HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
HEALTH ACCESS FORUM THURSDAY:
Learned Lessons, Future Prospects for State and Federal Reform
* “Many Paths, One Goal: Toward Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Californians.”
* State Reform Prospects from Incoming Sen. Pres. Steinberg, Assm. Health Chair Jones
* RSVP for Nov. 20th Forum with All-Stars of Seasoned Vets, Obama Advisors
* Tickets Available; Comped Tickets Available for Health Advocates, Community Groups
* Panel includes: Rick Brown, Wilma Chan, Jacob Hacker, Larry Levitt, and Robert Phillips
* Reception to Honor Past Leaders & History of Health Access and CA health advocacy
* Honorees: Lois Salisbury, Maryann O’Sullivan, Bruce Livingston, Melinda Paras
Click Here for What’s New on the Health Access WeBlog: Healthy Families Up for a Waiting List; The Economic Impact of Bad Budget Cuts; Obama’s Health Reform Mandate; Dr. Stephen Colbert on Drug Costs; New Info on the Baucus Plan; Kennedy Moves on Federal Health Reform
There’s lots going on with federal health reform: Senator Ted Kennedy has returned to the Hill, vowing to work on health reform; Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus released the outlines of a health reform plan; and President-elect Obama has reiterated his commitment. At the state level, there’s significant health care cuts on the table, and increased calls for federal help, whether through increased Medicaid matching funds or increased SCHIP funds.
To celebrate 20 years of health advocacy and, more importantly, prepare for these challenges and new opportunities of the next few years, Health Access will be hosting a forum and reception on Thursday, November 20th, in Sacramento. With an election that has opened up new possibilities for health reform and more, we will seek to honor the history of health reform in California and learn its lessons, but also get the latest from top experts about the propects for state and federal reform.
We invite you to join us at our 20th Anniversary Event, on Thursday, Thursday, November 20th, at the Sacramento Convention Center, starting with a 2pm forum and a 4:30pm reception. You can buy tickets with the official form on our website.
Health advocates and community organizations can get comped tickets, by request, to Marin Nakasone, mbogema@health-access.org.
The program, entitled “Many Paths, One Goal: Moving Toward Quality Affordable Health Care for All Californians” starts at 2pm, with an impressive program of speakers, including incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and incoming Assembly Health Committee Chair Dave Jones, who may share their future goals.
A panel of distinguished California-based experts with national reputations will speak, including UCLA professor Rick Brown; former Assemblywoman Wilma Chan of Children Now; UC-Berkeley professor Jacob Hacker; Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Robert Phillips of The California Endowment. Some have advised President-elect Obama on health issues, others were advisors of President Clinton during his effort, and all are veterans of past health reform efforts, and expected to be active participants in the upcoming state and national debates.
Afterwards, we will have a reception that will honor past heads of our organization, including Lois Salisbury, Maryann O’Sullivan, Bruce Livingston, and Melinda Paras, leaders who helped nurture and build Health Access as an organization, and the broader health reform movement, and who each have had broader careers advancing social justice in multiple ways. A full program is available on the Health Access website, as well as a form to buy tickets.
Beyond recognizing the past work of the organization and the broader health advocacy community, our discussion will restart efforts at the state and federal level around the budget, consumer protections, and comprehensive health reform. Please join us.
Many Paths, One Goal:
Moving Toward Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Californians
Date: November 20, 2008
Location: Sacramento Convention Center
1400 J Street, Sacramento CA
Ballroom 314-315
Forum
2PM – 4PM
A discussion about the future of health care reform in California and the nation
Featured Speakers:
The Honorable Darrell Steinberg
Senate President pro Tempore-elect
The Honorable Dave Jones
Prospective Chair, California State Assembly Committee on Health
Guest Panelists:
E. Richard Brown, Ph.D.
Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research;
Professor, UCLA School of Public Health;
Principle Investigator, California Health Interview Survey
Wilma Chan
Vice President, Policy, Children Now;
Former Chair of the California State Assembly Committee on Health
Jacob Hacker, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science, UC Berkeley;
Author, The Great Risk Shift
Larry Levitt
Vice President, Media and Public Education,
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation; Editor-in-chief, kaisernetwork.org
Robert Phillips, M.P.A., M.P.H.
Senior Program Officer, The California Endowment
Reception
4:30PM – 6PM
Honoring past leaders of Health Access including
Lois Salisbury – Health Access Founding Chair
Director of the Children, Families, and Communities Program,
The David & Lucille Packard Foundation
Maryann O’Sullivan – Health Access Founding Executive Director, 1987-93
Founder, Preschool California
Independent Consultant
Bruce Livingston – Health Access Executive Director, 1995 –99
Executive Director, Marin Institute
Melinda Paras – Health Access Executive Director, 1999 –2002
President and CEO, Paras and Associates Interpreter Systems