Monday, April 23, 2007
In this Washington CAN! e-newsletter, you will find:
- Health Care Forum in Tacoma - This Thursday (Take Action)
- Obstructionist Senators Block Medicare Rx Negotiation Bill
- "Top Ten" Victories (so far) in 2007
1) Children’s Health Care at Risk!
Bush
Administration threatens to cut SCHIP funding for
Email
Congress Today: “Invest in Washington’s Children: Washington’s Future!”
73,000 of
Covering
The Bush Administration budget breaks our promise to
Tell
Congress to Invest in Washington’s Kids: Washington’s Future. Email Congress today!
There is strong
bipartisan support for the SCHIP program. We need our Congressional leaders to
take a stand and:
- Provide
$60 billion in new funding to sustain existing SCHIP programs and support
efforts to expand coverage.
- Provide
states with new tools, options, and financial support to cover more
children, including the removal
of a 5-year bar that prevents legal immigrant children and pregnant women
from accessing Medicaid and SCHIP.
- Do
no harm to coverage. Since SCHIP builds on Medicaid, policy
makers should take steps to protect and strengthen Medicaid.
Email
Congress Today: “Invest in Washington’s Children: Washington’s Future!”
2) Health Care Forum in Tacoma – This Thursday
A community forum to
start the conversation of single payer health care in
Thursday April 26th
Wyatt Building
Room 109
1500 N. Warner
Tacoma, WA
The forum will feature
panel representatives from providers, labor, and small business to look at,
discuss and answer questions regarding options to provide adequate health care
to all residents of
For more information,
contact
Sponsors: America In Solidarity, Health Care for All – Washington –
Pierce County Chapter, Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) Western
Washington Chapter, League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County, Pierce
County Central Labor Council, Washington CAN!
3)
Obstructionist Senators Block Medicare Rx Negotiation Bill
When the vote was
completed, 55 Senators had voted to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug
prices and 42 had voted to preserve the considerable profits of drug companies
rather than relieve a burden from the shoulders of millions of older Americans.
Alas, 60 votes were needed to allow floor action.
The good news is
that, thanks to the outpouring from
millions of Americans around the country, a MAJORITY of Senators now support
Medicare negotiation. We’re proud that
Senators Murray & Cantwell voted for
The issue is far from
dead. We’ll keep you updated as we make
progress and with opportunities to take action.
Background
Currently, the
government is prohibited from using the bargaining power of 43 million
Americans in Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug
prices. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a bill to give
the government the option to do just that. This was the Senate's turn to
"just say no" to the drug companies but a minority of Senators was
able to block the bill.
4) “Top Ten”
Victories (so far) in 2007!
The legislative session
ended this weekend. While our eyes
remain on the prize of securing health care for everyone, it’s important to
pause and acknowledge the victories along the way.
1.
Passed historic
legislation to cover all kids in
2.
The opening of
the Washington Prescription Drug Program!
35,000 people signed up within the first month of our media roll-out for
a savings of 16-67% on Rx! Visit www.rx.wa.gov
or call 1-800-913-4146 for more info or to enroll.
3.
Restored 5,000
slots to the state’s Basic Health Plan.
4.
Passed the Heath Insurance Partnership -
legislation to support small business
and set a foundation for broader insurance reform. The Health Insurance Partnership will provide
premium assistance for low-income small business employees.
5.
Passed one of
the nation’s strongest Mental Health
Parity legislation requiring insurers to cover mental health on par with
physical health.
6.
Major media
coverage of healthcare issues – Washington CAN! staff and members appeared in more
than 40 articles, op-eds, and radio hits!
7.
Grassroots mobilization. Over 200
8.
Secured the
support of Gov. Gregoire in leading the national effort among governors to remove the 5 year bar for legal immigrant
children to receive SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program).
9.
Defeated insurance industry schemes to limit benefits, discriminate in price, and
cherry-pick the healthy for coverage!
10. $45 million increase in nursing home reimbursements for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
With
over 30,000 members across the state, Washington CAN! is the
state’s largest grassroots community organization. Washington CAN! fights
for progressive social change at the local, state, and national levels, with a
focus on issues that most directly affect the lives of Washington residents.
Our mission is to achieve economic fairness in order to establish a democratic
society characterized by racial and social justice, with respect for diversity,
and a decent quality of life for those who reside in Washington State. www.WashingtonCAN.org
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