Hundreds Rally for Health Reform

Bill Seeks to Insure Children and Low-Income Adults

In an effort to tell legislators to fix our broken healthcare system and support legislation aimed at making that happen, hundreds of members of SEIU and coalition groups in support of health care reform rallied on the Capitol, April 8. 
Among those addressing the large crowd were State Reps. Mitch Greenlick and Tina Kotek, State Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, Oregon Health Fund Board members Tom Chamberlain and Eileen Brady, and a woman whose lottery slot in the Oregon Health Plan is schedules to run out in June, leaving her facing serious medical issues without coverage.  

Following the rally, participants entered the Capitol to observe a sessions of the House Health Care Committee, which is chaired by Greenlick, and to lobby for passage of House Bill 2009, the primary piece of legislation that the 2009 Oregon legislature will consider in addressing reforms recommended by the health fund board.

SEIU Local 49’s participation in the rally and lobby day was part of a statewide effort coordinated by Oregonians for Health Security and a national campaign under the auspices of HCAN: Health Care for America NOW!, a grassroots campaign for quality, affordable health care with more than 850 member organizations in 46 states.

HB 2009 would use a tax on hospitals and insurers plus federal matching money to cover up to 80,000 uninsured children and 75,000 low-income adults through the Oregon Health Plan. It would also create a new state agency to promote and streamline the application process increase for medical assistance programs and increase reimbursement rates.