Since 2014, Oregon Food Bank has been developing partnerships with health care organizations to jointly address the food insecurity and nutrition status of their patients. Our respect for the work of the health care community has grown through our work together implementing screenings for food insecurity and social determinants along with connections to food, nutrition and other community resources, and developing clinic and hospital-based food access and nutrition education projects. Unfortunately, major changes at the state and federal level now put Oregon’s health care transformation and social determinants work in danger. Prior to 2014, medical debt was a primary reason clients of food pantries cited as why they needed help. By 2015, the number citing health care was cut in half.
We can’t go back.
Improvements can be made to any system, but if you agree that in the future we must provide comprehensive, quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans, we hope you will join dozens of others and authorize us to add your name to the letter below. It will be given to each member of the Oregon congressional delegation in person in Washington D.C., March 7 and 8. To sign-on, send your name, health care credentials and city of residence to:
Lynn Knox | Statewide Health Care Liaison | OREGON FOOD BANK | 7900 NE 33rd Drive, Portland, OR 97211 | direct: 503.853.8732 | cell: 503-548-7508
Dear ___________,
As a health care professional, I am alarmed by potential reductions in health care coverage for Americans. In Oregon, we have aggressively pursued a new approach to care and payment emphasizing real health improvement over billable procedures or prescriptions. The goal is to reduce the level of preventable disease and reduce costs. Prior to 2014, the Oregon Food Bank’s survey of users showed medical debt as a top reason people had to come to food pantries. By 2015 & 2016, the number citing health care was cut in half.
We can’t go back!
Prevention, early detection and treatment are viable when everyone, regardless of age or health status, has comprehensive and affordable health insurance. If Congress cuts Medicaid or creates a patchwork system by block granting, resulting in reduced resources, then President Trump’s laudable goal of bulk purchasing and pharmaceutical price negotiating will be difficult. Support for state innovation improving health and reducing costs is currently available through the waiver process. We can encourage more states to make use of the process rather than disrupt the system and increase inefficiencies by block granting.
We agree that the current exchange has high costs for some people. If the ACA is repealed, we ask Congress to reform the system to maintain comprehensive, quality care, but also reduce costs based on ability to pay.
A return to the old system is not acceptable to anyone; we cannot be a great nation if we have the most expensive and least effective health care system in the developed world. We believe health care transformation is on the right track to improve outcomes but encourage Congress to fix just what is broken.
Sincerely,
(WE WILL ADD NAMES HERE)
Thank you for your partnership!
Recent Comments