Health Care & Me

This is an urgent update!! Please help Lyon Martin Health Clinic. The support for Lyon Martin has been overwhelming; almost every part of the city has contributed to keep this clinic open. They are so close to their goal of $500,000. Please donate what you can!

The people at Lyon Martin are so dedicated in helping their community; I see it in their faces every time I walk into their office. I am so grateful to have this wonderful clinic within my reach. I would be lost in the world of the uninsured. Thank You Lyon Martin.

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Donations:$377,410 || Grants: $95,025 || Pledges: $25,000 All monies directly support daily clinic operations LYON MARTIN BOARD WELCOMES NEW CHAIR, MARJ PLUMB SAN FRANCISCO – March 30th, 2011 Lyon-Martin Health Services announced today that nonprofit veteran Marj Plumb has been elected new Board Chair. “Words cannot express how thrilled we are to see Marj join Lyon-Martin’s board and take its’ helm,” said Lauren Winter, who readily resigned as board chair at last weekÂ’s meeting. ““She has tremendous energy and a fresh sense of optimism. Those are the exact qualities needed to lead the clinic through this critical juncture.” Plumb, who was Lyon-Martin’s Executive Director between 1989 and 1993, has been a non-profit consultant and trainer for the past thirteen years specializing in organizational development, leadership development, public policy, and community-based participatory research. Before starting her consulting practice she served for over twenty-five years in senior management positions with a variety of non-profit organizations working on health, economic development, environmental justice, violence prevention, and social justice/civil rights. Plumb received a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Francisco and a doctorate in public health from the University of California, Berkeley. “I have been inspired and energized by the amazing power of the community in working to save Lyon-Martin,” Plumb said. “I simply couldnÂ’t sit by; I had to participate in this meaningful way. I am committed to working with the community, public health leaders, and staff to help bring Lyon-Martin out of this financial crisis and restore it to stability.” Plumb will lead a board recruitment effort to bring the Board into alignment with federal regulations, including enhancing the makeup of the Board to include community members, especially those with expertise in fundraising, communications, and financial management. Increasing the membership will allow current members to rotate off the Board. “I am honored to help usher in a new era for Lyon-Martin – with major improvements in transparency, accountability, and financial stability,” added Plumb. “At the same time, I recognize the sitting board’s considerable efforts after learning the true extent of its financial woes. I am interested in building upon their efforts, not criticizing their choices, and I ask the community to join me wholeheartedly in that respect.” Lyon-Martin’s primary goal is achieving financial stability. “I believe strongly that today’s infusion of fresh leadership is the catalyst for re-energizing our fundraising efforts. It will enable us to reach our goal,” said Interim Executive Director Eric Fimbres. “Lyon-Martin must be able to manage its debt while at the same time continuing to provide services. The fundraising goal of $200,000 in new funds by the end of April will help stabilize Lyon-Martin through 2011 by allowing us to manage a projected cash deficit through the end of 2011, and implement new strategies towards achieving stability before the second quarter of 2012. Over $53,000 has been raised toward the clinic’s April 30th milestone.” In addition to raising this new immediate capital, Lyon-Martin must consider substantial changes to the clinic’s business model. “I am hopeful the community, public health and city leadership, foundations and corporations will enthusiastically support Lyon-Martin as we consider how best to safeguard the clinic’s growth and future while keeping true to what Lyon-Martin does best: respectful, compassionate and competent healthcare,” Plumb said. The clinic’s leadership team will be working closely with a community-led task force as it considers the available options. “Community clinics all over the City are struggling,” added Lyon-Martin Medical Director, Dawn Harbatkin, M.D. “Planned Parenthood, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics, and New Leaf all found themselves in very difficult financial positions. Haight-Ashbury remains open through a merger with Walden House, but Planned Parenthood Golden Gate and New Leaf have closed. I remain hopeful that Lyon-Martin Health Services will not be the third clinic on that list.” The wildly successful fundraising of the past two months continues with events organized almost entirely by community members. Those who have fundraising ideas are encouraged to host events or fund drives, recruit friends, family and coworkers to the cause, check with employers for matching gift funds and to contact Save Lyon-Martin community group (www.savelyonmartin.org) for help in implementing their ideas. Upcoming Events: Ongoing online auction accessed through the clinic’s website, www.lyon-martin.org. This auction has raised over $3,000 and new items are being added each week. Mid-April: Dinning events at select Bay Area fine dining restaurants and neighborhood cafes.

Thank you firedoglake; a great progressive site, that posted Support California AB 52 (Regulate health care costs). If passed AB 52 would regulate health care rate increases.

At the moment; “In California, the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Managed Health Care are required to be notified of rate increases or policy changes, but they cannot stop them.”

Basically the Insurance Commissioner is useless in trying to protect Californians from Health Care Corporations and their predatory tactics.

If AB 52 passes it “would give the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of  Managed Health Care the power to oversee and regulate the costs of health insurance, the rates, the co-payments and the deductibles and the changes in the policies.”

It is painfully obvious how beneficial this piece of legislation is; it could possibly affect every Californian in very positive ways. Which is the main reason that health care corporations do not want AB 52 passed. Below is a list of support and opposition for AB 52.  What list are you on?

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SUPPORT

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Asian Business Association,Bay Area Black United Fund, Inc. Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council, Black Economic Council Brain Injury Association of California Brightline Defense Project California Alliance of Retired Americans California Black Chamber of Commerce California Chiropractic Association California Commission on Aging California Communities United Institute California Labor Federation California Mortgage Association California National Organization for Women California Nurses Association California Pan-Ethnic Health Network California Physical Therapy Association CalPIRG California School Employees Association California Teachers Association Community Union, Inc. Congress of California Seniors Consumer Watchdog Consumers Union Council of Asian American Business
Associations Domar Group, Inc.
Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce
Greenlining Institute HCI/Project Amiga Health Access California Inland Empire Latino Coalition Korean Center, Inc.
Korean Churches for Community Development
Laborers’ Locals 777 & 792 La Maestra Community Health Centers Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los
Angeles Los Angeles Councilmember Ed Reyes Los Angeles Councilmember Bill Rosendahl National Physicians Alliance California
Older Women’s League of California TELACU Millennium Ward Economic Development Corporation

OPPOSE
America’s Health Insurance Plans Anthem Blue Cross Association of California Life & Health
Insurance Companies Blue Shield of California
California Association of Health Plans California Association of Physicians Groups CalChamber California Hospital Association California Medical Association Civil Justice Association of California Kaiser Permanente Healthnet United Health Group

When I read Vermont’s Single Payer Salvation I became hopeful again concerning health care reform and Single Payer advocacy. I’ve blogged about Single Payer a few times, Single Payer for California! and Single Payer Here We Come. In each of my blogs I’ve commented on what Single Payer is and how it would benefit the state of California; only to be disappointed by the deep pockets of the insurance lobbyists campaigning to weaken current legislation in California.

However Vermont’s new Democratic Governor Peter Shumin supports Single Payer. Shumin campaigned for Single Payer, calling Vermont’s current health care system “broken”.

If enacted, which appears likely, it will be the first system of its kind in the United States, and Vermont would become the first state to abolish most forms of private health insurance.

To be rid of the current private health care insurance corporations running and ruining so many people’s lives, I feel is something that most Americans want.

The annual savings that would be created by the system, however, do appear to be popular among lawmakers and public officials. An estimate of the single-payer system could save the state at least $580 million yearly, or $1.2 billion by 2019, and create 4,000 jobs because the burden of rising healthcare costs would be lifted from businesses.

It’s very easy to see the Win – Win situation by creating a Single Payer system for the state of Vermont. Saving money, creating jobs and saving lives. My fingers are crossed for you and my eyes are on you Vermont.

I would also like to point out, while other Republican governors are taking workers rights away and taxing the middle class, Governor Shumin seems to have the people of Vermont best interest in mind. I applaud him!! Hopefully more state leaders will learn from his example and the rest of the 50 states will have a Single Payer Health Care System!

Thanks for reading.