Victory for Fairmont!

The people who use Fairmont Hospital Campus services for almost 50,000 inpatient days and 50,000 outpatient visits per year can rest a bit easier, knowing there are no immediate plans to close the facility. There are four reasons for this reprieve:
1. The Alameda County Medical Center was just granted Federally Qualified Health Center status, meaning that the government will reimburse uninsured patient visits at close to their actual costs, rather than the much lower fee ACMC has been receiving for clinic visits. This helps the entire Medical Center, but in particular allows the Fairmont clinics to continue operating.
2. The Neuro-Respiratory Unit, which was slated for closure last year until the community, led by Vote Health, vigorously protested, has attained the higher "subacute rate status." This also will result in reimbursement rates that more closely reflect the high level of care needed.
3. ACMC is exploring a partnership with the Veteran's Administration, which needs additional skilled nursing facility beds in this area. If a deal goes through, it could mean federal assistance in rebuilding the Fairmont Campus, the long-term solution Vote Health has been pressing for.
4. Our voices were heard! Dave Kears, Director of the Alameda County Health Care Services, and Ken Cohen, CEO of the ACMC, have both publicly stated that they understand that community outcry would make it very difficult to close down the San Leandro facility.

While we will continue to closely monitor plans to rebuild Fairmont Campus, we thank all who have helped us let the county know how important these services are. Pat yourselves on the back and take a deep breath, since new cuts to other ACMC services will be announced soon!

Fairmont Archives

Noted State Senator Steps Forward To Champion Single Payer Legislation

On August 9th, representatives of 30-plus statewide organizations met in Sacramento and decided the time is right to introduce single payer health care legislation in the California Legislature in 2003. A subcommittee voted that, out of several possibilities, California State Senator Sheila Kuehl would be the best choice as author for such a monumental piece of legislation.

Ms. Kuehl is a highly respected legislator who has a long and impressive record of civil rights work and advocacy. In her six years in the Assembly, Ms. Kuehl authored seventy-three bills that were signed into law, including the nursing staff ratio bill, a gender anti-discrimination in the workplace bill, and a bill to increase the rights of crime victims. In 1998 and 2000 she was chosen the Assembly member with the greatest intelligence and the most integrity by her peers.

Both Vote Health and Health Care for All-California are delighted that Ms. Kuehl will be the bill's author. She is going to need enormous political support from all parts of California to succeed against the well-financed opposition sure to come from the health insurance industry. To help in this crucial organizing, see page 2, Single Payer Committee meeting.

Noted State Senator Steps Forward To Champion Single Payer Legislation

On August 9th, representatives of 30-plus statewide organizations met in Sacramento and decided the time is right to introduce single payer health care legislation in the California Legislature in 2003. A subcommittee voted that, out of several possibilities, California State Senator Sheila Kuehl would be the best choice as author for such a monumental piece of legislation.

Ms. Kuehl is a highly respected legislator who has a long and impressive record of civil rights work and advocacy. In her six years in the Assembly, Ms. Kuehl authored seventy-three bills that were signed into law, including the nursing staff ratio bill, a gender anti-discrimination in the workplace bill, and a bill to increase the rights of crime victims. In 1998 and 2000 she was chosen the Assembly member with the greatest intelligence and the most integrity by her peers.

Both Vote Health and Health Care for All-California are delighted that Ms. Kuehl will be the bill's author. She is going to need enormous political support from all parts of California to succeed against the well-financed opposition sure to come from the health insurance industry. To help in this crucial organizing, see page 2, Single Payer Committee meeting.

Hotel and Restaurant Employees Update

Ten to fifteen Vote Health members marched in support of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 2850's August 1st protest of the Claremont Hotel's contract offers. As of September 6th, negotiations were still stalled on several counts. At that time, the Claremont was offering 6 percent more per year for three years to cover increased health insurance costs, and the low-income workers would have to pay the difference. However, health care costs are rising so rapidly that this would still be prohibitive for the workers and their families.

In other contract developments, the Claremont is offering 20-cent-per-hour raises for each of the contract's three years, which HERE said does not compete with raises at other Bay Area hotels. Nor does it reflect cost of living increases in the Bay Area. On the up side, the four workers who were suspended by the hotel in January for passing out union material on site will be paid back wages under a settlement reached last week between the Claremont and the National Labor Relations Board.

Another demonstration took place outside the resort on Labor Day. For further information about how to support the Claremont workers, call HERE 2850 at (510) 893-3181.

Newsletter committee:
Nancy M. Friedman, Sue Bergman
Our thanks to CA Nurses Association for their help in producing this newsletter.