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Health Care |
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Health care reform has been a top priority for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ advocacy efforts since 2007. Efforts focus on changing policies at both the state and federal levels. To learn more about why this is an important issue for the Council, along with some specific areas of focus and the theological underpinnings for the Council’s efforts around this issue, read our policy statement on Health and Health Care. To learn about actions you can take to make health care reform a reality and to educate yourself, your congregations, and others about health care reform, check out the information below. |
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The Council is joining with people of faith around the country to support a new, Faith Inspired Vision of Health Care. Directions for signing on in support of this statement are included below.
In June of 2008 the Interfaith Health Care Reform Meeting, convened by Faithful Reform in Health Care, met in Cleveland, OH, to define the religious community's distinct vision for and role in our national and state conversations about health care reform. Participants began with the shared understanding that health care is a basic human need and that the current system is not working for everyone. They confirmed that the faith community’s primary role in the current health care reform environment is that of transforming the conversation from an economic debate to a moral dialogue that moves us toward comprehensive, compassionate and sustainable reform.
The group identified values shared by most religious traditions, including the sacredness of life, compassion, human dignity, community, concern for those who are vulnerable, stewardship and the equitable sharing of resources.
Attendees represented 60 organizations from 23 states and Washington DC (including the Council). This group marked the diversity of faith communities working on this issue, and celebrated our country's racial/ethnic diversity as well.
One major accomplishment was the development of a vision statement, A Sacred Commitment to “A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care" (this is a printer friendly version). Briefly stated, it says that as people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity—a vision that embraces a system of health care that is inclusive... accessible... affordable... and accountable. The Council joins with Faithful Reform in Health Care and faith partners everywhere in calling for congregations, church bodies, organizations and individuals to sign on in support of this vision.
Sign on as a congregation or faith organization Printer friendly version of sign-on statement (NOTE: If used, please fax, send or e-mail form to address below or s.strauss@pachurches.org)
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A Faith Inspired Vision of Health Care-SIGN ON |
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Supporting an Approach Designed to Provide Health Care for ALL |
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· 1Payer.net—Single Payer Action Site (http://www.1payer.net/index.php) · Campaign for Children’s Healthcare (http://www.childrenshealthcampaign.org/) · Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/health.htm) · Coalition on Human Needs (http://www.chn.org/issues/health/) · Faith United Against Tobacco-Tobacco Free Kids (http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/campaign/faith/) · Faithful Reform in Health Care (http://www.faithfulreform.org/) · Families USA (http://www.familiesusa.org/) · Health Care for All PA (http://www.healthcare4allpa.org/home.php) · Healthcare-NOW (http://www.healthcare-now.org/) · Health Task Force-National Council of Churches (http://www.health-ministries.org/)
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· Health Progress and Policy—A Project of the Center for American Progress (http://www.americanprogress.org/projects/ · Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (http://pactonline.org/new/index.html) · Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (http://www.pennbpc.org/) · Pennsylvania Health Access Network (http://www.pahealthaccess.org/) · Physicians for a National Health Program (http://www.pnhp.org/) · Raising Women’s Voices (http://www.raisingwomensvoices.net/) · Women’s Universal Health Initiative (http://www.wuhi.org) |
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Links to Health Care Resources (faith-based and other) |
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Primary Links for Faith-Based Health Care Information, Education, and Resources
Faithful Reform in Health Care (focused on a faith inspired vision for reforming health care)
Health Task Force-National Council of Churches (broader focus, including emergency preparedness)
(faith resources related to children’s health) |
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More info on PA universal coverage |
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Educate Your Congregation on a Faith-Inspired Vision Write to Senators Casey and Specter in support of health care reform NOW! · September Newsletter article · September Newsletter/bulletin blurb · Archive materials (previous months)
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Actor Mike Farrell supports publicly financed, privately delivered health care (commonly known as single payer—Everybody In, Nobody Out). Watch his videos and others to learn more at http://www.1payer. *Photo used with permission Also—participate in 1Payer’s Person-to-Person calling campaign to educate others about single payer healthcare. To learn more about this effort, click here. |
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Fixing our broken health care system is a priority issue for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. While there are several approaches being proposed at both the state and federal levels, in 2007 the Council’s Commission on Public Witness chose to endorse a universal health care system that is publicly funded and privately delivered—commonly referred to as “single payer.” While some have described it as “socialized medicine,” it is not, as it preserves the right of patients to choose their own doctors, who are independent and not employees of the government. We prefer to think of it as “civilized medicine.”
The reason for supporting this approach to managing our health care system is that it is the only approach that fulfills the Council’s position (stated in our policy statement on Health and Health Care) that:
Comprehensive health care must be available to ALL persons—regardless of ability to pay. A comprehensive care system should be: 1) universal; 2) continuous; 3) affordable to individuals and families; 4) affordable and sustainable for society; and 5) able to enhance health and well-being by promoting access to high-quality care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, patient-centered, and equitable.
Therefore, the Council has chosen to endorse and support the following legislation: · Pennsylvania’s legislation that embodies this concept: Senate Bill 400, and House Bill 1660. These bills were introduced in the previous session as SB 300 and HB 1660. Links will be provided as soon as the bills are posted. · HR 676, introduced by Rep. John Conyers, “to provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents.”
The Council is joining the effort in Pennsylvania with Health Care for All PA to collect signers to a petition in support of this legislation. You can sign online, or download a petition and ask your friends to join in support.
More important, however, is for you to contact your legislators to let them know you support these bills and ask for their support. You can do this at http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/t/5044/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1329. This is the easy way to show your support, but your personal calls, letters and e-mails have even more impact—so please consider a personal approach if you have time!
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Watch our Weblog’s Health Care page for additional postings |
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Single Payer: The Economic Solution PA 2009/United States 2010
Rotunda, Pennsylvania Capital (Third & State Streets), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 10 a.m. to 12 noon This event is being held in support of State (HB1660/SB400) and National (HR676/S703) Health Care Reform Efforts. Join thousands of single payer (publicly financed, privately delivered health care, similar to Medicare) supporters in the rotunda of the Capital Building. Speakers include: Wendell Potter - Former CIGNA Executive, now single payer activist Katie Robbins - Assistant National Coordinator, Healthcare-NOW Donna Smith - Organizer with the California Nurses Association, featured in SiCKO Visit www.healthcare4allpa.org/rally.htm for a complete list of speakers and sponsoring organizations (the Pennsylvania Council of Churches is a sponsor). For more information: Visit: www.healthcare4allpa.org/rally.htm E-mail: action@healthcare4allpa.org Call: Jerry at 717.295.0237 or Pedro at 215.300.5902
Get the latest updates! Join the mailing list at info@healthcare4allpa.org.
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Everybody In, Nobody Out! |
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Fight the Health Care Reform Misinformation Campaign! Don’t let those who are spreading lies, distortions, and misinformation prevent desperately needed health care reform. Here are links to information that will help you to become better informed, and to respond constructively when confronted by family, friends and neighbors reacting to the campaign to kill meaningful reform. Fear, Facts, and Faith: A Call to Act from Faithful Reform in Health Care Seniors Only Gain—and Lose Nothing—in Health Care Reform Resources for Women and Health Care Reform Resources for Engaging in Health Care Reform Discussions in a Hostile Environment White House Launches Website to Address Rumors and Misconceptions about Health Care Reform Families USA Resources on Making the Case for Health Care Reform |
