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Healthcare Work Group
The Healthcare Group has been very active. We have produced a 134-page study guide for communities on healthcare reform. A core group of 10 completed an intensive study of the U.S. healthcare system and alternatives to it based on this manual, and we have since agreed on our goal: to organize and educate for "a national healthcare system that is simple, portable, publicly funded, and covers everyone." Take a look at our flyer, with information on why the U.S. lags so far behind other developing countries in the quality and affordability of health care, and what you can do about it. RESOURCES Democratic presidential candidates' healthcare positions Republican presidential candidates' healthcare posititions Click here for the Healthcare Workgroup Flyer. Click here for a summary of the Conyers single-payer healthcare bill and resolutions supporting it that have been passed by nearby counties and by the city of Ithaca, NY. Click here for notes on a Presentation by Dr. Laura Chalfin and John Heinegg on U.S. vs. Canadian Healthcare. Click here for a summary of testimony at our September 2006 Healthcare Speakout. Click here for letters sent to: newly elected Reps. Arcuri and Gillibrand; and Sens. Clinton and Schumer. Click here for a copy of testimony presented by our group at the New York State Assembly's public hearing on "How to Achieve Universal Health Coverage in NY State." EVENTS 2009 events: May 7, 2009, Norwich NY: 2008 events: Sicko star appears in Oneonta: Discussion and DVD on Healthcare Reform, Friday, January 18, 6:00 pm
Spring 2007 activities: Members of the Health Care reform work group (Mary Breuninger and Sandy Twang) met with the Health, Education and Agriculture Committee of the Otsego County Board of Reps, with the objective of asking the County Board to pass a resolution in favor of single payer health care. The board may be particulary open to this, as over half its tax levy this past year was used to pay health care costs for county employees and retirees. [Click here to see a copy of the proposed resolution.] The group will make a half-hour presentation to the county board at their meeting on Wed, June 6. 2006 activities: In September 2006, we sponsored a community Healthcare Speakout for residents of Delaware and Otsego counties. This testimony has since been presented to newly elected Congress members Arcuri and Gillibrand and to Sens. Clinton and Schumer. Click here to see a summary of testimony at our Healthcare Speakout, and copies of the letters we sent to our legislators Arcuri, Gillibrand, Clinton and Schumer. In November 2006, we sponsored a discussion with Dr. Laura Chalfin about her experiences practicing medicine in Delhi, NY, and now in Canada. Click here for notes on the Presentation by Dr. Laura Chalfin and John Heinegg on U.S. vs. Canadian Healthcare. In December 2006, committee member Michael Kaufman testified before the New York State Assembly's public hearing on "How to Achieve Universal Health Coverage in NY State." He described the work of our group, and provided the chairs of the Assembly's Health Committee, Labor Committee, and Insurance Committee with our Speakout testimony. He called on the Assembly to adopt a state-wide health plan that is "simple, portable, publicly funded, and covers everyone." Click here for a copy of testimony presented by our group at the hearing. We are beginning to link up with other like-minded groups in New York State and nationally -- and have many exciting strategies up our sleeve aimed at making sure every American gets the healthcare they need. We invite you to join us! For information, please email Laura McClure at lauramcclure@earthlink.net, or call John Ruland at 607-433-1833. Agenda for meeting of February 23, 2007 Agenda for 2/7/08 meeting and minutes from 1/17/08 meeting. |
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