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Our Goal: Lifetime Comprehensive Health Care for ALL

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi


HOLD OUT FOR SINGLE-PAYER! 




See Video of June 10th

Single-Payer Hearing in Washington 




If you missed the May 22nd broadcast of Bill Moyers Journal on PBS titled "Our Broken Health Care System," click here to view his eye-opening interview with Drs. David Himmelstein and Sidney Wolfe.  Click here to view his equally enlightening interview with Donna Smith of the California Nurses Association.

 


 

UPDATE: Single-Payer Bill Re-Introduced in Ohio House in 2009

      

URGE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL!

 

For each new session of the General Assembly, bills introduced in previous sessions which have not been acted upon must be reintroduced if action by the new Assembly is desired.

 

Accordingly, on April 29, 2009 State Representatives Michael Skindell and Robert Hagan jointly reintroduced the Health Care For All Ohioans Act (HCFAOA) in the House of Representatives (H.B. 159).

 

Co-sponsors of H.B. 159 are:  Barbara Boyd, Edna Brown, Michael DeBose, John DomenickMike Foley, Marian Harris, Sandra Stabile Harwood, Joseph Koziura, Tom Letson, Clayton Luckie, Dale Mallory, Peter Ujvagi, W. Carlton Weddington, Sandra Williams, and Kenny Yuko.

 

If you don’t see your state representative listed above, we urge you to phone, write or email him or her asking for their support of this bill. (If you DO see your representative listed, let him or her know you appreciate their support.)

 

If you don't know who your state representative is, click Find Legislator by Zip Code which will take you to a page where all you need do is fill in your zip code to be taken to page that shows who your State Representative is. Click on his/her name to go to a page showing how to reach him or her.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich is currently circulating this letter to his colleagues in the House of Representatives, giving them the opportunity to sign on.  The requested language would remove federal barriers to the enactment of state single payer plans.

 

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

Members of the HealthCare Access and Affordability Committee, shown in the table below, should be urged to include single-payer in their deliberations.

 

HealthCare Access and Affordability

Name Party Position Name Party Position
Lorraine M. Fende D Chair Barbara R. Sears R Ranking Minority Member
Nancy Garland D Vice Chair Dave Burke R Member
Linda S. Bolon D Member Robert Hackett R Member
Marian Harris D Member Peggy Lehner R Member
Mike Moran D Member Ross McGregor R Member
Matt Patten D Member Todd Snitchler R Member
Brian G. Williams D Member

 

You can also help rally support for this bill by asking your local city council or commission to pass a resolution in support of the Health Care For All Ohioans Act. SPAN will provide you with a sample resolution and tips for getting the issue on your local government’s agenda. Call 216-376-4766 or email  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  for assistance.   
ACTION is needed. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP.

 

 

 

 

 


CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO DIARY OF DAVE PAVLICK'S 2008 WALK FOR HEALTH CARE JUSTICE 

 


MUST SEEThe Communications Workers of America (CWA) has posted an excellent short video, "A Tale of Two Countries," on the union’s website. The video, produced by the Canadian Media Guild-CWA, compares the healthcare systems in the United States and Canada.
Click here to view the video. 

PBS Report Shows Universal Health Care Systems Working Abroad
A "Frontline" report on PBS examines the universal health care plans of five countries--Britain, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland--and shows that in each country "insurance premiums are significantly lower than those in America (in Britain there are none), and the waiting time to see a doctor is either tolerable (in Britain) or nonexistent," reports the New York Times.


See Toledo City Paper cover story featuring Dr. Johnathon Ross, practicing physician and member of SPAN Ohio State Council.


Private card, huge deductible? No way

 

Don't be fooled by all the politicians claiming to support "universal" health care. If you read the fine print, most of their proposals dictate that everyone should buy a private health care card. What good is your card if it commits you to a $5,000 deductible and 50 percent co-pay before you receive any of your (limited) benefits?

 

 

We should reject a mandate that everyone must contribute to the coffers of the big insurance corporations. No, thanks. That sort of "universal" plan could mainly bankrupt the middle class and further enrich the private insurance manipulators.

We need a universal plan that is compassionate and sustainable.

 

The clearest way is to eliminate the role of for-profit insurance companies. Having been practicing medicine for 35 years, after seeing "Sicko" I'm convinced we need (and will eventually demand) a single payer, universal, health insurance system.

 

 

Thanks, Michael Moore, for pointing the way.

 

 

HENRY S. KAHN
Kahn is emeritus professor of family and preventive medicine at Emory University School of Medicine

 


 Who We Are
Single-Payer Action Network Ohio  (SPAN Ohio) is a coalition of individuals and organizations in Ohio working together to achieve fundamental reform of the health insurance system, first in our state and eventually at the national level, so that every resident is guaranteed full and comprehensive coverage from birth to death. SPAN Ohio is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(4) organization. Contributions to SPAN are not tax deductible.

To join the coalition, please complete the sign-up form, which will add your name to our mailing list and allow us to keep you informed of our progress. Since we are not a membership organization, there is no cost to join. However, voluntary contributions in any amount to help cover the cost of printing and other expenses are greatly appreciated. To make a financial contribution, please CLICK HERE or on the button below.
Warm Welome Home
WELCOME HOME, DAVE!

In July of 2006, Dave Pavlick, a dedicated SPAN supporter based in Cleveland, decided to use his four weeks of vacation to hike across the state to call attention to the plight of the uninsured and underinsured and to publicize and win support for SPAN's campaign to put single-payer health care on the ballot in Ohio. Dave completed his grueling 23-day walk on July 27 at 7:00 p.m. on the steps of Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue.  The Walk was a complete success, raising awareness of the issue and support from people across the state. Click here to see some of the press coverage Dave got.
Attorney General Certifies SPAN Petition
CLICK HERE for more information.
 
UPDATE: Single-Payer Bill Re-Introduced in Ohio House in 2009
 
Volunteers are needed in all 88 Ohio counties
Volunteers are needed in all 88 Ohio counties to collect petition signatures. If you want to help,  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . We will get the necessary materials and instructions to you.

  1. Click here for instructions on circulating petitions.
  2. Click here for an explanation of the Initiative Petition Process
  3. Click here to locate the Regional Coordinator for your county.
 
Samples of SPAN's printed materials and how to obtain copies for distribution

 

NEWS AND OPINION
Upcoming Events:
SPAN in the Stow 4th of July Parade
July 4, 2009 (8:15 am - 12:15 pm)
Portage and Summit County SPAN chapters will be marching in the parade. We need 20 people willing to march. Meet at 8:15 a.m. Stow City Hall Monbeck parking lot.

SPAN Cleveland Chapter Meeting
July 6, 2009 (7:00 pm - 8:30 pm)
Cleveland Heights Public Library, Meeting Room A - 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH - The main item of business will be a report & discussion of single-payer universal health care vs. the public option and other plans currently being discus...

SPAN State Council Meeting
August 22, 2009 (10:00 am - 1:00 pm)
AFSCME OHIO COUNCIL 8 - 6800 North High St. - Worthington, OH 43085 [DIRECTIONS: Take I-71 south or north, as the case may be, to 270 west, take 270 west to the first exit, which is I-23 ("Worthington"), take I-23 south to High Street, ex...

View Full Calendar
How You Can Help:
Circulate Petitions
Form a Chapter
Lobby Your Legislator
Obtain Endorsements
Write Letters to Editors
Make a Donation
Fundraisers and House Parties


"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
–Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Single-Payer Action Network Ohio
3227 West 25th Street
Cleveland, OH 44109  (216) 736.4766