Ask your representative to attend "An analysis of Deficit Commission changes"

[eridani]

Please contact your member of Congress and encourage him/her and staff to attend the briefing "An analysis of proposed changes to Medicare before the Deficit Commission and a better alternative: Improved Medicare for all" on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2:30 - 4 p.m., 1334 Longworth House Office Building. The congressional switchboard is [phone].

Thank you.

Don Mitchell
Chair, PNHP WW chapter
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Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care

Dear Members of the House of Representatives and Health Staff,

You are cordially invited to attend a congressional briefing: "An analysis of proposed changes to Medicare before the Deficit Commission and a better alternative: Improved Medicare for all"

Thursday, Sept. 23, 2:30 - 4 p.m., 1334 Longworth House Office Building

Panelists:

Tsung-Mei Cheng, distinguished health economist and expert on comparative health systems at Princeton University. Professor Cheng writes and lectures internationally on such topics as single-payer systems, health care quality, financing, pay-for-performance and technology assessment. She also hosts Princeton's television program, "International Forum."

Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., nationally recognized authority on health disparities, minority health, health services research, health policy, access to care and national health insurance. He is presently chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the Miller School of the University of Miami and a board member of Physicians for a National Health Program

Michele Evermore, legislative advocate for National Nurses United. Prior to working for NNU, she was a senior legislative officer in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Labor. She also has 10 years of experience as a congressional staffer for Sen. Tom Harkin in his personal office and on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and for then-Ranking-Member George Miller on the House Education and Labor Committee.

The Honorable Raúl M. Grijalva (Honorary Host),co-chair, Congressional
Progressive Caucus

The Honorable Lynn Woolsey (Honorary Host), co-chair, Congressional
Progressive Caucus

The panelists will explain changes to Medicare that are being explored by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and how these changes could weaken the Medicare program. They will describe the strengths of our current Medicare, in particular as it pertains to reducing poverty and health disparities, and how an improved Medicare for All would effectively assure truly universal care, cost controls and financial solvency.

With more than 46 million uninsured Americans, 45,000 deaths a year due to lack of health insurance, and 62 percent of personal bankruptcies linked to medical debt, it is clear even more thoroughgoing health care reform is needed and must be part of any economic recovery plan.

Please attend and participate in the discussion. Light refreshments will be provided.
This briefing is intended for Members and staff. RSVP is appreciated, not required. Contact Dr. Margaret Flowers at [e-mail] , [phone].

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care is a coalition of doctors, nurses and other health care providers; labor unions; nonprofit agencies; reform advocates and faith-based organizations working to achieve comprehensive, high quality, and affordable health care coverage for everybody in the United States. The coalition specifically advocates for a publicly funded and privately delivered national health care system structured around asingle-payer financing mechanism. Co-sponsors of this event include Physicians for a National Health Program, National Nurses United, Healthcare-Now, Progressive Democrats of America, All Unions Committee for Single Payer, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, RESULTS, Prosperity Agenda, Code Pink, Gray Panthers and Social Security Works.