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Dear Health Reform Advocate, Here at the Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care (Ad Hoc CDHC) we've been very busy working on our mission of outreach, education and advocacy for fundamental health care reform. Through this Fall 2004 Newsletter we want to share important news and encourage your continued participation in our collective work. We hope you will agree this Newsletter is an effective way to stay engaged, connected, and supported as we move forward. Your feedback is welcome and appreciated. And your use of our new
on-line
donation capability will be gratefully accepted.
Clinician as
Activist: by Alice Rothchild, MD
Update on Chapter 141 and the Office of Patient Protection By Leo L. Stolbach, M.D. In November 2000 the voters of Massachusetts had the opportunity
to vote on a ballot initiative, proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee
and others, which would have established Universal Health Care and
other health system reforms in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the
voters turned down the ballot initiative by 52% vs. 48%. It is relevant
to point out that the opponents of the initiative outspent the proponents
50-to-1, with the HMO's contributing $4 million to its defeat.
Constitutional Amendment Protecting Right to Health Care Slated to be on Massachusetts Ballot in 2006 By John Goodson, MD A constitutional amendment committing the Commonwealth to state-based
universal access to health care is on track to appear on the November
2006 state ballot. With ratification, it will be the "duty
and obligation" of our elected leaders to create a system of
affordable and comprehensive health insurance for all state residents.
The language, which has been approved by the Attorney General, was
endorsed by 153 out of 200 state legislators at the Constitutional
Convention in July 2004.
By Sandy Eaton, RN The drive to enact | ||||
