Washington, DC - On Thursday June 25, 2009, Health Care for America Now (HCAN) - the nation’s largest health care campaign - held a large-scale rally at Upper Senate Park in Washington, DC and conducted the largest health care lobby day ever with more than 300 visits to Congressional offices on the Hill.  17 leaders from Illinois joined 15,000 health care leaders from across the country to lobby their congressional members and make sure the media knows exactly what we expect from health care reform.

Actress Edie Falco, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ),Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Labor and Community leaders, doctors, nurses, and everyday people with health care stories addressed a crowd of 15,000 who traveled to the nation’s capital from across the country to demand quality, affordable health care for all in 2009.

After the rally, constituents from 36 states and DC fanned out across the Capitol to meet with Members of Congress, conducting close to 300 visits.  HCAN-Illinois leaders met with 13 members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, and they were successful in getting Senator Burris, Representative Rush and Representative Lipinski to sign onto the President’s health care plan, which includes a strong public health insurance option.  That brings the total number of Illinois Congressional members on board to 10 of the 19 members.  To date, Senator Durbin, Senator Burris, Representative Rush (D-1), Representative Jackson (D-2), Representative Lipinski ((D-3), Representative Gutierrez (D-4), Representative Davis (D-7), Representative Schakowsky (D-9), Representative Halvorson (D-11), and Representative Hare (D-17) have signed onto the Obama / HCAN plan.

Thirteen town halls also took place throughout the day - three issue-based (health equities, providers, and small businesses) and ten state-based (Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and West Virginia) gatherings. After much grassroots pressure, Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) showed up at the North Carolina town hall at the Mott House, gave brief remarks, and was encouraged by her constituents to support a robust public health insurance option. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) appeared before a Pennsylvania town hall at Capitol City Brewing Company where he - for the first time -endorsed Senator Chuck Schumer’s proposal for a strong public health insurance option.

HCAN-Illinois members will continue to reach out to Congressional members over the summer, including parades over the 4^th of July weekend and a National Call-in day on July 8^th.

The report shows how a handful of private health insurance companies have built a near-monopoly in the Illinois market, burdening families and businesses with premiums that grew 5.6 times faster than wages from 2000 to 2007.  Illinois’ two largest health insurers control 67% share of the market. Under a competition rating system used by the U.S. Justice Department, the Illinois market is “concentrated.” The local markets are even worse for Rockford (82%), Bloomington-Normal (87%), and Champaign-Urbana (83%) where the US Justice Department considers these local markets “highly concentrated.”

Yesterday, members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed the use of a “trigger” for the implementation of the Public Health Insurance Option.  They are strongly considering the idea that a public health insurance plan would trigger if competition proves inadequate in a geographical region.  It is clear that it is time to pull the trigger and create real competition in Illinois.

Follow link to full report:

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/new_report_private_insurers_consolidate_and_control_prices

Follow link to press coverage on report:

Lake County Journal

WBBM Radio

“President Obama made an unwavering commitment to health care reform this year, and the people of Illinois want Congress to support the President and do what it takes to pass quality, affordable health care for all in 2009,” said William McNary, Director of Citizen Action/Illinois.

Despite the fact that everyday 700 people lose their health insurance in Illinois, Peoria Rep. Aaron Schock has voted against expanding the children’s health insurance program (SCHIP), legislation that his predecessor, Ray LaHood, supported.

Over the last 6 months, HCAN members have tried on several occasions to meet with Representative Schock and discuss the needs of Central Illinois families.  Each time, staff members have denied the request, with the Congressman continually repeating outdated rhetoric that health care reform will lead to rationing and a loss of choice.

Representative Schock should understand that health care in the US is already rationed, with dire economic consequences. In fact, I.5 million Americans will face foreclosure due to a health care crisis this year. Rally participants urged Representative Schock to support reforms that would allow consumers the choice between existing insurance and a new, public health insurance option. According to a Commonwealth Study (The Path to a High Performance US Health System, Feb. 2009), a public health insurance option would be 20-30% cheaper a traditional plan on the open market.

“We can not get Illinois’ economy moving again without health care reform,” said Dennis Williams, United Auto Workers Region 4 Director.  “Current health care costs are unsustainable.  We need comprehensive, national health care reform, and we need it now.”

Pam Sutherland, Director of Illinois Planned Parenthood Council added, “Women in Illinois and across America need the choice of a public health insurance plan to reduce the chance they will forego medical care or rack up high medical bills.”

Video and pictures available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37683220@N02/

(Video “Peoria Rally clip”;  Photo “HCAN-IL Peoria Rally 5-2-09)

(Washington DC) – In an unprecedented initiative, the leaders of four prominent groups in the 111th Congress – the Progressive Caucus (CPC), the Black Caucus (CBC), the Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) – have sent a joint letters to President Obama  and the Democratic Leadership of the House and Senate stressing that ‘our support for enacting legislation this year to guarantee affordable health care for all firmly hinges on the inclusion of a robust public health insurance plan like Medicare.’

Together, one hundred seventeen Members of the House and Senate belong to at least one of these four congressional caucuses.  Hence, their unity in pushing for inclusion of a public health insurance plan like Medicare as part of comprehensive health care reform legislation is a formidable development in the unfolding policy debate inside and outside of Congress.

“As the debate on health care moves forward, we stand together with one voice for the communities that most need this reform,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the 24-Member CHC.  “With one out of every three Hispanics in our country likely to be uninsured and with so many Latino small business owners, we have to provide all Americans with the choice of a public health insurance plan.”

“The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not provide universal health care,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “In a nation with 46 million uninsured individuals, it is time we put in place high quality comprehensive care for all. As we develop healthcare reform legislation, a public health insurance plan like Medicare and Medicaid must be included in order to guarantee equal access to quality affordable healthcare for everyone.”

“The importance of this issue is shown through the unity of the four caucuses,” said Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva, Co-Chair of the CPC. “We represent the most underrepresented communities, in which livelihoods are paralyzed due to health care being set as a privilege. We stand united to ensure health care is a right. A right that is fair and guaranteed for all.”

“The American people are united in declaring that our health care system is broken, and that we need to fix it,” said Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Co-Chair of the CPC.  “With this letter, more than a 100 Members of Congress are sending a message that we share the public’s outrage, and that we are committed to confronting this problem and developing a health care system that doesn’t leave anyone out.  That’s why we need to make certain that any final healthcare reform legislation includes the option of a public health insurance plan to ensure that everyone has access to high quality, affordable care.”

“For too long, insurance companies have dictated the quality, quantity, and accessibility of healthcare to the American people,” said Congressman Mike Honda, Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). “A robust public health insurance plan will ensure true competition with those companies that reap egregious profits, and will present the opportunity to make deep, lasting changes in our healthcare system. A public plan will also provide a framework to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in some of the most underserved communities.”

HCAN is 866 member organizations representing 30 million

HCAN has signed on 186 members of Congress

HCAN-IL signed on President Obama, Chief of Staff  Emanuel, and 7 Members of Congress.

What are we missing?  YOU!!!

HCAN: Health Care for America Now

IMSA: Illinois Main Street Alliance (www.mainstreetalliance.org)

First stops: Reps Kirk, Bean and Schock

On April 18^th, 10 HCAN-IL leaders bird-dogged Congress member Bean at her town hall meeting to push for support of President Obama’s health care reform plan; she stated she couldn’t commit.

On April 25^th, 17 HCAN leaders showed up at Congressman Kirk’s Town Hall to challenge him publicly on his position against health care reform.

Leaders lined the room with signs, while 6 leaders waited in the front row with questions.  Elliot Hartstein, Mayor of Buffalo Grove, showed up to champion our cause and kicked off the questions.  By the end of the meeting, we learned that Congressman Kirk:

• Is crafting a moderate GOP health care bill that guaranteeing that “nothing will interfere with decisions that you and your doctor have made…guarding Americans against government rationing”.
• Continues to misrepresent the Obama / HCAN plan as “FORCING YOU INTO A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM” (The Obama / HCAN plan allows you to keep the insurance you have now OR join a public health insurance plan).
• Sees Tort reform, reducing obesity, and reducing smoking as the solution to spiking health care costs.
• Admitted that health care is the only legislation guaranteed to move this year (as part of reconciliation).

HCAN-IL leaders will continue to challenge Congressional members to support health care reform or state publicly why they do not support reform.  WE NEED YOU TO HELP US KEEP THE HEAT ON OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS.

On May 2^nd, hundreds of HCAN-IL leaders will gather in Peoria Illinois at Congressman Schock’s office to push his support for health care reform.  JOIN US!!!

No position on health care reform:

US Rep. Rush, Rep. Lipinski, Rep. Quigley, Rep. Roskam, Rep. Bean, Rep. Kirk, Rep. Costello, Rep. Biggert, Rep. Foster, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Manzullo, Rep. Schock, Rep. Shimkus.

David Borris of Hel’s Kitchen Catering Northbrook testifies before House Ways and Means committee on health care reform

LINK TO VIDEO OF DAVID BORRIS TESTIMONY

Washington D.C.—Area small business owner David Borris appeared before the House Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday, April 22.  As the only small business owner on the panel, Mr. Borris spoke on the difficulties small businesses face in today’s health insurance market. Mr. Borris described the situation that small businesses confront when they attempt to offer health benefits to their employees. His experience dealing with pre-existing conditions, small group sizes, and discriminatory insurance practices is typical of the small group market.

When announcing Tuesday’s hearing, Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee Charlie Rangel said, “America’s health insurance market is dysfunctional. This is evident by the 87 million people who went without health insurance during the past two years and the millions more who have insurance that is increasingly unaffordable or inadequate.  I am pleased to hold this hearing to examine the problems in our health insurance market and explore long-term solutions for reform.”

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550 PEOPLE RALLY FOR REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM

On Arpil 18th, over 500 people joined US Representative Schakowsky, SEIU  President Balanoff, State Representative Harris, State Representative Ryg, State Representative Hamos, and State Representative Lang in calling for real health care reform for all in 2009.

Buses from Northbrook, Elgin, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Skokie, and the Southside of Chicago dropped off chanting and singing community members ready to fight for real health care reform.  Medical students showed up in their white coats to give testimony on the future of health care.  Brothers and sisters from the Single-Payer coalition also joined in by demanding we keep fighting for HR676 (the single-payer bill).  Music filled the hall  in between dramatic speeches from our elected officials and piercing testimonies from community members from across the region.

People left the meeting carrying house party kits, post cards to send, and a new sense of power and hope.  550 people said “yes” when asked if they will go back to their neighborhoods to build groups dedicated to pressuring their congress member.  They said “yes” to making this the summer of real health care reform.  Most importantly, they said “yes” to holding their congressional member’s feet to the fire.

It’s not too late to get on the train!!!  Give us a call, and we can hook you into a local HCAN team in your area.

Immediate next steps:

• David Borris (Small Business owner): Testimony in front of US House Ways and Means Committee: 9:00 AM Wednesday (April 22nd).
• June 25th NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON: 20,000 HCAN leaders will meet in Washington to rally and lobby.  Details to follow.
• Call to Action Evaluation meeting:  Details to follow.

We can’t trust the insurance industry with health care reform.  We need reform that guarantees:

• Comprehensive Benefits You Can Count On
• Choice of Private or Public Health Insurance Plan
• Coverage You Can Afford
• Equal Access to Quality Care

For more information:

312.427.2114 ext. 206(Jessica) or ext. 208 (John)   ●   jessica@citizenaction-il.org ●    www.hcanil.org

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