March 2nd's Measure A: What's at Stake

The campaign to pass a 1/2 cent sales tax for Alameda County residents that will preserve most services offered by the Alameda County Medical Center has kicked off to a strong start. The efforts of all supporters are needed to help pass Measure A, the Essential Medical Services Ordinance, which will need a 2/3 vote on March 2nd. Winning will mean that 75% of the anticipated $90-105 million in revenues collected yearly will go directly to ACMC in "new money," meaning it will not replace other funds earmarked for the Medical Center. The Medical Center currently includes Highland Hospital (including several specialty clinics) and Trauma Center, Fairmont Hospital's Skilled Nursing Facility, Neuro-Respiratory and Acute Rehabilitation Services and HIV Outpatient Clinic, John George Psychiatric Pavilion, and three free-standing community health centers: Eastmont Wellness Center in Oakland, Winton Wellness Center in Hayward, and Newark Health Center. The remaining 25% of the revenues will be distributed to community-based clinics and other providers of uncompensated health care, as determined by public input and an appointed oversight committee.

We have less than two months to educate the public about the role of ACMC in providing care to those who are caught in the often tragic dilemma of needing medical attention but not being able to afford it (which few can, without insurance or government assistance). We're organizing to walk precincts, distribute literature at events and in front of stores, hold house parties to fund raise, and inform as many people as we can. Buttons, bumperstickers, lawn signs and literature are available for distribution now by calling Raymond Ehrlich, the campaign manager, at 415-775-5505, or emailing him at raymondehrlich@yahoo.com. If you keep materials with you in your car or backpack, any events you go to in January and February are educational opportunities.

The campaign is being organized by supervisor's districts. Nate Miley has an office in the Eastmont Town Center, near the corner of Bancroft and Church, which will be staffed part time. Keith Carson (Berkeley and parts of Oakland) has set up an office at 2135 Broadway (21st and Broadway, 2 blocks South of Grand). Local 616's storefront on 17th and Webster will serve

Brad Cleveland, field representative for SEIU Local 616 and Vote Health Executive Board member, has set up a website, www.MeasureA.org, that has updates about all events connected with the campaign, where to get materials, etc. On January 24th, from 10-2, people will gather at the campaign centers and fan out to distribute literature and spread the word-please take a moment to put that in your calendar now!

Vote Health has hired a half-time community organizer, Neelam Pathikonda, who is working toward a Masters in Public Health and has considerable experience with progressive organizations of youth and people of color in the East Bay. She will help strengthen our ties to groups that understand how closures at the Medical Center affect all people in the county, to mobilize their members to get out the vote for Measure A. We're also helping set up town hall meetings with Supervisors and their staffs to educate the public; so far they are scheduled for Hayward, San Leandro and San Lorenzo, and more will be added. Also, there will be phone banks held each Tuesday from 6-9 pm at Local 616, 1630 Webster St., the corner of 17th in downtown Oakland.

The Governator's Budget Cuts

One of the many painful aspects of Governor Schwarzenegger's proposals to close the state budget deficit is the proposal to "reform" or "redesign" Medi-Cal. This translates into a reduction of eligibility, enrollment, and benefits, and an increase in cost-sharing, for low-income populations. In addition, the money being taken from cities and counties will force cutbacks in local funding for health care, resulting in more uncompensated emergency room visits and related inpatient care. Since Alameda County did not give a majority vote to Schwarzenegger, we are less likely to bailouts from him. All of this makes passing Measure A even more critical.

In addition, the governor is calling for a return to minimum wage for In Home Support Service workers, as well as a narrowing of the definition of who can receive support for working for the disabled and elderly. Vote Health joins with other advocacy organizations in urging the public to protest with letters, phone calls, faxes, and public advocacy, to protect health care and social services. The message should be to Schwarzenegger and legislators: Raise the additional revenues needed to prevent severe health cuts. For a list of specific protests and actions against the governor's proposals, go to the Vote Health website, or call Jessica Rothhaar, Organizer for Health Access, at 510-873-8787, x 107.

Brief ACMC Updates: 174 layoffs are still on the table and morale is low; the deficit is down from a projected $86 to $71 million, with a $48 million plan for cuts/revenues identified; the plan is to balance the budget by the end of this fiscal year; the Medical Center hired a "turnaround team" with experience cutting hospital budgets, which began working this week; a consultant has been hired to help the Blue Ribbon Panel examine options to improve ACMC governance.

Progress on SB921: SB921, the Health Care for All Californians bill, will be heard in the Assembly Health Committee in mid-March. New language has been added to the bill, concerning the tax structure that will be utilized to fund the health system, in addition to continuous behind-the-scenes lobbying and support work.

Through the generous donations of two single payer supporters, Health Care for All Education Fund is commissioning the Lewin Group to provide a detailed financial analysis of SB921, which should be completed within three months. This will make it much easier to show the advantages of SB921 through a cost/benefit analysis.

The steering committee of the statewide coalition of organizations working for SB921's passage continue to meet in Sacramento on a monthly basis. Vote Health's Single Payer Committee members are speaking throughout the East Bay, and more organizations are endorsing the bill. If you are interested in being added to Senator Kuehl's Action Alert e-mail list, please send your name, address, phone, organization, and email to Emily.Gold@sen.ca.gov.

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