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Media Release |
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| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| Tuesday, July 8, 2008 | Ev Liebman | 856-966-3091 ext. 201 |
| Eve Weissman | 856-966-3091 ext. 205 |
$40 Million Health Care Campaign to Launch in New Jersey and Nationwide
Community Leaders in New Jersey Join Together to Push for Quality, Affordable Health Care for Every American
Trenton, NJ — July 8, 2008 — Today, in Trenton and in 52 other cities across the country, including 37 state capitals, a new national campaign is bringing together millions of Americans to demand quality, affordable health care for all. Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is being launched by 95 national and local groups that represent labor, community organizations, doctors, nurses, women, small businesses, faith-based organizations, people of color, netroots activists, and think tanks. Health Care for America Now is organizing to assure that the first order of business of the next President and Congress is to pass legislation in 2009 that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all.
Health Care for America Now is an unprecedented coalition led by ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn, National Education Association, National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, SEIU, United Food and Commercial Workers, and USAction.
"In 2009, we will either have a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on or we will continue to be at the mercy of the private health insurance industry that is charging us more, giving us less and putting company profits before our health," said Ev Liebman, Director of Organizing and Advocacy for NJ Citizen Action. "Here in Trenton and in communities all across the country, we're asking one question, 'Which side are you on?' Are you on the side of quality, affordable health care? Or are you on the side of being left alone to fend for yourself in a complicated, bureaucratic insurance market?"
Starting today, the campaign is spending an initial $1.5 million on national television, print, and online advertising and is sending out an email blast to more than 5 million people. Over the next five months, Health Care for America Now plans to spend $25 million in paid media and have 100 organizers in 45 states.
"When insurance companies are able to refuse to cover certain conditions, deny claims or demand deep discounts from hospitals, while paying exorbitant amounts to unregulated surgery centers, the results are severe financial hardships on hospitals and patients alike," said Jeanne Oterson, Public Policy Director for the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), the largest union of registered nurses and health care professionals in New Jersey. "Every nurse and healthcare professional enters their profession to provide quality care and healing to their patients — but without choice, oversight, and standards of care — we can no longer live up to our own ideals. The shortage of nurses and healthcare workers is really about no longer being able to work under deteriorating conditions that make it near impossible to serve our patients well. That's why HPAE has joined HealthCare for America Now - now can't come too soon."
Health Care for America Now offers a bold new vision for health care reform: Americans can keep the private insurance they have, join a new private insurance plan, or choose a public health insurance plan. The campaign also calls for a government role in setting and enforcing rules on the insurance industry which consistently charges whatever it wants, sets high deductibles, denies coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and drops coverage when people get sick.
"We know this fight won't be easy. There are strong and powerful interests who will oppose us - interests that profit handsomely from the way things are now. These interests, like the insurance companies, have been obstacles to reform before," said Rex Reid, Political Director of AFSCME Council One.
Reverend Bruce Davidson, Director of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries; Dr. Snehal Bhatt, NJ Vice President of the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU; John Glasel, Secretary of Health Care for All/NJ; Milly Silva, President of SEIU Local 1199 and SEIU NJ State Council; and Jodi Godfrey a frustrated health care consumer and Chair of BlueWaveNJ's Health Care Committee also spoke at today's press conference, joined by a broad and diverse coalition of organizations from across the State including Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton, Gray Panthers of South Jersey, NJ Appleseed Public Interest Law Center, Next Step, RWDSU-UFCW Local 108, NJ Working Families Alliance, Middlesex County & Hudson County Monday Morning Network, the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), and the NJ West Hudson Valley Council Union for Reform Judaism.
Health Care for America Now started with a financial commitment of at least $500,000 from each of the 13 steering committee members and a $10 million grant from NY-based Atlantic Philanthropies.
Health Care for America Now ("HCAN"), a section 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization, is a broad coalition of nonprofit and political organizations that are working to promote quality, affordable health care for all Americans. HCAN and each of its members conducts and funds only activities appropriate to its tax and election law status.
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New Jersey Citizen Action is the State's largest, independent citizen watchdog coalition, working to protect and expand the rights of individuals and families and to ensure that government officials respond to the needs of people rather than the interests of those with money and power. Through organizing campaigns that promote economic, social, racial and political justice, NJCA encourages the active involvement of New Jersey residents in challenging the public and private institutions and agencies that impact our lives.
