Health Care Assembly December 6!

Mark Your Calendar To Make Your Voice Heard for Affordable Quality Health Care

Written in part by Jean Eilers, SEIU 49 and Bob Brown, Havurah Shalom

What health care is going to look like for Oregonians depends on who has the ear of the Oregon policy decision makers this year.  Will it be citizens or industry lobbyists?

The Health Care Action Team has developed pertinent questions to challenge the quality of the “Health Insurance Exchange” and “Coordinated Care Organizations” that are at the heart of the Oregon Health Care Reform efforts, to assure that these new systems are responsive to consumer needs and our values of Accessibility, Affordability, Quality and Equity.

**The Team is planning a MACG-wide assembly for Tuesday, December 6 in order to make these questions public!  Mark your calendar and spread the word to your institution!***

Health Care Assembly
Tuesday, December 6
7:00 - 8:30 PM
St. Andrew Catholic Church
806 NE Alberta St., Portland

The Health System Transformation bill, HB 3650, passed during the 2011 legislative session and defined Community Care Organizations (CCOs). CCOs represent a major change in our state health delivery system, moving from the current fee for service model to a system that is oriented around health.

Four work groups are currently working to define in more detail how CCOs will be managed and measured.  Our own Bob Brown from Havurah Shalom is a member of the Outcomes, Quality and Efficiency Metrics Workgroup.  They will submit their suggestions to the 2012 legislative session in February.  

The Health Care Action Team knows that hospitals and current provider organizations will be at the table at these work groups to get the best they can get for their own self-interest as these CCOs are formed.

The Team is planning this assembly so that MACG can publicly put forth our values to the decions makers on the plans for the CCOs, and the Exchange.  Participation by consumers, i.e. MACG members, is urgently needed at this time to offset other forces that have the ear of the decision makers. 

Please mark your calendar for December 6 to attend an Assembly to address Health Care that we care about.  We need your help in keeping a seat at the table, ensuring health care that is affordable, accessible, quality, and equitable.

The next Health Care Action Team meeting is Tuesday, November 8, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at St. Charles Catholic Church, 5310 NE 42nd.  Contact Bob Brown if you are interested in being involved: rebrown47@gmail.com.

For further reading:
Proposal for MACG health care reform that meets high standards