Everybody In! Nobody Out!
Wishing All a Happier New Year
News, Events, and Actions
HCAO Annual Membership Meeting Announcement
Save the Date: June 11, 2022
Location: In-person or Zoom TBD

Every year HCAO has a process for recruiting a slate on nominees for the HCAO Board based on what is in the best interest of the mission. Board members are then elected at the Annual Meeting. The Nominations and Elections Committee is in full swing recruiting for the Board. Do you know of someone who the has the passion, energy, and interest to serve on the Board? The person can show their interest by completing the volunteer interest form and checking "Board Interest".
Thanks to Our Donors
Thanks to Our "Giving Tuesday" Auction Donors and Bidders
Thanks to our wonderful donors, HCAO reached the end of the year goal of $54,406 to make our budget. Again, we appreciate your generosity for taking us into 2022 on a solid footing.

The online auction is a wrap. Thanks to the generous donors and all of the bidders we exceeded our goal of $5000 and raised $6,510! Every donation and every bid mattered and contributed to the success of the auction. 100% of the proceeds went to HCAO. We're grateful to these auction donors for supporting the HCAO mission!

A special thanks to volunteer Rebecca Schoon for making this happen from beginning to end.
Letters to the Editor (LTE's)
You can write one
Letters to the Editor represent an easy way to get your message out in this fight for universal healthcare. Here are a couple recently published from HCAO advocates.

"Clackamas County chapter co-chair: We need health care for all" in the Estacada News. "In this time of COVID-19, never has it been more important for us to have a universal, single-payer health care system in America." Karen Baker

"Putting profits over people" in the Register Guard. They are not in the business of providing health care. They are in the business of making money...." Lou Sinniger

How about writing a letter to the editor to express your thoughts? Here is how. (list of newspapers)

Story sharing is another powerful tool in the movement. Share your story and/or help others share theirs at https://www.hcao.org/share-your-story.
There is HOPE in 2022
The HOPE Amendment campaign is here. The HOPE Steering Committee has met and planning out the steps to an overwhelming yes vote.

What you can do today. Start with everyone in your circle and network. Let them know that access to healthcare as a right is on the ballot in November and vote yes. There is HOPE in 2022.
Oregon Governor's and Legislative Races
and publicly-funded universal healthcare
There are now 26 Governor candidates listed at Oregon Secretary of State site. If a candidate is non-affiliated, they will only be in the general election in November.

Who is Governor in 2023 is extremely important. Will that person be ready to sign the bill that creates the Oregon Health Plan? Check in on the positions of candidates on universal healthcare by going to their campaign website. Contact the candidates and make your position clear.

Right now,, when the legislature is not in session, is the ideal time to make an appointment with your current state senator and state rep. and express your thoughts and find out where they stand on single-payer universal healthcare. It's easy in this virtual world.
Find your legislator here. After you have a conversation, report the results to legislative@hcao.org.
National Scene
DCE's take Center Stage
Time to Stop Them
Direct Contracting Entities are further privatizing Medicare. Jayapal leads the effort in Congress to end these. Read about the effort. See which Congressional Reps. signed on.

Physicians for a National Health Program has been spear-heading the national effort."Left unchecked, this program would allow profit-hungry Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs) to manage the care of up to 30 million Traditional Medicare beneficiaries. These entities, which have received a huge influx of money from private equity, have every incentive to frustrate patients and deny medically necessary care." Read more and resources.
Please sign the petition if you have not already done so.

For assistance with legislative or policy items contact: Zainab Alidina, HCAO Legislative Chair (legislative@hcao.org) or Tom Sincic, HCAO President (president@hcao.org).
Task Force on Universal Health Care
Engaging is Easy--Don't Wait
The Task Force last met on 1/6. Here is link to the meeting where issues of community engagement, supplemental coverage, and long term care are discussed. The next meeting is 1/27.

It is time for lots more public testimony. Hear Amy Erdt's thoughtful and inspiring testimony on need for change on 1/6. Amy's testimony begins at 57:25.

You too can tell your story. Tell the Task Force what kind of a health system you want through your personal testimony. Keep it simple, for example: "I want a health care system that does not require me to sign up every year."

Go to this link to find out how to submit written testimony. Go to this link to provide oral testimony. (Ignore the given date in the information.) Here is the link to the schedule for future meetings.

Here is the link to find the recordings. Public engagement is now the focus of the work of the Task Force and that of HCAO.

HCAO is following carefully and staying closely involved to shape that plan to meet the intent of the bill which created the JTFUHC. You can help by providing testimony.
HCAO Advocates Bring Testimony to the Oregon Health Policy Board
"The Oregon Health Policy Board is the policy-making oversight body for the Oregon Health Authority and its departmental divisions." Find out more about the OHPB.

On January 4, 2022, HCAO Legislative Committee Member Karen Christianson called on the Oregon Health Policy Board and the Oregon Health Authority to stop excluding a single-payer system from the discussion. Meeting link. Hear Karen's 2 minute testimony at 1:31:59.
Other key information and comments:
  • John Santa's initial comment. 3:40-4:27
  • The OHA presentation and discussion 24:48-1:15:45
  • HCAO President Tom Sincic testimony 1:37:26-1:39:50

You can provide your testimony to the OHPB about the need for true equitable health care access--one free of the exclusionary market based system. We need a system free of the complexities and burdens of the market--where access is a right. The next meeting is Feb. 1 at 8:30am. Click here to find details and how to sign up and/or follow.
"Not Going Quietly"
Leaves emotional impact on viewers
Ady's passion for universal healthcare was absorbed during the Dec. 12 Universal Health Coverage Day Showing.
Keep alert for another HCAO showing.
"Not Going Quietly” viewer insights, thoughts, and memorable moments:
  • As a 24/7 caregiver to a child who has chronic, complex medical conditions; I was struck with similarities in regards to raising our child within an ableist and unjust society and the medical industrial complex.
  • Seeing how difficult it is for Ady to function is so inspirational. If he can continue making a difference, I certainly can.
  • I love that Ady has been able to maintain his sense of humor.
  • The profit-driven health care industry was clearly evident early in the film.
  • I am eager to share it with my community of volunteers and supporters.
  • It was a powerful film, primarily because of the heroic efforts of people like Ady who were sacrificing their health and straining their primary relationships with family and friends in order to fight the good fight.
  • Read More Comments.
Still available online at https://www.notgoingquietlyfilm.com/
Please Share: Information on Vaccines and Testing
A tragic story of a restaurant owner and Covid death related to lack of universal healthcare. Watch it.

Today at a private test site, for one patient there was a 2.5 hour wait after scheduled time. Cost of $69 for the cheap test was more than 100% of the monthly increase in social security payment. There were many others waiting in line and paying for care they could not afford. The Canadian Government site mentions nothing about fees. It is time for single payer.

In spite of this, we offer this latest important information from OHA on getting your booster and getting tested. Caution--free testing may not be free.
Your Financial Support Is Needed
HCAO's ability to educate about and advocate for universal healthcare is possible ONLY because of YOU.

For further information and questions, contact Linda Alband (operations@hcao.org).
Please become a member, make an additional contribution, or volunteer.
Everybody in! Nobody out!