Health Care For All Oregon:  What’s The Latest?

Text reading Health Care For All Oregon: What's The Latest?

Have You Heard?

Universal Health Care is Moving Forward

ALERT: A Public Hearing has been scheduled for SB 704for Monday, Feb. 13, at 1:00pm.

The Task Force on Universal Health Care has recommended the establishment of a permanent Universal Health Plan (UHP) Governance Board to implement the Plan. Read HCAO Summary.

So Let’s:

  • Pack the room at the hearing–show up in Salem if you can and invite others. (Wear Red)
  • Register for Live or Virtual Testimony by clicking Live Testimony. (Also do written)
  • Submit written testimony by clicking Written Testimony.
  • Invite others to do the same.

What to say or write:

  • Keep it short and simple.
  • Tell your story about why universal healthcare is important to you. (This is what legislators remember.)
  • SB 704 is the critical next step NEEDED as the path forward to create an affordable and equitable healthcare system.
  • So, start writing yours now, then submit it even if you plan to provide oral testimony.

Opportunities For Learning And Participating

Senator Merkley Town Halls

Where: Crescent Valley High School Cafeteria, 4444 NW Highland Dr. Corvallis OR 97330
When: Saturday, February 11, 2023, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Linn Benton Community College 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW
Albany, Oregon 97321
When: Saturday, February 11, 2023, 2:30 p.m.


ER Visits Exceed Affordability
From Kaiser Family Foundation “Almost 1 in 10 Americans have medical debt, and about half of American households do not have the liquid assets to afford an average employer sponsored plan deductible. More than one third of US adults are unable to afford a $400 medical expense without borrowing.” Read More


Unions and Employer Bargaining Workshop
On January 11, there was an interactive discussion of engaging with employers about universal healthcare when bargaining.

Why We Exist

Shocking:  JAMA Opinion Exposes Greed in Health Care
A newly published opinion in the Journal of the American Medical Association titled: “The Existential Threat of Greed in Health Care” tells so much of what has long been known or expected. This is really no surprise.
“The grip of financial self-interest in US health care is becoming a stranglehold, with dangerous and pervasive consequences. No sector of US health care is immune from the immoderate pursuit of profit, neither drug companies, nor insurers, nor hospitals, nor investors, nor physician practices.” Read the article.


Oregon Hospitals Fail at Protecting from Medical Debt
“Consumers for Quality Care” has provided a report on Oregon’s hospitals based on a number of factors:
  • Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Medical Debt Consumer Protection
  • Charity Care Spending
  • Charging Charity Care Eligible Patients.
“Low income patients who qualified for charity care reported being charged thousands of dollars by nonprofit hospitals in Oregon and being harassed by collection agents.” Read more.



Employer Based Insurance–Exposing The Truth