Tuesday, August 30, 2005

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Tuesday, August 30th, 2005


CONSUMER ADVOCATES LEAFLET MOVIEGOERS TO REVEAL
THE DRUG COMPANIES AS "THE CONSTANT GOUGER."

• Leafletting in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento Areas
• Wednesday Opening Day Media Actions; Leafletting Opportunities Through the Week

Consumer and health advocates will leaflet moviegoers viewing "The Constant Gardener," a new thriller about drug company corruption. The advocates will use the film’s Opening Day to raise awareness among audiences about the real life drama taking place in California this election season, “The Constant Gouger,” also about drug company conspiracy.

The “Gouger,” the prescription drug companies, has conspired to confuse voters in this fall’s special election by placing a smokescreen initiative on the ballot, Prop. 78, a voluntary discount program proven to fail and designed to block Prop. 79. Prop. 79 is a consumer group-backed measure that would provide deep, enforceable discounts for up to 10 million Californians. The drug companies have raised a record-breaking $72 million to block Prop. 79 and protect their ability to price-gouge Californians.

The movie "The Constant Gardener," by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles ("City of God"), is based on the book by John Le Carre, and stars Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. For a fun Internet animation "trailer" about the movie themed "Constant Gouger" action, that advocates can send to friends, visit:
http://www.voteyesonprop79.com/constantgouger.htm

Tomorrow’s leafleting activities will take place in Los Angeles, the Bay area and the Sacramento area, kicking off a week-long effort across the state. Activists can visit the Alliance for a Better California website, at http://www.betterca.org, for information on joining the effort in their local communities.

Health advocates are encouraged to participate in several media actions on Opening Day, Wednesday, August 31st, at the following locations:
* Los Angeles at the ArcLight Theater, 6360 W. Sunset Blvd. 4:00--5:00pm
* Bay Area/San Francisco: UA Galaxy 4 Theater, 1285 Sutter St. at both 3:00pm and 6:00pm
* Bay Area/Oakland: Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave. at both 3:00pm and 6:00pm
* Sacramento Area/Davis: Signature Davis Stadium 5, 420 G St., in Davis at 5:45pm

For more information about the Proposition 79 campaign, visit the website at http://www.VoteYesOnProp79.com.

Again, to see the The Constant Gouger trailer, visit:
http://www.voteyesonprop79.com/constantgouger.htm

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 8:06 AM


 

Monday, August 29, 2005

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Monday, August 29th, 2005


HEALTH BILLS HEAT UP IN LAST TWO WEEKS OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION

• Hospital Financing the Major Outstanding Issue; Action Needed to Protect Safety-Net Hospitals
• Bills on Children's Health Coverage, Prescription Drugs, Consumer Protections Moving
• Most Bills Survived Appropriations Committee: Floor Votes Scheduled Soon
• Some Bills Making Way to Governor's Desk; Actions Needed to Get Signature

As the legislature races to the close of session on Thursday, September 8, in less than two weeks, health care are taking center stage. The legislature is expected to consider legislation to ratify a Medi-Cal waiver that changes the way hospitals have been funded for decades. Legislators are also expected to pass legislation to expand health coverage to all children, to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and to provide consumer protections for seniors and those purchasing health coverage. Health advocates need to take action on these matters, and on getting key bills signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

HOSPITAL FINANCING

The Medi-Cal hospital waiver remains the major outstanding issue not just in health care but across the board. Intensive meetings are underway to craft legislation that will protect safety net hospitals within the context of a federal waiver that endangers county hospitals and puts private safety net hospitals at risk as well.

In addition to the insufficient funds for public hospitals, which are capped in the later years of the waiver, the waiver also includes a requirement that in order to get $360 million in federal money, the legislature must enact legislation requiring over 400,000 seniors and people with disabilities on Medi-Cal to enroll in managed care, whether they like it or not and whether HMOs are ready to care for people with disabilities or not.

While the Schwarzenegger Administration says that it supports “choice” for Medi-Cal beneficiaries, seniors and people with disabilities on Medi-Cal are now free to enroll in an HMO or to get care on a fee-for-service basis. In contrast, the Orwellian “choice” offered by the Schwarzenegger Administration is to force seniors and people with disabilities into an HMO.

As yet, there is no specific bill number for this legislation. There are eight legislative days left before the end of the session. Much of the proposal will require a two-thirds vote because it must be implemented immediately.

ACTION NEEDED: Health advocates can’t wait for a bill number or a specific legislative author to emerge. Advocates should contact all 120 legislators and Governor Schwarzenegger, to support:
* Adequate Medi-Cal funding for public and private safety net hospitals.
* Additional federal funding for these hospitals
* Protections for seniors and people with disabilities forced into Medi-Cal HMOs, protections such as wheelchair accessibility, sign language interpreters and enough of the right specialists.
* Protections for access for the uninsured who rely on safety net hospitals and who should not be overcharged for hospital care.


COVERAGE EXPANSION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION BILLS

While the hospital financing bill does not have an author or a number, several other bills are making their way through the legislative process. Most of the bills tracked by health advocates that were on suspense in the Appropriations Committee were passed out last week, and they now head for final floor votes, the last hurdles before going to the Governor's desk. Here are some specific issues of note:

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: The Governor already has one bill on his desk sponsored by Health Access California: AB1359 (Chan), which would license prescription drug plans permitted under the Medicare Prescription Drug Act. This helps ensure that seniors get similar consumer protections as those in the HMO Patients' Bill of Rights, including access to timely care and to culturally and linguistically appropriate care.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE: Earlier today, AB356 (Chan) passed the Senate. The bill would require disclosure of the criteria and process for denying individuals health insurance coverage for so-called "pre-exisitng conditions." The bill heads back to the Assembly floor for a final vote before heading to the Governor's desk.

CHILDREN'S COVERAGE: AB772 (Chan/Frommer/Escutia) would expand public health insurance coverage for all California children. AB1199 (Frommer/Chan), creates a fund for the purpose of children’s health coverage.The bill authors, with legislative leadership, have decided to proceed with final floor votes in the Senate and then the Assembly, so that it can be sent to the Governor this year for action.

If AB1199 and AB 772 successfully pass out of the Legislature by the September 9th deadline, the Governor will have until October 9th to sign or veto the bills. Your voice in support of children's health insurance is critical in the coming month. Please write or call the governor to urge him to keep his commitment to covering all kids in California by signing AB772 and AB1199.

COVERAGE EXPANSIONS: Another bill to expand coverage is AB1698 (Nunez), which would expand private coverage for dependents up to age 26, in recognition of older children staying at home longer, and needing health insurance. This bill is heading for a Senate vote.

Two other major bills are being held by their authors until next year: SB437 (Escutia), a companion bill to AB772, which would expand health insurance coverage for all children, will be ready if needed next year. SB840 (Kuehl), the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, which would create a publicly financed system of universal health benefits for every Californian, is being parked in the Assembly Rules Committee until the financing can be worked out.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: Even with two prescription drug ballot measures making headlines, the legislature is considering significant reforms in these areas, with votes on the full floor in these final weeks: AB73 (Frommer, Chan) would create a website with information on affordable prescription drug prices for Californians, facilitating safe and affordable reimportation of drugs from other nations. AB76 (Frommer, Chan) would create an office of pharmaceutical purchasing to purchase prescription drugs for state programs. AB78 (Pavley, Bass) would protect consumers by regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Given the recent headlines about drug safety, a lot of attention has been focused on SB380 (Alquist), which would require reporting of adverse events for prescription drugs. Already on the Governor's desk is SB708 (Speier), which would allow non-profit hospitals to benefit from an existing federal prescription drug discount program and in return would obligate those that benefit to increase charity care by an unspecified amount.

HOSPITAL COSTS: Also scheduled for a floor vote is SB917 (Speier), which would clarify existing law by requiring that the charges for 25 most common inpatient hospital procedures be made public.

STREAMLINING PUBLIC PROGRAMS: Heading for a Senate vote, AB624 (Montanez) would streamline the process for children to enroll into Medi-Cal or Healthy Families through the CHDP gateway, and AB1533 (Bass) would allow individuals who lose Healthy Families coverage due to changes in age or income to enroll in private health insurance without waiting.

INFORMATION ON PUBLIC PROGRAMS: Other bills going to a final floor vote include AB89 (Horton), which would require disclosure of employers of persons dependent on Medi-Cal and Healthy Families; and SB23 (Migden) which would provide information to all employees about the availability of Medi-Cal and Healthy Families.


For all these bills that make it through the legislative process in the next two weeks, health advocates need to urge Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign them. His address is: State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-445-4633

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 1:39 PM


 

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Wednesday, August 24th, 2005


DRUG COMPANIES LAUNCH AD BLITZ FOR MOST EXPENSIVE BALLOT CAMPAIGN EVER

• Two TV Ads Deemed Misleading By Newspapers; $72 Million Raised by PhRMA Breaks Record
• Prop 79 Campaign

Last week, the prescription drug industry launched the most expensive ballot campaign in the history of the nation, by starting to air two television ads across the state.

The ads attack Proposition 79, sponsored by Health Access California and other consumer, senior, and health organization, which would allow the state of California to use its purchasing power to negotiate for the best price for prescription drugs for up to ten million Californians that now pay high retail prices for these medicines. The drug company ads also promote Proposition 78, a counter-measure that provides smaller discounts to fewer people with only the voluntary participation of the drug industry. Both measures will be on the November 2005 special election ballot; if both measures get a majority, the one with the most votes will pre-empt the other.

GET MORE INFO: For more information on Proposition 79, visit the campaign website at:
http://www.VoteYesOnProp79.com

JOIN THE EFFORT: Numerous consumer, senior, labor, community, and health organizations are supporting Proposition 79, including Consumers Union, CalPIRG, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Breast Cancer Action, Congress of California Seniors, California Alliance for Retired Americans, Older Women's League, Senior Action Network, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, and the League of Women Voters of California. To have your organization join the campaign, contact Meg Reeve or Jessica Rothhaar at the Health Access California Oakland Office, at 510-873-8787, or sign up on the website, at:
http://www.voteyesonprop79.com/endorsement.htm

For supporters (or those who are in the process of endorsing the campaign), there will be a coalition meeting this FRIDAY, AUGUST 26th, to discuss the strategy, messaging, and upcoming events and actions. Contact Meg Reeve at 510-873-8787, or Anthony Wright at 916-442-2308 for more information.

THE DRUG MONEY: In the last few months, the drug industry has raised almost $72 million, for the campaign to defeat Proposition 79 in the special election this November 2005. The money raised by the drug companies is significantly more than the previous record holders, a group of wealthy Indian tribes which spent $63.2 million on a California ballot campaign on casino gambling in 1998, and auto insurance companies that spent $65.9 million in California in 1988. These two instances are the only times that state ballot campaign ever broke the $30 million mark. The money that the drug companies are going to spend on this campaign could provide full prescription drug coverage for a year to around 90,000 seniors—enough to fill the Rose Bowl.

THE ADS: The drug companies advertising, seemingly omnipresent on television, launched an aggressive television advertising campaign last week, make many misleading statements about the proposition. Three California newspapers, including the Sacramento Bee, the Orange County Register, and the San Francisco Chronicle, have delved into the facts, and concluded that the ads are designed to disguise the truth and mislead California voters. The Proposition 79 campaign website has an "Ad Watch" that rebuts the claims of the advertisements, at:
http://www.voteyesonprop79.com/ads.htm

THE COVERAGE: The national media has taken notice of this effort to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, including the New York Times, USA Today, CNN, and other outlets. In order to see how the media is reporting on this campaign, visit the media archive on the website, at:
http://www.voteyesonprop79.com/news/index.htm

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 1:21 PM


 

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Tuesday, August 9th, 2005


LEGISLATURE COMES BACK NEXT WEEK WITH FULL HEALTH AGENDA

• Children's Coverage, Consumer Protections, Prescription Drugs on Agenda for Final Month
• Bills Have Final Hurdles Before Reaching Governor's Desk by September 9th
• Hospital Financing Waiver Hearings on August 16th on Mandatory Managed Care Requirement

Here in Sacramento, many legislative staff and lobbyists are taking vacations, and those that are here are often in their casual clothes. This is a rare summer hiatus, occasioned by the relatively early resolution to the budget. But this is merely the calm before the storm, since the legislature comes back into full swing next Monday, August 15th, for a final month of action, through September 9th.

FINAL LEGISLATIVE HURDLE AWAITS: Many bills of interest to health advocates are active and pending in the legislature, most awaiting a last vote in Appropriations Committee before going before the floor of the second house. In the next month, legislators will scramble to pass their bills out of both houses of the legislature before the deadline to get them to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk, September 9th, when their recess until next year is scheduled to start.

MANY ACTIVE HEALTH BILLS: The active health bills pending include legisaltion big and small, on expanding health coverage for children, young adults, and all Californians; providing consumer protections for those buying individual health coverage or in a new Medicare prescription drug plan; addressing the rising cost of prescription drugs; providing more information around the use of public insurance programs by working families; streamlining public insurance programs so more people get the coverage they need; and disclosing more information about hospital charges and costs. These bills are listed BELOW, and are also listed on our website, at:
http://www.health-access.org/advocating/2005_bills.htm

STALLED BILLS, FOR NEXT YEAR: Many other bills, including those of interest to health advocates, have stalled at one point in the process or another, and were not able to pass the first house, or the policy committee in the second house. These bills, including important consumer protections around hospital overcharging and out-of-pocket costs, are now "two-year bills," and are available to move only next year, the second year of the two-year legislative session. For a list of these proposals, including those bills that health advocates successfully stopped, visit the Health Access website, at:
http://www.health-access.org/advocating/stalled2005_bills.htm


HOSPITAL FINANCING: Perhaps the most profound and controversial bill on access to health care for the next month is one that has yet to be written, much less authored. The issue of hospital financing will be the focus of much activity by both health budget and policy committees, as they considered the Medi-Cal waiver negotiated between the Schwarzenegger Administration and the Bush Administration. Despite opposition and concerns from public and private hospitals as well as advocates, the state Department of Health Services agreed to a waiver that would fundamentally change the 15-year old formula for the way hospitals are funded.

The Governor’s proposal freezes Medi-Cal funding for public hospitals while creating an uncertain future for private hospitals that accept Medi-Cal patients. Many hospitals have been worried that they won't be able to draw down the federal money needed to stay open. Yet in order to bring in any federal money for hospitals, the Governor is forcing the Legislature to pass a bill to implement this waiver by the end of the session. For more information on this waiver, take a look at the Health Access testimony on the subject last month, on our website:
http://www.health-access.org/preserving/hospital_financing_waiver.htm

HEARING ON MANDATORY MANAGED CARE: In addition, the federal government has placed conditions on the waiver, including the adoption of mandatory managed care for seniors and people with disabilities, which was rejected by the Legislature earlier in the year. The proposal for mandatory managed care is the subject of an informational hearing for NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 16th, by the joint Assembly and Senate Health Committees and Budget Subcommittees on Health.


HEALTH ACCESS SPONSORED BILLS: Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, has two active bills that are on track to being sent to the Governor's desk. They include:

* CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE: AB356 (Chan), which would require disclosure of the criteria and process for denying individuals health insurance coverage. This would provide more information for those in the individual insurance market, who may have "pre-existing conditions" that prevent them from getting needed coverage.

* CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS: AB1359 (Chan), which would license prescription drug plans permitted under the Medicare Prescription Drug Act. This would ensure that senior continue to enjoy the consumer protections, from network adequancy to cultural and lingustic access, that other Californian HMO consumers have.

Health Access is also sponsoring some two-year bills, including AB774 (Chan), which would provide hospital patients basic consumer and financial protections and protect self-pay hospital patients from being charged more than the insured; AB977 (Nava), which would require the Department of Insurance and the Department of Managed Health Care to review and approve out of pocket costs for consumers in a public process with specific standards; and AB1111 (Frommer), which would help to provide consumer choice in the individual health insurance market. Health Access California plans to actively work to pass these bills in 2006.

OTHER IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE BILLS: Many consumer, health, and community organizations, including Health Access California and others, are working on a full agenda of legislation to move to the Governor's desk. Below are the bills that are currently active:

COVERAGE EXPANSION

SB437 (Escutia), which would expand and protect health insurance coverage for children in order to assure that all California children have the opportunity to have health insurance coverage.

AB772 (Chan) which would expand and protect health insurance coverage for children in order to assure that all California children have the opportunity to have health insurance coverage.

AB1199 (Frommer/Chan), which was originally on individual insurance reform. It has since been amended to create a fund for the purpose of children’s health coverage.

AB1698 (Nunez), which would expand private coverage for dependents up to age 26.

SB840 (Kuehl), the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, which would create a publicly financed system of universal health benefits for every Californian.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

AB73 (Frommer, Chan), which would create a website with information on affordable prescription drug prices for Californians, including information about reimporting drugs from other countries.

AB76 (Frommer, Chan), which would create an office of pharmaceutical purchasing to purchase prescription drugs for state programs.

AB78 (Pavley, Bass) which would protect consumers by regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

SB380 (Alquist), which would require reporting of adverse events for prescription drugs.

SB708 (Speier) which as proposed to be amended would allow non-profit hospitals to benefit from an existing federal prescription drug discount program and in return would obligate those that benefit to increase charity care by an unspecified amount.

EMPLOYER DISCLOSURE

AB89 (Horton), which would require disclosure of employers of persons dependent on Medi-Cal and Healthy Families.

SB23 (Migden) which would provide information to all employees about the availability of Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. Health Access California seeks amendments to alter the provisions that would allow automatic deduction of Healthy Families premiums from paychecks because of privacy concerns.

STREAMLINING OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS

AB624 (Montanez), which would streamline the process for children to enroll into Medi-Cal or Healthy Families through the CHDP gateway.

AB1533 (Bass) would allow individuals who lose Healthy Families coverage due to changes in age or income to enroll in private health insurance without waiting.

SB496 (Kuehl), which would allow school districts to draw down more federal funds for Medicaid activities.

HOSPITAL OVERSIGHT

AB1045 (Frommer) would clarify existing law by requiring that charges for the 25 most common inpatient hospital procedures and the 25 most common outpatient procedures be made public.

SB917 (Speier) which as introduced would clarify existing law by requiring that the charges for 25 most common inpatient hospital procedures be made public.

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 9:11 AM


 

Friday, August 05, 2005

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Friday, August 5th, 2005

BALLOT FIGHT OVER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS HEATS UP

• Drug Companies Contribute Nearly $60 Million, on Track to Break National Record
• Prop 79 Website Launched: Deeper, Enforceable Discounts for Twice as Many Californians

On Monday, August 1st, the prescription drugs companies filed paperwork about their expenditures around two ballot measures, Propositions 78 & 79, that will appear on the November 2005 special election ballot. These newly-released figures show that the drug companies have contributed almost $60 million dollars to their efforts to defeat a consumer group-backed Prop 79 measure to provide enforceable discounts to millions of Californias, and to support their alternative version, Prop 78, that lacks enforcement and offers smaller discounts to fewer people.

In order for Prop 79 to become law, it needs to get a majority of votes and get more votes than the competing Prop 78.

In press accounts, the drug companies have said they will spend "whatever it takes." Some drug companies, including Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer, gave over $8.5 million, which may be the single largest contributions in state ballot measure history. This level of campaign fundraising has backfired, attracting significant attention from the media around the country, from the Los Angeles Times to the New York Times.

While the consumer, senior and health group supporters of Prop. 79 do not have as much money, they have launched a website, which includes fact sheets, media clips, and the ability to join the campaign as an organization or an individual. Health advocates are invited to endorse the measure and to get involved in the campaign. THe website is at:
http://www.VoteYesOnProp79.com

The drug companies have launched their own website on the ballot campaign, at:
http://www.calrxnow.com

BELOW are some basic facts on Proposition 79, also available as a printable fact sheet at the Health Access California website. Also available at the website is a chart comparing the basic differences between Prop 78 & 79, including who the supporters are, the enforcement (or lack thereof), the level of discounts, and the number of Californians eligible:
http://www.health-access.org/providing/calrxplus.htm

---

Prop 79: Deeper, Enforceable Discounts for Twice as Many Californians.

There are two prescription drug measures on the ballot: Proposition 78, sponsored by drug companies and Proposition 79, sponsored by consumer, senior and health organizations. The pharmaceutical industry has pledged to spend “whatever it takes” to defeat Prop. 79, launching what could be the most expensive initiative campaign in California history.Here’s why:

Prop. 79: Enforceable, Not Voluntary, Discounts By Drug Companies

Prop. 78 is completely voluntary for drug companies: they are free to choose whether or not to offer discounts. California has tried a voluntary drug discount plan before. The pharmaceutical industry refused to participate so the program dissolved in 2001. Prop. 79 has an enforcement mechanism. If a drug company refuses to provide discounts, the state can shift business away from that company and buy more from other drug companies that offer discounts.

Prop. 79: Discounts to Twice as Many Californians

Between 8 and 10 million Californians will be eligible for discounts under Prop. 79 – twice as many as under Prop. 78, including: Californians with catastrophic medical expenses who spend at least five percent of their income on medical expenses; The uninsured who earn up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($64,360 for a family of three); Californians on Medicare for drug costs not fully covered by Medicare; Seniors, the chronically ill and others with inadequate drug coverage through private insurers or their employer.

Prop. 79: California Would Use Its Purchasing Power to Get The Best Price

Americans pay more for their prescriptions than consumers in many wealthy nations, in part because these other governments negotiate discounts from the drug industry on behalf of their citizens. California does something similar through Medi-Cal, negotiating discounts of 50 percent and more, saving taxpayers $5 billion in the last 10 years. Prop. 79 builds on this success, using the same mechanism to negotiate these discounts for eligible Californians. As a result, consumers will pay less out of their own pockets for prescriptions at the expense of the drug companies, not taxpayers. Under Prop. 79, eligible Californians would get a drug discount card to present to their pharmacist to receive discounts of up to 50 percent or more.

Prop 79: Would Save Patients, Taxpayers and Employers Money

By making affordable drugs more accessible to more people than Prop. 78, fewer people would fall onto Medi-Cal or other public programs, and need to use taxpayer-funded emergency rooms. Prop. 79 can reduce employers' health premiums by authorizing a new purchasing pool to reduce drug prices for employer-paid coverage.

Prop. 79: Backed by Health, Senior and Consumer Advocacy Organizations

Dozens of health, senior and consumer advocacy groups representing thousands of Californians are supporting Proposition 79. These groups include: Health Access California, Consumers Union, California Association of Retired Americans, the League of Women Voters of California, and many others.

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 9:52 AM


 

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2005


POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT HEALTH ACCESS

• Campaign Organizer for Prescription Drug Initiative, Oakland
• Regional Organizer to Staff Health Access' Los Angeles Office
• Health Policy Coordinator on Medicare and Other Consumer Issues, Sacramento Office

*** Please distribute these job announcements widely for these positions working for a small, effective, high-profile, and energetic nonprofit organization, committeed to advancing the goal of quality, affordable health care for all Californians. ***


* Campaign Organizer, Oakland: Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition. is seeking an organizer with experience to start ASAP through November 2005 on a campaign to win fair prescription drug prices for uninsured and underinsured Californians. Based in Oakland, the organizer would help coordinate media events, speakers bureau, and other grassroots activities for a camapign with national profile and impact. Please send resumes and cover letters to jobs@health-access.org.


Two permanent positions are also available at the Health Access Foundation, which is currently interviewing intelligent and experience applicants, but is still accepting applications. Full job descriptions are available at our website, at:
http://www.health-access.org/jobopps.htm

* Regional Organizer, Los Angeles: This Los Angeles-based regional organizer will coordinate coalitions, campaigns, actions, and events in the effort to defend and expand access to health care. This experienced organizer will staff our Los Angeles office, and coordinate our Southern California activities, to prevent severe state and federal budget cuts in Medi-Cal and other health programs, to expand health coverage to the uninsured, and to win consumer protections in the arenas of prescription drugs, HMO’s, hospital billing and out of pocket expenses. http://www.health-access.org/jobopps.htm#org

* Health Policy Coordinator, Sacramento: A new position, a health policy coordinator would track and analyze health care policy developments, to help coordinate advocacy activities in Sacramento, and to write fact sheets, summaries and reports for use by our coalition members. The position would have key responsibility to coordinate advocacy around the Medicare and prescription drug issues, but would also work on the dynamic Health Access agenda of expanding health coverage to the uninsured, preserving access to care against state and federal budget cuts, and winning key health care consumer protections.
http://www.health-access.org/jobopps.htm#pol

Cover letters and resumes for all positions should be sent via E-mail to jobs@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 9:32 AM


 

Digging a bigger whole for reform...

 

Scoring at home...

 

We are hiring, to make a difference...

 

Field Poll: strong opposition to the health cuts.....

 

An Unhealthy Trend

 

Dressing up the Individual (Market)

 

A great debate on the great divide...

 

Jones to be chair of Health Committee...

 

Bass on the budget...

 

Pretty soon, the insureable will be a pretty exclu...