Archimedes Movement July Newsletter
Director's Update
In the last 12 months we've seen a dramatic shift in our dialog about health care. Though we are only just beginning the process of implementing reform efforts, there are many hopeful signs. The public now realizes that we can't talk about health reform without talking about costs, and how it impacts individuals, business and taxpayers. We've agreed that "jump starting the economy" requires that we address the health care crisis.
Still, all too often the conversation falls back to simply addressing the number of people without insurance, and now the media is focused on talk of the "public option" and whether creating a public option would allow for a level playing field for private insurers. Politicians and pundits are still focusing too much on insurance and not enough on what we're trying to accomplish – better health outcomes and improved patient experience at a lower per-capita cost. President Obama is speaking our language, but it's unclear whether our congressional leaders understand the importance of this framing and how it will guide the options they choose. It's up to us to keep letting them know.
Here in Oregon
The Oregon Legislature has completed its 2009 session. It's always a funny feeling to have a "wrap-up" in the middle of a calendar year, especially when there is so much work ahead of us. But we should take a moment to pause and look back at the successes of this past session, because there were some significant successes in terms of health reform and other areas that relate to the public's health.
In late fall, 2008, the Oregon Health Fund Board delivered its final report to the Governor's office and to legislative leadership. They laid out a set of building blocks for moving Oregon to universal health coverage. Representative Mitch Greenlick and his staff took that report and used it to craft House Bill 2009, which at its core:
- creates the opportunity for a more rational and efficient way to control health care costs in Oregon through creation of the Oregon Health Authority,
- paves the way for components such as an Oregon Health Insurance Exchange and development of a publicly owned, publicly administered (therefore publicly accountable) health plan within the exchange,
- and incorporates several bills that started the session as separate bills, such as developing a POLST registry (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), developing an all-payor all-claims database, and efforts to shift more support to primary care.
» Read more about the progress in Oregon
Back in June, we made a video of a conversation with Rep. Mitch Greenlick about health reform in Oregon.
This video was recorded before the legislative session ended, but provides a bit of history and context. (We've adjusted the video so that it should play correctly with any DSL or faster connection.)
In Washington, D.C.
President Obama has set an ambitious time line for passing and signing legislation at the federal level. At least three committees are working on legislation:
- Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Max Baucus from Montana, and including our own Senator Wyden
- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, led by Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, and including our own Senator Jeff Merkley
- In the House there are three committees with jurisdiction over aspects of health care - Labor; Energy and Commerce; and Ways and Means. They have crafted a tri-committee bill on the House side.
You might recall that we sent an invitation to the Obama administration in February inviting them to Oregon to learn from our efforts and public engagement. We just received a reply via email 2 weeks ago. The administration said that while the President isn't planning a trip to Oregon in the forseeable future, that they would keep our invitation "on file." We have also extended invitations to others in the administration, including Peter Orszag, Kathleen Sebelius, and Nancy-Ann DeParle. While the president is asking Americans to help by joining in this debate we have to wonder - is Oregon too far from the Washington, D.C. beltway to warrant attention, even as we have the 2nd highest rate of unemployment and have managed to make an investment at the state level in a future health care system?
Get connected to your elected representatives
We encourage you to get on the email list of your state representatives and your federal congressional delegation. It's a way to keep up on what they're proposing and to know when there are opportunities to meet with them when they are in their home district or if you happen to be in D.C. The links are here:
- for Oregon legislators: Once you put in your email address it will take you to a page where you can indicate which email lists you want to be on; you can indicate legislators, committees, agency updates, etc.)
- the Oregonian now has the easiest bill tracker program which provides a nice summary of where things are.
- for US Representatives (the House): the website is name.house.gov (For example for Congressman Earl Blumenauer it would be blumenauer.house.gov)
- for US Senators: the website is name.senate.gov (for example for Senator Merkley it would be merkley.senate.gov)
For the Archimedes Movement
Looking internally, it's been a year since our inaugural member conference and we have a group of volunteers who are working with us to plan a follow-up conference for the fall (see story below). Because of your efforts, a lot has happened in the past 12 months, including:
- The Oregon Health Fund Board, in its executive summary, stated the Triple Aim among its objectives;
- There were Archimedes Movement members on the Oregon Health Fund Board and on each of its committees;
- The Oregon Health Fund Board held 15 community meetings around Oregon last fall and there were Archimedes Movement members at each meeting. I was the scribe at those meetings, and worked closely with the team that prepared the final summary of the input gathered at those meetings;
- We launched a member-based organization, and have grown to almost 500 dues-paying members within our subscriber list that is now close to 10,000 people – mostly in Oregon, but also includes subscribers from 35 states!
- From the time that the legislative session convened until it adjourned, there were people from the Archimedes Movement at every house and senate health care committee meeting, often providing testimony during public hearings.
- We held a successful lobby day during a session when we did not have a bill being considered. It was an amazing day and throughout the session legislators expressed that, "there are Archimedes people everywhere I look." That is public engagement at its best.
Because of you, the Archimedes Movement is looked to for engaged and informed public voices – grassroots voices – that can add to the policy issues under discussion.
Volunteer Profile
What are you most passionate about?
Much easier would be what I'm not passionate about: liver! (I'm vegetarian.) I'm passionate about:
• "wholeness" which is connected to health, because to heal is to become whole: health = wholeness = we are one. I feel deeply connected to and impacted by all living things;
• all things Peace and Social Justice;
• my new state of Oregon;
• whale-watching;
• gardening;
• gathering everyone's health care stories, and yes story is another passion;
• midwifing soul, helping with the birthing of consciousness, mindfulness meditation and of course,
• the Archimedes Movement!
What's the oddest place you talked about the Archimedes Movement to a stranger?
Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland
Our Blog
You'll find several new articles in our blog.
» Visit the Archimedes Movement Blog
Report from the field: Matt Webber in Peru
Well, beyond the field, actually: Matt Webber, Archimedes Movement outreach coordinator, is spending the summer traveling around South America. He sends us this report from Peru (while wearing his "We Can Do Better" t-shirt).
The first thing that has to be said is how amazingly nice and helpful the Peruvian people are. We came on this trip with a bit of trepidation because of the language difference and the overcautious guidebooks, but have been continually overwhelmed by people´s kindness and generosity. People have taken the time to help us in every situation (and conversation) always with a smile and willingness to go an extra step. Travel really does remind you of the inherent goodness of people.
Peru is a loud country. Almost every place is bursting with noise of some kind. Our hostel host told us that Nazca (a city of only 50,000) claims to be Peru´s loudest city. Even the fruit stand vendor in town uses a megaphone to advertise why his tangerines are the best. The fruit man chooses your fruit depending on whether you want your item for today, tomorrow or in a few days. 
The markets have been pretty impressive (see photo). The one in Trujillo was bustling and large with the mixed smells of everything from fresh poultry and meat - to fruits, cheeses, nuts, soups, spices, etc. You can basically buy anything from food to clothing to bulk dog food. Courtney purchased honey straight off the honey comb as well as some strange fruits we had never encountered before.
