Coming Events
Mon, June 3rd, 5pm - PNHP Webinar on the Harms of Medicare Advantage
Mon, June 3rd, 6pm - PNHPWA Combine May and June Monthly Meetings
May Calendar
June Calendar
Remembering
Dr. George Martin
George M. Martin, M.D. passed away on December 17, 2022 at the age of 95. A renowned geroscientist, George was devoted to nurturing the next generation of physicians and scientists. He was equally passionate about the need for universal health care and was an active member of the Washington Chapter of PNHP.
The George M. Martin Student Scholarship Fund provides financial support for medical students to participate in PNHP conferences and events, in the belief and hope that the next generation of physicians will realize the vision of a national health care plan that provides health care for all.
Donate to the GM Student Scholarship Fund Here
So far, more than $20,000 has been donated
PNHP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your donation to this scholarship fund is tax-deductible; our tax ID# is 04-2937697.
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HJM is a blog that replaces Don McCanne's Quote of the Day. It arrives in your mailbox 2-3 times/week focusing on an issue or recent report of current interest, with commentary by Don and other health policy experts.
Read recent HJM's here
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State Organizations
advocating for
Health Care
is a Human Right
...
-Health Care is a Human Right - Washington
-Vermont Workers Center
-Health Care for All Oregon
-Maine People's Alliance
-Whole Washington
Organizations advocating for single payer, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All in Western Washington
*Health Care for All -WA
*Progressive Democrats of America
*Health Care is a Human Right - WA
*United for National HealthCare - Bellingham
*Socialist Alternative
*Washington Community Action Network
*Backbone Campaign
*Whole Washington
Coalition Partners
Health Care is a Human Right -
Washington
Get Activist's Toolkit
Washington Against Nuclear Weapons
Information
Dr. Gerald Friedman's economic analysis of how a state single plan would affect our state
Right click to download Hi-Resolution copy
New WHST PowerPoint
Download
It's Time to Add Your Voice
Since 1987 Physicians for a National Health Program has advocated for reform in the U.S. health care system. A large part of our work involves mobilizing physicians, other health care workers, and the general public to actively advocate for enactment of a national, comprehensive, high quality, non-profit, publicly-funded health care system serving all residents of the United States.
Please Note Change in usual PNHPWA May and June Monthly Meetings. On June 3rd, PNHP national is putting on a national webinar in conjunction of the release of its landmark new study on how Medicare Advantage harms both seniors and providers. This work will be released toward the end of May & we will notify you where you can read it before the webinar.
Shortly after the national webinar concludes, PNHPWA will have a chapter meeting to discuss what we just heard. You can register here. These meetings will consolidate our May and June Monthly Meetings.Monday, June 3rd, 5:00pm PNHP Webinar
"Taking Advantage: How Corporate Health Insurers HARM America's Seniors"
Delays. Denials. Unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Everywhere people with so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans turn, they encounter barriers to the care they need—and the care their physicians have prescribed. Join us to learn about the many ways that corporate health insurers harm seniors and people with disabilities—and how YOU can fight back.
Our program includes:
* Sen. Elizabeth Warren urging advocates (and her fellow legislators) to stand up and reclaim Medicare as a public program
* Dr. Ed Weisbart presenting a new report on the harm caused by Medicare Advantage corporations, researched by Physicians for a National Health Program
* Personal stories of patients and physicians who have been harmed by Medicare Advantage corporationsWe’ll also have suggestions on how YOU can take action to end the abuses of corporate health insurance, dramatically improve the traditional Medicare program, and put the U.S. on a path to a Medicare-for-All system that brings everybody in and leaves nobody out.
Healthcare Not Warfare Town Halls
Spearheaded by WA Physicians for Social Responsibility, PNHPWA and other organizations will be co-sponsoring a number of Town Halls around the state to discuss how endless military spending is taking funds away from health care and the social determinants of health. The first meetings took place in Olympia on April 25th and Tacoma on May 4. Seattle will have the Town Hall on Saturday, June 1, 2pm, at the Plymouth Church, 1217 6th Ave, with other locations to be determined.
New - PNHP National Calendar - click here to see what other PNHP chapters are offering online in terms of webinars - such as the PNHP NY Metro Chapter meeting, May 14th, 4:30pm PDT, on "On the Rise: Doctors Unionizing and Organizing for Single Payer"
Past Events
April 10th - Health Care for ALL WA 2nd Wednesday Series
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
Susan McLaughlin, Ph.D
King County voters approved an initiative to improve crisis care in April 2023. Susan McLaughlin, Ph.D., the new Director of the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division of the King County Department of Community and Human Services, led a discussion on implementing this plan for a network of crisis care centers, the stabilization of residential treatment centers, and strengthening the behavioral health workforce. The King County Council is finalizing the legislative process to implement this plan. We got a front row seat to learn about the purpose and strategies to improve access, equity, and workforce diversity in order to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the people in our community
Check HCFAWA website for video
April 17th, PNHPWA Monthly Meeting
"Corporate Power and Oligarchy: How Our Democracy Can Prevail Over Authoritarianism and Fascism"John Geyman, MD
We were honored to have John discuss his latest book - "Corporate Power and Oligarchy: How Our Democracy Can Prevail Over Authoritarianism and Fascism," just released in time to use in this critically important time in our nation's history, with the election looming in November. We had attendees from many states and a lively discussion around how to achieve Improved Medicare for All, its roadblocks and how important this upcoming election will be.
You can watch the meeting here and can jump to meeting sections here: Start - 03:00:00; Recent PNHPWA Activities - 03:01:29; John's Talk - 03:09:59; Q&A/Discussion - 03:33:33
Links mentioned in the meeting:
https://www.ourhealth.pub; https://www.movetoamend.org; https://www.psara.org (download Pamphlet "Give Us a Real Choice"); https://www.movement.vote
March 20th PNHPWA Monthly Meeting
California Lifetime Care Health ActWilliam Bronston, MD
Bill has been organising for tons of health and social justice projects back to his medical school days at USC when he helped start the Student Health Organization, that developed chapters in several medical schools across the US.
Returning to California in 1975, he was appointed Medical Director of Developmental Disabilities of the California Department of Health, serving till retirement.
Bill is now devoting his time in organising to pass legislation in California. He talked about his current efforts in developing a single payer that he and 40 others from around the country have been putting together over the past several months that can be used for legislation to ensure everyone has life time single payer health care. You can see the results on the OurHealth.Pub website that describes CALTCHA - the California Life Time Care Health Act. In fact, the California Nurses Ass'n just introduced the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act (AB 2200) that took many features of the CALTCHA platform.
Bill's current total focus is "to establish the comprehensive transformation of our corporate market system with the most imaginative and democratic population based health care policy model – see http://www.ourhealth.pub
There was lots in the presentation and Q&A/Discussion about what we can do now in Washington State.
Watch video of meeting
PSARA Webinar - April 2nd
Fear and Loathing on the Way to Leveling the Playing Field
Where are we now in the fight to preserve Medicare and stop the corporate takeover? What are the next steps we need to take in 2024?
National experts discussed these questions and more. Panelists included: Dr. Ed Weisbart – National Board Secretary of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP); Wendell Potter – Editor-in-Chief of HEALTH CARE un-covered, an outstanding source of information on the profit-driven practices of the insurance industry. Rose Roach – former Executive Director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, she presently serves as the National Coordinator for the Labor Campaign for Single Payer Healthcare; David Lipschutz – Associate Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA), based in CMA’s Washington DC office., and Spencer Carnes – Organizer with Be a Hero, a health care justice organization
Watch Video here
March 6th - Rally on Olympia North Capital Steps for Health Care for All
Our Rally for Universal Health Care on the Capital steps was a big success with over 120 folks attending. On this next to last day of the legislative session come show your support for high quality universal health care! We joined together to celebrate legislative victories that move our st
ate toward a system that is affordable, equitable, and accessible to all Washington residents.
Speakers included Sens. Hasegawa and Kuderer along with other leaders in the Universal Health Care Movement - including representatives of labor organizations, women’s rights groups, civil rights organizations, immigrant and refugee organizations, faith communities, community health boards, Democratic LD organizations, healthcare professionals, and legal advocacy groups. Hugh Foy, PNHPWA and PNHP National Board Member spoke for Improved Medicare for All and against its privatization. This is the first time that a wide array of organizations have rallied to call for universal health care, a step towards building grassroots awareness of our state-wide movement for universal health care.
You can watch a video of Hugh's talk here and the entire rally here
March 13th - Health Care for All - WA Second Wed Series
The State of Behavioral Health Care for Youth"
Max Lai who serves as the Health and Economic Justice Policy Manager for the Children's Alliance broke down the current state of youth behavioral health in WA State, regarding racial and wealth equity, and where he sees legislative opportunities in 2024. Check for Video here
PNHP Celebrates 35 Years of Activism
Since 1988, PNHP has been organizing so that everyone in the US has the health care they need. Watch this 5 minute video reflecting that 35 years of activism.
More Past EventsDec 13th, 5:15pm - Health Care is a Human Right WA - General Meeting
We discussed legislative prioritie. The meeting highlighted victories and lessons learned along with taking a good look at next steps. There was a budget report and vote on HCHRWA's 2024 Policy Agenda.
Dec 4th - PSARA Webinar - "Is Medicare Advantage Preying on People of Color?"Dr. Claudia Fegan, Chief Medical Officer of Cook County Health in Chicago, discussed the impact of Medicare Advantage on racial disparities in health care outcomes and access to health care services for Medicare beneficiaries. Dr. Fegan, an internal medicine physician, is Immediate Past President of the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group in Illinois, which is committed to building health equity in our health care system. She is also the Treasurer and National Coordinator of Physicians for a National Health Program. Click Here to Watch the Webinar
PNHP-WA Wednesday, November Meeting and Monthly Report
"Reclaiming Medicine: Pushing Out the Profiteers"
This meeting was a report-back from PNHPWA members and SNaHP students who attended PNHP's 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Atlanta on Nov 10-12. Four PNHPWA members and at least 8 SNaHP WA students attended. All agreed it was a wonderful experience in terms of meeting PNHP members from around the country and learning new information. Hugh Foy was installed as a new National Board member representing the PNHP Western Region.
Unfortunately, there was a Zoom glitch so we lost the last 10 minutes of the meeting.
Watch video here
Videos of many of the plenary and workshop sessions from Atlanta, including the very valuable "Health Policy Update" PNHP slide set, narrated by Adam Gaffney, will be available soon on the PNHP national web site. You can select appropriate slides for your own presentations.
PNHP Landmark Study Released!
PNHP has just published a groundbreaking report—developed by our policy committee and reviewed by independent health policy experts—that quantifies the extent of Medicare Advantage overpayments. Our research and this report estimate that Medicare Advantage plans overcharge taxpayers by a minimum of 22% (or $88 billion) per year, and potentially by up to 35% (or $140 billion) per year. Read the study here.
Oct 20th - Northwest Health Law Advocats Webinar - "Advancing Patient Rights for a New Era" Morning Sessions - Afternoon Sessions
This is must watch - Best Webinar we've seen all year
Med Advantage Fact Sheet one pager to accompany surveys and petition
1.Medicare Beneficiary short Survey - online and print versions
2. Physicians short Survey - online and print versions
3. Medicare Advantage Petition for everyone to sign - to demand Congress and President Biden protect Medicare beneficiaries by cracking down on insurance company abuses and by significantly improving the traditional, public Medicare program
Big News! - Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped their Improved Medicare for All bills on May 16th. House M4A bill section-by-section, summary and text available here. So far, in Washington State ONLY! Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith are Sponsors. You can reach our other House & Senate members to urge them on - info to reach them by phone or mail here. If you need some guidance in speaking with your rep, our national coalition partners at Healthcare-Now have created a toolkit, including a script to help.
Join Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action. PSARA has been doing amazing and 
effective organising work around all the social justice issues in our area for many years. It is leading the charge against Medicare and ACO-REACH in the Pacific Northwest, and indeed, buttressing efforts of other progressive health reform organisations across the country. Please take a look at the PSARA website and its monthly newsletter, The Retiree Advocate, and consider joining to help support its groundbreaking work.
Chris Currie's updated eBook "A Medicare for All Q&A"- Click here
Other News:
The George Martin Student Scholarship Fund now has more than $24,000 in contributions! It's providing support for the 5 SNaHP Chapters in our region
PNHP's 35th Anniversary Celebration
Why did you join PNHP - who brought you in? Was it a mentor, a colleague, a friend, or someone else entirely. We would love to hear how you joined our movement.
Contact dixon@pnhp.org for guidelines about recording a short video telling your story.
Must Watch - Kip Sullivan's presentation: "Do We Really Have To Kick Out the Insurance Companies?" Click VIDEO and SLIDES to view his talk.
PNHPWA Web Site - pnhpwashington.org
PNHPWA Email - pnhp.washington@gmail.com
PNHPWA YouTube Channel
PNHPWA Instagram
Coalition Partner Websites
Health Care for All Washington
Health Care is a Human Right Washington
Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action
Watch most PNHPWA Previous Monthly Meetings
For the latest news on health reform legislation - check PNHP articles of interest and opinion - or research a topic by clicking on the Google Custom Search image below:
Other News:Still working to make our PNHPWA social media more useful. Please submit/share important info, articles, events to/on our Facebook site - https://www.facebook.com/pnhpww PNHPWA YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx_TkWg9tFnCKGnO9F-iEeQ -
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Email: pnhp.washington@gmail.com; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pnhpwashington/