Coalitions, Committees and Lobby Days, Oh My!

by | Mar 3, 2011 | Blog, We Can Do Better - News |

Wondering if YOU should head to Salem?
Here’s a quick email about health and health care related committees, legislative hearings and advocacy days happening over the next couple of weeks. And if you can’t make it to Salem, send an email, make a phone call, write a note. Share what you’re thinking on these important issues.

The Oregon Health Policy Board and Transformation Team:
The Oregon Health Policy Board (OHPB) continues to meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Their next meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2011 from 8:30-noon. You can attend in person, or you can watch and listen live via a webstream.

In January, the OHPB chartered a new committee at the request of Governor Kitzhaber, called the Health System Transformation Team, to “develop a common vision and guidance for planning a new, integrated health and services delivery system for Oregon’s Medicaid programs, which can then be built upon for broader statewide markets.”  You can attend the meetings, listen to recordings of the meetings, and see there agenda items and materials on their website.

Legislative Committees:
Reminder: All committee agendas are online, but you can subscribe to any or all of the committees. Look for the e-Subscribe button! While decisions about health and human services happen in multiple committees, especially about public budgets, the primary health and health care committees are:

  • Senate Health Care, Human Services and Rural Health Committee: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-5.
  • Senate Health Care, Human Services and Rural Health Subcommittee on Health Reform: Thursdays from 3-5.
  • House Committee on Health Care: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-5.

Advocacy Days:
It might seem daunting, but Oregon legislators and the legislative process are very accessible. Check our their website info about committees, bills and more.

You can go on your own but you can also join a group who is having an organized Advocacy Day. Here are just a few coming up:

  • March 7, Oregon Academy of Family Practice Physicians.
  • March 10th, Sisters of the Road having a “virtual” lobby day, answering questions, making calls, sending emails, writing letters.
  • March 11, Health Care for All Oregon, Oregon’s Single Payer Campaign. More info here.
  • March 14, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Interfaith Advocacy Day 2011. More info here.
  • March 23rd, Campaign for Oregon’s Seniors and People with Disabilities. More info here.
  • March 24th, Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans. More info here.
  • Save the date – April 18th; we will be part of a joint health care advocacy day at the capital. More information to come.

Phew! Was that enough information for you? Well, there’s more to come in the next newsletter including response to those rumors about our website, what we’re reading, new workshops, and more. Stay tuned.