Healthcare is a Human Right! Maryland Campaign 2012

Eric Naumburg, M.D., M.P.H

PNHP Maryland

Healtcare-Now! Maryland

Maryland Demographics

Population 5.8 Million Median Income 3rd highest Blue State Government Workers (Federal, State) Diverse Population Wide variation in medical outcomes

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Number Uninsured in Maryland 2006-2011

500000

587500

675000

762500

850000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Year

Nu

mb

er

Un

insu

red

Maryland Uninsured 2011

• 802,000 (Current Population Survey)

• 13.8% of total population• Estimated deaths 800 (9th leading

cause)• 2007 Reforms fail lower uninsured

Maryland Private Health Insurance MarketPercent of Total Premiums in 2008

• Carefirst - 54%

• Aetna - 15.6%

• Cigna - 13.7%

• Kaiser - 8.1%

Maryland Health Security Act

Canadian Style Single-Payer SystemIntroduced 4 yearsNumber of co-sponsors stable2010 closest to getting out of committeeReached a plateau of support

“Financing the Maryland Health Secuity Act”Gerald Friedman, Ph.D.

February 2012

Ideal System incorporate all government programs folded in24% Savings Possible Current SystemInsures Everyone; Save 15% ($7 Billion) 1st yearExcellent Benefits Package -dental, Rx, vision, mental health/addiction, home health, etc.; no expansion of long-term care.

Time for a Change

• Lobbying by itself is not working

• Human Rights Approach (Vermont)

• Save our money and hire a full-time community organizer

• Strategic Alliance Formed of 3 Groups

• The United Workers is a human rights organization led by low-wage workers.

• Founded 2002 Eutaw Street Shelter• Living Wage Stadium Workers 2007• Declared Human Rights Zone Baltimore Inner

Harbor 2008• Fair Development and GGP• 501[c]3 corporation

• Revitalized 2008

• Maryland Health Security Act

• Lobbying State Legislature

• Economic Impact Study

• Fundraising

Healthcare-Now! Maryland

•1992 United Healthcare Action Network (UHCAN) formed loose

alliance, national focus. Citizens group.

• 1994 Wellpoint attempts to buy non-profit Carefirst BC/BS of

Maryland and fails; UHCAN opposes buyout.

•Name changed to HCN result of split (SP vs. Incremental),

RWJ Grant

• State Mandated Audit Reveals Carefirst databases deny 20%

to 29% clean claims (2007); a result of the buyout opposition.

•2010 Becomes chapter of Healthcare-Now!, a 501.c.4

•Works closely with Maryland Chapter PNHP

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Guidance/Learning

• NESRI - National Economic & Social Rights Initiative; partnership approach to local groups; 4 areas of emphasis education, health,housing, work with dignity

• Vermont Workers Center

Memorandum of Understanding

“HCN, PNHP and UW share a vision for health care as a human right, provided as a public good by a publicly funded and administered single payer health care system. HCN, PNHP and UW are coming together to create a broad-based grassroots movement as the foundation for achieving this vision in Maryland.”

MOU: Structure of Document

• Parties to the MOU• Purpose• Statement of Mutual Benefit• Interim Governance Structure• Responsibilities of Parties• Information and Data Sharing• Funding and Cost Allocation• Dispute Resolution

Human Rights Principles• Universality: Public policies must ensure that everyone’s

human rights are protected and their fundamental needs met. Everyone is included.

• Equity: Public policies must enable equality of opportunity and outcome with regard to protecting human rights and meeting human needs. Everyone contributes what they can and gets what they need.

• Public Goods: The services, goods and infrastructure necessary to realize human rights and meet human needs must be treated as public goods, not as commodities. Public goods belong to everyone.

• Participation (Power/Accountability): Policies must be accountable and ensure the participation and power of the people. Everyone is empowered to participate and to hold public and private sectors accountable.

Objectives for Campaign• Independent HCHR Movement• Statewide Grassroots Organizing Campaign• One or more Regional Committees in all 23

counties and Baltimore City• Hire Full Time Community Organizer - Done • Report based on surveys (NESRI) in 2013• Leadership Training Curriculum• De-emphasize Legislative Lobbying 1st yr.

Campaign Activities

• Canvassing: survey and photo petition

• One-on-one conversations

• Building Regional Committees

• Story Telling Tools

• Outreach events - Kickoff Dec. 15th

• Local Human Rights Forums

• Speakers’ Bureau

Committees to be Formed

• Policy

• Media

• Organizing and Education

• Fund Raising

• Permanent Governance Structure