submitted by Joan or Steve Janusz 507-645-0094
1.
Mobilizing for the Minnesota Health Plan
Legislative Kickoff and Training
On Saturday, November 8, 2008, 70 dedicated people from approximately 30 Senate Districts around Minnesota gathered in St. Cloud for an information-filled day of learning about the Minnesota Health Plan (MHP). Participants learned about details of the Plan, about frequently asked tough questions, and how to advocate for affordable health care coverage for everyone in Minnesota.
Sponsored by the Greater Minnesota Health Care Coalition and the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition, this well-planned and -executed training was an effective kickoff for the Minnesota Health Plan Campaign. Attendees were welcomed by Susan Hasti, MUHCC, and Tim Burkhardt, GMHCC, and were treated to a variety of helpful information about “how-to”:
- Clearly explain the MHP
- Deliver a winning message
- Answer the tough questions
- Do citizen lobbying (connect with legislators)
- Carry out effective community organizing to mobilize grass roots support for the Plan.
Senator John Marty, chief author of the MHP, shared a detailed overview of what is covered under this very comprehensive Plan. How it will be governed, financed, how it will save money for the State, and - most importantly - how it will provide affordable health care for ALL Minnesotans, was discussed. Senator Marty outlined the groundwork that must be laid for passage of the MHP in the next few years.
Other presenters were:
- Kip Sullivan - tireless advocate, knowledgeable investigator, and author of “The Health Care Mess: How Did We Get Into It and How We’ll Get Out Of It”- discussed the economics of why a single-payer, single-administrator plan is the only alternative for true cost containment.
- Laura Blubaugh - legislative assistant to Senator John Marty - shared information about how a bill moves through the legislature, and the process for the MHP in the next legislative session.
- Ric Studer shared insight into messaging and framing—how persuasion is not so much about facts, but about values; and how we often make decisions based on emotions, rather than logic.
- Julian Loscalzo - a lobbyist for MUHCC - gave specific tips on ways to communicate with legislators in order to be an effective citizen lobbyist, a most important role in support for the MHP.
Lisa Nilles, MUHCC Board, Susan Hasti, and Kip Sullivan facilitated a question and answer dialogue with attendees about universal health coverage, single-payer/administrator, health care reform in general, and the MHP in particular. Lisa outlined the “three C’s” criteria: Cost control, Comprehensive care, and a Comprehensible system.
The day concluded with a focus on Community Organizing. Jeanne Weigum shared lessons learned in attaining a “Smoke Free MN” after 25 years of work. Barb Anderson from Grand Rapids showed the gorilla and scarecrow props she uses to promote health care reform in her community.
At the conclusion, each attendee received a Tool Kit (on CD) of all the documents, teaching tools, FAQ sheets to help them spread the message, organize, and lobby for the MHP. Supporters of affordable health care coverage for ALL Minnesotans (the MHP) are not yet “Goliath”, but are moving out of the “David” stage as we collectively proclaim: “Everyone in, no one out”. The Minnesota Health Plan: We Need it NOW!
Congratulations to the MUHCC and the GMHCC for a productive and enjoyable conference.
2.
The Health Care Mess Summary
11/15/2008
Five St. Olaf Biomedical Ethics students planned and led a discussion on “The Health Care Mess” November 15th at St. Olaf College. The goals were to understand how our health system works, how it fails us, and strategize changes that we as citizens should support.
The students introduced the discussion with the following health topics:
Why is our health care system a mess? (cost, quality and accessibility)
What is the ethical assumption underlying our health care system? (right or commodity)
How are we failing?
Compare the United States health care with other Countries.
What about President-Elect Barack Obama’s plan?
Four panelists then presented experiences from their health care backgrounds and health issues needing reform and possible solutions:
- Ellie Garrett - Assistant Director of Health Policy and Public Health, Minnesota Center for Health Care Ethics
- Mary Ho - Rice County Public Health Director; Collaborator with Health Finders of Minnesota
- Jan Malcom - CEO of the Courage Center, a nonprofit organization for people with disabilities; Former Minnesota Commissioner of Health
- Karen Gervais - Director, Minnesota Center for Health Care Ethics; Professor of Ethics at St. Olaf College; member of the LWVNCF Board
The panelists then answered questions from the audience with a wrap-up by Karen Gervais.