The Alliance to Defend Health Care

The Alliance to Defend Health Care is dedicated to creating a reformed health care system that meets the needs of patients and communities and supports health professionals in providing high quality care. We formed in 1997 to counter the increasing "commodification of health care" and are engaged in outreach, education, and advocacy for health care reform.

1. Chapter 58, the new law mandating individual purchase of private insurance:

While the Alliance applauds that people of such diverse constituencies all recognize the imperative to make comprehensive health insurance coverage universal, we are compelled to point out that Chap 58 falls far short of its stated goal and harms patients and entire communities. Consumers Union senior health policy staff critiques the bill. Details of the law including major implementation items and timeline are in our Advocacy Section. See Boston Globe 1/07opinion piece "Insurance law far from cure"

> First mainstream media piece to take a critical look at details of MA law "Lost in the Labryinth", Boston Globe, Page A2, by Sam Allis, March 30, 2008

>Attorney speaks truth to power in his article "Fraud in the Guise of Health Reform"

2. The Patient Safety Act is re-filed. Proposed legislation to establish minimum staffing ratios of registered nurses to patients passed overwhelmingly in the House last session but the Senate chose not to vote on it. Quality care and patient safety rely on this bill becoming law. Please learn more and get involved to support this effort. For an update on the California RN-to-Patient ratio law enacted in 2004 click here.

3. MA legislators are joined by the state Supreme Judicial Court to deny citizens health care amendment a final vote on its merits. For background on this landmark citizen-led effort to establish health care as a recognized right visit the campaign website. To get a sense of the betrayal done to citizen activists and to our entire democractic process by state politicians read this Op-Ed "Hypocrisy on Beacon Hill"

Events and Advocacy Items

3rd Tues. each month 4-5:30 pm Jobs with Justice Health Care Action Committee & Mass-Care Boston Chapter monthly meeting. The Alliance is a long-time participant in this labor-community reform coalition. Current projects are numerous. Meet at MassCare offices, 33 Harrison Ave, Boston MA, 5th floor. For more information please contact Yirgalem at Jobs with Justice (617)524-8778 or yirgalem@massjwj.net .

3rd Fri. each month 7 pm Liberation Health Group monthly meeting Recent topics: report back from the recent U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta which over 10,000 activists attended. For more info. on the activities of the U.S. Social Forum visit ussf2007.org

Commonwealth Connector Contraption was created by the 2006 Chapter 58 health insurance law. Connector Board Meetings are held every other Thursday at 9AM, at 1 Ashburton Place. Public attendance and input are allowed. Board meeting minutes
are public documents and posted online. The 10-person Connector Board votes to approve or to reject proposed implementation and regulations of the new law.

Quality and Cost Council created in Chap 58 health law. Public meetings held at 1 Ashburton Place, 21st floor. This council is a new state creation with the charge to identify health system changes with the potential to lower costs and improve quality.

Universal Healthcare Congressional Process ongoing as part of the National Citizens' Health Care Working Group on reforming the U.S. health care system. Learn more about what Congress and the President must do to respond to the American people's input on this issue. HR 676 the "Improved Medicare For All"legislation would be a good place to start!

National Institute of Medicine's 5 guiding principles to judge health system reforms:

1. Health care coverage should be universal.
2. Health care coverage should be continuous.
3. Health care coverage should be affordable to individuals and families.
4. The health insurance strategy should be affordable and sustainable to society.
5. Health care coverage should enhance health and well-being by promoting access to high-quality care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, patient-centered, and equitable. Click here for the Press Release and link to full IOM Report

Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut. Whose mission is: "To serve as a catalyst that engages people and communities in shaping a health system that provides universal access to quality health care and promotes health in Connecticut. We believe that health care is a fundamental right and that our work is part of a broader movement for social and economic justice.". They fund the CT statewide campaign www.healthcare4every1.org that could be a model for MA!!

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care (LCGHC) is a clearinghouse and umbrella coordinating organization for groups promoting comprehensive reform legislation to guarantee health care for all Americans. Despite spending twice as much as other industrialized nations, our mostly private health insurance system performs poorly. One third of every health care dollar is taken up by paperwork and other administrative costs of private insurance that have little to do with addressing disease or injury. Poor health and poor health care hold down the U.S. economy and reduce productivity. A guaranteed health care program patterned after Medicare can provide coverage for all, while at the same time saving close to $300 billion per year.

Healthcare-Now! is a community-based organization with its home office in NYC whose mottos are: "Pay Less-Get More" and "Everybody In-Nobody Out." Over the past two years they have helped to convene hundreds of community hearings. Learn more and sign their petition that reads... "Be it Resolved That: We call on our members of Congress to pass HR 676 so our people and our nation can have the excellent health care system we deserve. Health care is a human right, and we call on our members of Congress to recognize that right."

In 2005, the Alliance to Defend Health Care joined with Healthcare-Now! and many MA groups to convene events to show support for H.R. 676, the National Medicare for All legislation. These included a 9/1/05 Faneuil Hall Town Meeting on Universal Healthcare with Congressmen John Tierney, Maurice Hinchey, State Senator Dianne Wilkerson and others was a great success. To learn and see more: Visit Boston IndyMedia for final press release and event photos

Research Projects

Safe Nurse Staffing Saves Lives
A statewide survey of 600 Massachusetts RNs find them in agreement with the recent results of the Ad Hoc CDHC's own survey on professional satisfaction; findings indicate professional agreement that lower nurse-to-patient ratios lead to higher patient mortality, professional burnout and retention problems.

Bringing Caregivers Together with the Public

to Advocate for Quality Health Care for All

Events and Advocacy Items

Research Projects

Copyright © 2003-2006, The Alliance to Defend Health Care


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	The Alliance to Defend Health Care 1534 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120 Phone: 617-541-3300
Copyright © 2003-2006, The Alliance to Defend Health Care