO salaries, lobbyists, sales and marketing, administration and shareholder profit. Medicare’s overhead by contrast is only 3%. Californians would still be free to seek services from any medical provider in the private sector — only the financing would change. The difference is that that everyone in California would be fully covered.”
Joseph Foy, spokesman for the California Health Professional Student Alliance said, “Grassroots activists are not deterred by this setback in the Senate. The movement for single-payer health insurance is growing stronger every day among students who are the doctors, nurses, and other caregivers of the future.”
“Healthcare is a human right,” Progressive Democrats of America’s California State Coordinator and Emergency Physician Dr Bill Honigman stated, “It is immoral for businesses to profit from the illness of others, just as we would not expect them to profit from other public services such as police, fire, or education.”
“We’re disappointed today, but this is just the beginning of our efforts to win quality, comprehensive health care for all,” said Pilar Schiavo, the CHC Campaign Coordinator, “We will continue to build on the momentum we have created through our recent actions and statewide activism, and build an even broader and more powerful grass roots movement to ensure we win universal healthcare in California.”
The Campaign for a Healthy California represents over 1.4 million Californians and includes: California Alliance for Retired Americans, Physicians for a National Health Program – California, California Health Professional Student Alliance, Communication Workers of America – District 9 (California & Nevada), Health Care For All, Single Payer Now, California Nurses Association, California OneCare, California School Employee Association, Democracy For America, The Progressive Caucus of California, and Progressive Democrats of America.
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They just took SB 810 up for a 2nd time today because there were members “absent” during the first vote. Calderon was the only one who voted who was previously “absent”, he voted NO. Correa was the other NO in the first vote. The others who were in the room but did not vote were: Padilla, Wright, Vargas, Rubio. So SB 810 failed by only 2 votes – 19 to 15. We need 21 to win.
We still have another chance though…SB 810 is on “Reconsideration” and can be brought up again if the votes change. This will likely happen on Tuesday January 31st – our last day to pass it.
Please call the following legislators who DID NOT VOTE today and tell them:
“I’m disappointed that the Senator did not cast a vote for SB 810 on the Senate Floor. Senator Leno plans to bring it up again on Reconsideration and I ask the Senator to support SB 810 then. It’s the only real solution to the healthcare crisis care crisis that saves the state billions, guarantees healthcare for all Californians, and controls costs, while eliminating the denials of care and restrictions of provider choice imposed by private insurance companies.”
Congratulations again on a great victory! This time last month the possibility of getting SB 810 out of Appropriations was bleak. But thanks to your hard work mobilizing in your districts, Sacramento and LA; and your calls and letters to Senators – we’ve moved SB 810 to the full Senate for a vote. This will be a heavy lift and we certainly have our work cut out for us. Please see the list below of key Senators who’s support we need in order to pass SB 810 by the January 31st deadline to get the bill out of the Senate. Please call, write and be ready to join district visits…and please pass this on far and wide.
THE ASK:All Senators (EXCEPT Rubio) have voted for the bill in the past. THANK THEM for previously voting yes, and ask that they vote yes again on the Senate Floor. Juan Vargas should be asked to co-author SB 810 again, like he has in the past.
Senator Michael Rubio (Fresno/Bakersfield area) State Capitol, Room 2066
Sacramento, CA 95814 Email: Michael.Rubio@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4016 Fax: (916) 327-5989
Senator Juan Vargas (San Diego area)
State Capitol, Room 3092
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: Juan.Vargas@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4040
Fax: (916) 327-3522
Senator Ron Calderon (Los Angeles/Montebello area)
State Capitol, Room 5066
Sacramento, CA 95814 Email: Senator.Calderon@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4030 Fax: (916) 327-8755
Important points for Calls to Senators
Phone calls are brief and to the point
Tell them your name and if you live in their district, and you are calling as a supporter of SB 810, thank them for their support in the past (unless it’s Rubio) and ask they support the bill again for the Senate vote. If Vargas, ask that he co-author the bill again.
If writing a letter, tell your personal healthcare struggles if you have a story to share, and supplement with points below. (Stories related to increases in healthcare costs, limited access, denied care, unaffordable, bankruptcy, children who cannot get insurance, etc. are important for educating legislators on the impact to Californians and very compelling.)
California must meet the challenge presented by President Obama – for states to do better than the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This is why he allowed states to request waivers to implement healthcare programs that can do better like SB 810.
The $200 billion price tag for SB 810 is incorrect – this is money already spent on healthcare – not a new expenditure, so there is no change. There is a trigger that is only initiated once funding is secured to pay for the program.
Single Payer as a solution to the State’s current fiscal crisis by saving $9 billion in the first year and billions annually going forward. Currently one third of the state budget is related to healthcare which could be cut by one third to one half with a Single Payer system, saving billions of taxpayer dollars.
Congratulations on two great Jan. 9th rallies in Sacramento and LA! We had over 1,000 people statewide and were also joined by the Occupy Movement for our New Orleans-style Funeral Procession and actions. Below are reports on the events, next steps, photos and media coverage. Please share with your networks and encourage folks to reach out to Senator Price in advance of Tuesday’s 1/17 Appropriations hearing. If you’re in Sacramento – please attend the hearing in person. Let’s build on the momentum and push SB 810 through Appropriations next week!
View the great CNA video of the actions here: Please share and post.
Photo & Video Galleries:
Click the play button to enjoy this CNA photo slide show:
Campaign for a Healthy California Actions in Sacramento, Los Angeles Challenges Insurance Giants, Seek Passage of SB 810 to Extend Guaranteed Care to All Californians
In a statewide demonstration of strength, the Campaign for a Healthy California (CHC), joining with the California Health Professional Association, showed that this broad coalition of activists — including registered nurses, medical students, seniors, physicians, community and members of the Occupy movement – will not stop until ALL Californians have guaranteed healthcare coverage by passing SB 810. Marches and rallies in Sacramento and Los Angeles on Monday, January 9 stepped up the campaign to make Single Payer healthcare a reality in the Golden State. One thousand protesters statewide came from far and wide including: Orange County, San Diego, Greater Los Angeles, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, Nevada County, Chico, Yolo County, Sonora, San Francisco, San Jose, the East Bay and beyond – sending a clear message to legislators and insurance giants with signs reading “Healthcare is a Human Right” and “Healthcare for the 99%”.
Both marches and rallies were led by New Orleans-style funeral processions and coffins mourning those who suffer from the current healthcare crisis, with messages reading:
1,000 Californian deaths per MONTH due to lack of access to healthcare
62% of US bankruptcies due to healthcare costs
California is #1 with 6.9 million without healthcare coverage
The rallies highlighted Single Payer as a solution to the State’s current fiscal crisis by saving $9 billion in the first year and billions annually going forward. SB 810 sponsor Senator Mark Leno addressed the crowd sharing that $28 billion dollars annually, or one third of the state budget, is related to healthcare. With family premiums up 153% since 2002- the time for Single Payer is now. Protesters vowed to continue to build a grass roots movement to ensure California meets the challenge presented by President Obama – for states to do better than the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Actions also targeted insurance giants Anthem Blue Cross (in LA) and the California Association of Health Plans (Sacramento based Insurance Lobby), declaring them “hazardous to public health” for such actions as CAHP leadership in fighting coverage of autism under insurance; and Blue Cross denials of care and continued increases in premiums and co-pays.
Mondays actions are in advance of the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, January 17. SB 810 which would establish a Medicare for all/single payer system in California. In addition to addressing the ongoing healthcare crisis faced by millions of Californians who are uninsured, under insured or denied care by their insurer, SB 810 would address California’s budget emergency by lowering state expenditures on healthcare through a more rational, more cost effective healthcare system.
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Next Steps & What you can do!
SB 810 must pass out of the Appropriations Committee and pass on the Senate Floor by January 31st.
1. Attend the Appropriations Hearing: January 17th at 11am in Capitol room 4203. Wear T-shirts and buttons (no signs allowed) and speak as a “me too” to support the bill.
2. Call or email/write Senator Curren Price on Senate Appropriations BEFORE January 17th and ask him to support SB 810 in the Appropriations Committee.
Tell them your, name and if you live in their district, and you are calling as a supporter of SB 810 and you are looking to Senator Price to support the bill in Appropriations next week (Or thank Kehoe and Steinberg for supporting SB 810).
They will likely ask for your address or if you live in the district. Check here to see if you are represented by any of the above: http://senate.ca.gov/senatedistricts
If you are writing, tell a personal healthcare story if you have one
Stories related to increases in healthcare costs, limited access, denied care, unaffordable, bankruptcy, children who cannot get insurance, etc. are important for educating legislators on the impact to Californians and very compelling.
Talking points for calls and letters:
1,000 Californians die every month due to lack of access to healthcare.
Single Payer as a solution to the State’s current fiscal crisis by saving $9 billion in the first year and billions annually going forward. Currently $28 billion dollars annually, or one third of the state budget, is related to healthcare, and while family premiums have gone up 150% – the time for Single Payer is now.
The $200 billion price tag for SB 810 is misleading – this is money already spent on healthcare – not a new expenditure, so there is no effect.]
California must meets the challenge presented by President Obama – for states to do better than the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This is why he allowed states to request waivers to implement healthcare programs that can do better.
Nurses, medical students, seniors, doctors and members of the Occupy movement rallied in downtown Los Angeles and at the Capitol in Sacramento on Monday to rouse support for guaranteed health coverage for all Americans.
The local rally started at Third Street and Capitol Mall at 11 a.m. and progressed to the Capitol steps at noon. The Occupy movement planned to target insurance denials by health plans.
A New Orleans-style funeral procession remembering those who die every year without coverage gave way to a rally in support of Assembly Bill 810, which seeks to establish a single-payer system in California.
The bill was suspended on the Assembly floor late last session by author Mark Leno, a Democrat from San Francisco. Proponents argue the bill would address California’s budget emergency by lowering state expenditures through a more rational, more cost-effective health care system. They have been trying for at least eight years to get a single-payer system into law. Health insurers oppose it.
The bill would establish a state-administered single-payer system to provide health coverage to all Californians without regard to income or employment status. It would establish a new state agency under control of an appointed healthcare commissioner to run the program.
It’s unclear how the program would jibe with federal health reform, although the federal law allows states to opt out of insurance exchanges in 2017 and get a waiver for innovative alternatives.
