| The latest news from and for state health care advocates |
March 2010 |
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In This Issue:
Buzz around the States
Campaign for Better Health Care kept the heat on in Illinois and did not waste a moment getting as many of their wavering House members to vote yes as possible.
Utah doctors met the Matheson challenge by getting over 500 physicians to sign on in support of health care reform.
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute tells the legislature: Georgia has revenue options.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative will bring in a diverse crowd for its fourth annual day of health care action at the Capitol.
Progress Ohio celebrates health reform with their Senate champion, Sherrod Brown.
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State Health Beat Superlatives
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If we missed a great story from your state, please let us know. You can always e-mail us with stories from your state that you would like us to feature in the Beat!
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To commemorate the State Health Beat’s one year anniversary, we have reflected on all of the great stories featured in the Beat over the past year. It has been a remarkable year for health care advocacy in all the states. So to look back on all the amazing work that has been featured over the past year, we have compiled State Health Beat Superlatives. Congratulations on an amazing year!
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Although this journey has been long and hard, everyone should take some time to cherish this historic moment and celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime victory. Advocates from around the country realize the enormous impact this legislation will have on communities in their states, and they also realize the importance of making sure those promises are realized.
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Voices from the States: What Does this Historic Moment Mean to You?
At this truly historic moment, we wanted to hear straight from the people on the ground who have been working so hard to make this law a reality. So we asked folks around the country, “What does this historic moment mean to you?” And this is what some of you had to say:
"Passage of this health reform bill levels the playing field between the haves and have-nots. Our country now sees health care as a right not a privilege. All Americans will have an equal chance to live healthy, productive lives."
-Corrie Edwards, Kansas Health Consumer Coalition
“As a state advocate in Alabama, health care reform means hope for improving the health and well-being of the many people in our state who struggle to meet basic needs for themselves and their families. It also means an opportunity to offer security and stability to average Alabama families and small businesses, helping to assure them that setbacks due to illness or the economy are no longer catastrophic and helping to inspire in them the confidence to pursue opportunities and growth. In a larger sense, as an advocate, health care reform means a long-overdue fundamental commitment to a basic human right for our people that will positively impact all areas of social justice.”
-Vaughan Branch, Alabama Appleseed
"In Mississippi, we've worked 40 years step by step toward national health reform. We know that despite our great joy at victory this week, we have many more years to work at implementation. Until each uninsured person has access to available quality care, we aren't done yet."
-Rims and Judy Barber, Mississippi Human Services Coalition
“Federal health reform is a lifeline for working people and small businesses—a lifeline that provides a choice of good health plans and a guarantee that even in this economy, working families will have affordable health insurance choices.”
-Amy Smoucha, Missouri Jobs with Justice
"Health care reform will bring tremendous immediate and long-term benefits to small businesses and uninsured individuals in Indiana. Tax credits will help small businesses offer more affordable insurance to their employees. Medicare recipients caught in the "doughnut hole" will receive help this year and will see continued relief until it is closed. And thousands of uninsured, young Hoosiers under the age of 26 will be able to join the policy of their parents within the next six months. These are tremendously important improvements for Indiana families!"
-David Roos, Covering Kids and Families of Indiana
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The recent bubbling of anti-reform movements in states will be an important issue in the coming weeks and months. Groups across the country are facing it head on with calls, petitions, and letters. Families USA will be providing resources to address these anti-reform efforts on a new section of our Web site, Health Reform Central, which will be unveiled soon. Stay tuned!
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After Passage, State Groups Continue to Fight for Reform
Build a grassroots demand for health care reform. Check. Pass comprehensive health care reform. Check. What’s the next battle? For many, the answer is the daunting tasks of implementing the provisions in this law and educating the public about the law’s contents. But, for some there is another fight looming at the state level.
In addition to ballot initiatives and pending legislation in a number of states to repeal aspects of health reform, more than a dozen Attorneys General have banned together to file a joint lawsuit against the constitutionality of reform. But, health reform advocates across the country, who have fought so hard and long to achieve the recent landmark victory, will not let them get away with these blatant attacks against reform.
Washington CAN and other groups see these attacks for what they really are: a political ploy. So they are doing what they do best: raising the voices of the people to let the Attorneys General know that they want reform. Washington CAN is collecting signatures on a petition to tell their Attorney General Rob McKenna, “Do not ROB us of our health care.” The Virginia Organizing Project is urging calls to their Attorney General and Nevada advocates are sending a coalition letter touting the benefits of reform and urging their Attorney General not to take them away.
The Road to Victory: A Year in Pictures
In January, at the Families USA Health Action Conference, we showed a video featuring the intense grassroots advocacy from the past year that made health care reform possible. Now that we can finally claim victory, take a moment to look back at the year in pictures and see how far we’ve come.
Beat of the Month
We may have come out a little bit bruised, but the taste of victory is just so sweet. We won!
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 Say Thank You.
There is no doubt that this historic vote was difficult for many members of Congress to make. We can, unfortunately, expect these members to be attacked from opponents for the next few months because of this courageous decision. It is important that we counteract these attacks and let members know how much we appreciate their vote. It’s easy. Write Letters to the Editor, call or e-mail the office, send a card, or get creative and think of something else to do. Let them know how much we appreciate their vote for health reform! |
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New Resources from Families USA and Stand Up for Health Care
Health Reform Resources
Medicare
CHIPRA Series
Other Issues in the States
Contributors: Kate Blocher, Mark Fisher, Lydia Gottesfeld
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