National Health Care Reform

HIP's TIPS FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM ADVOCACY- v.2009.3

#10 Seize opportunities to PARTICIPATE
http://www.HealthReform.gov/

#9 Join GRASSROOTS campaigns; beware ASTROTURF
Petitions, e-mail, FAX & telephone calls to Congress

#8 Seek strange bedfellows for COLLABORATION
Better Health Care Together http://www.betterhealthcaretogether.org/

#7 Learn the lingo (and code words)
Universal Coverage ≠ Single payer
Health Insurance Reform vs. Health Care Reform

#6 Check your FACTS
Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/
California Healthcare Foundation: http://www.chcf.org/

#5 Accept an IMPERFECT solution
Atul Gawande MD, Getting There from Here, The New Yorker, January 26, 2009.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/26/090126fa_fact_gawande

#4 Focus on care and cost as well as COVERAGE
Atul Gawande MD, The Cost Conundrum, The New Yorker June 1, 2009.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande

#3 Advocate for WELLNESS as part of health care reform
Alliance for the Healthiest Nation http://www.healthiestnation.org/

#2 Use multimedia COMMUNICATIONS with stories and data
Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz6L6ysa7Zw

#1 Support LOCAL BOOTSTRAP solutions
Gawande, Berwick, Fisher & McClellan, 10 Steps to Better Health Care, New York Times, August 13, 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/opinion/13gawande.html?_r=2&hp

Updated for: Watsonville Chapter, American Association of University Women, Nov. 17, 2009.