Phase 2: Special Delegates Assembly on Health Care

On June 18th, 40 KVO delegates and allies gathered at First Congregational Church (UCC) of Waterville to report on the Our Health Care Story meetings, learn about our current health care system and proposals for reform from policy experts and advocates, and decide on guiding principles for the KVO health care campaign.

Our Health Care Panel included:

• Doug Clopp, Policy Analyst, Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC)
• Glenn Beamer, Director, Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
• Kerry Sirois, Administrator, Mount St. Joseph Holistic Care Community
• Peter Crockett, Health Care Organizer, Central Maine Labor Council (AFL-CIO)

Based on the stories brought forward in the Our Health Care Story Meetings, the KVO Health Care Team brought 20 proposed health care principles forward at the meeting. After hearing testimonies, and presentations and Q&A from the panel, delegates had the chance to add their own proposals, and to discuss which principles should be given top priority in guiding KVO's efforts at health care system reform.

After debate, sticker voting, and more discussion, the assembled delegates reached a consensus that these five principles should be our top priorities to guide our campaign for quality, affordable health care for all:

1. Health care is a basic human right stemming from the sanctity of human life. A JUST SOCIETY must ensure that everyone receives compassionate, comprehensive and competent health care, independent of employment, age, health or family history. (See story #s 18,22, 23, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 47, 48, 50, 52)
2. Health care should emphasize PREVENTION, and preventive medical care should be covered by every patient’s health care policy (see story #s 22, 26, 43, 48, 59);
3. AFFORDABILITY: Everyone pays on a sliding scale, based on financial ability (see story #s 1, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 36, 43, 46, 52, 53, 55, 58, 59, 60, 62);
4. Special efforts should be made to provide care for geographic areas and populations that have been UNDERSERVED, such as rural areas, inner cities, and impoverished communities (see story #s 20, 34, 47, 57);
5. Insurance companies and other third party payers, the pharmaceutical industry, and other commercial interests should not function as barriers to care, or impede the provider/patient relationship in making medical decisions (see story #s 8, 12).

To read KVO's full declaration of health care reform principles, click here.

Photos from the event (click on thumbnail to view larger image.)

	Judi Short of Corpus Christi Parish reads a letter from Bishop Malone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to open the meeting.
	Dr. Dan Summers of St. Matthew's Episcopal presents the Health Care Team's 20 proposed principles for health reform. Assembly chairs Helen Hanson (MSEA-SEIU Local 1989) and Rev. George Hodgkins, Jr. (Centenary UMC) look on.
	Dr. Glenn Beamer of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center speaks about health care policy. Looking on are fellow panelists Doug Clopp (CAHC), Kerry Sirois (Mt. St. Joseph), and Peter Crockett (AFL-CIO).
	Delegates discuss what should be KVO's top priorities in pursuing health care reform.