Gettysburg Area DFA Adopts Health Care Reform Action Plan
Most Americans--including our political leaders--seem to agree that "something will happen" with regard to health care this year. But will it be the right "something"? Will what happens in Congress and our state legislature move Pennsylvania and the United States forward toward providing universal access to health care in an affordable, sustainable way? Or, will compromises with private insurance companies create a plan that's too expensive and therefore bound to fail? Is a bad plan better than no plan at all, if only because it acknowledges access to health care as a basic human right? What are the real options? How have other industrialized countries dealt with these issues?
To address these questions and promote an informed discussion of options for action on health care in our community (and action, too!), Gettysburg DFA's Health Care Task Force proposes the following plan for 2009.
Sick around the World and a "House Party" Strategy for Summer and Fall 2009
Sick around the World is a PBS Frontline documentary exploring how five industrialized nations provide universal access to health care to their citizens. Our plan is to offer this program to the community through a series of showings at house parties, adult Sunday schools, book groups, and other community organizations. Each showing would be coordinated by a host who, equipped with a packet offering further information and options for action, would lead a discussion after the film.
Our goals for this part of our strategy: to promote a commitment to access to health care as a basic human right and to inform the community about existing, sustainable options for delivering on that commitment.
The task force has access to five copies of Sick around the World and set a goal of twenty (20) showings of the film in the community for 2009 at its April 22 meeting. Joe, Will, and Maggie are at work on the information packet for hosts. When organizations can provide an audience of significant size, we may also be able to offer Dr. Dwight Michel as a speaker along with the video.
There will be an initial showing of Sick around the World at our June Meet-Up on Wednesday, June 3rd. Recruitment of hosts for follow-up showings of the video at house parties etc. Presentation of information on the June action at Harrisburg in support of a single-payer option along with other opportunities for action (letter writing, citizen lobbying etc.)
Summer 2009 House Parties and Personal Stories
During the summer months, we would try for at least twenty showings with follow-up networking with hosts and their guests. Will has suggested a blog where participants could post reactions and personal stories and arrange to host further showings of the film. Whatever the means we end up using, we are also committed to gathering personal stories about the health care crisis and carrying them to elected officials during our citizen lobbying efforts.
Citizen Lobbying at the State Level
An important element of our citizen lobbying efforts in 2009 will focus on the release of funds at the state level for a feasibility study of the single-payer options. The group continues to support "The Family & Business Healthcare Security Act" PA HB 1660 and the reintroduced Senate Bill 400. During summer and fall, we will send regular delegations to meet with our state reps on this issue.
Eisenhower Institute September Programming on the Health Care Crisis
Lou Hammann is working with the Eisenhower Institute to offer programming on the health care crisis in September 2009. We will be working in every way we can to promote participation in these events.
Fall Lobbying and Assessment
We expect that our citizens lobbying efforts (along with letters to the editor, opinion pieces etc,) will intensify in the fall. During November (or early December) we will meet to access the impact of our efforts during 2009 and begin to plan for 2010.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. - Meetup discussion: "Affordable Health Coverage for All Pennsylvanians: Closer than We Think?”
With apparent gridlock in Washington and health insurance premiums rising dramatically almost everywhere, what are the prospects now for Pennsylvanians without health care coverage or at risk for losing what they have? On Wednesday, March 3, Gettysburg Area Democracy for America will host a panel discussion on Affordable Health Coverage for All Pennsylvanians: Closer than We Think? in Room 206 of Valentine Hall at the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg. The program begins at 7:00 PM, and the public is invited to attend.
Panelists for the evening include Dr. Dwight Michael, a Gettysburg family physician and advocate for health care reform; and Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director of Health Care for All PA. Their focus will be on the Family and Business Health Care Security Act of 2009, a bill offering comprehensive health coverage to all Pennsylvanians. The act (HB 1160, SB 400) is currently co-sponsored by thirty-five state house members (31 Democrats and 4 Republicans) and eleven members of the senate and has been endorsed by numerous state and local groups.
“I’m involved in reform because the current system is just not working,” said Michael, a lifelong Republican who has practiced medicine in Gettysburg for over twenty-five years. “I have become increasingly frustrated with the private insurance industry’s interference with the care of my patients. With this reform we can provide affordable, high quality care to all Pennsylvanians while lowering costs for individuals and employers.”
Pennacchio, as director of a state-wide effort, has been reaching out for several years to what he calls “conscience” Republicans and Democrats along with political independents to build a coalition for meaningful reform. “We can do this!” he commented recently. “Good people everywhere are waking up. We’re really much closer than we think.”
