Rally for health care reform – ‘Mothers Leading the Way’
On Saturday, May 30th, WSNA joined over 180 other organizations and thousands of individuals in a rally and march for quality, affordable health care for everyone in 2009. WSNA staff and members joined together at the rally wearing WSNA blue and proudly holding “RNs Care for You” signs.
The theme, "Health Care for All in 2009 - Mothers Leading the Way," was a powerful message, with mothers front and center during the march and rally. The diverse group of supporters and broad coalition of endorsing organizations at the march displayed energy and enthusiasm for attaining President Obama’s goal of achieving health care reform this year.
WSNA President Kim Armstrong spoke at the rally noting that registered nurses are acutely aware of the problems people face when they do not receive timely and appropriate care. She explained, “The cost of health care in the nation is out of line. But efforts to decrease costs by decreasing reimbursement to those who provide care only decreases the access to health care. We must have Health Care Reform and we Must Have it NOW.”
Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Jim McDermott also addressed the crowd as well as a number of community leaders.
WSNA officially endorsed the rally and its goal of winning quality, affordable health care for everyone in 2009. WSNA was also proud to participate in the planning, promotion and execution of the event.
WA State University Forum on the Community Health Impacts of the Economic Crisis
Washington State University Vancouver’s Center for Social and Environmental Justice held an expert and community leaders discussion on Saturday, June 27th to discuss the impact to critical health services as a result of the weak economy.
Sofia Aragon, RN, JD, WSNA Senior Governmental Affairs Advisor, was a member of the panel focused on major policy initiatives and recommendations to address needed health services within the current economic climate. WSNA presented examples of local impact such as the upcoming closure of the Southwest Washington Hospital’s Healthy Steps Clinics which includes nurse practitioners along with information on the organization’s legislative priorities including working with partners to secure the health care services safety net, preserving and enhancing public health and public health nursing, the economic climate’s impact on the nursing shortage, and policy opportunities through federal health care reform.
Discussions with Senator Maria Cantwell on Health Care Reform at UW and SW WA Medical Center
WSNA was represented at a small meeting held by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell with labor leaders on June 30th in Seattle. WSNA took the opportunity to press the Senator on a strong public option as part of health care reform at the federal level. In addition, WSNA was able to emphasize the importance prevention, maintaining public health services and including advanced registered nurse practitioners in the Senator’s efforts to increase the number of primary care providers.
On July 1, Senator Cantwell held an expert panel discussion on health care reform in Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. Panelists included Sofia Aragon, RN, JD, WSNA Senior Governmental Affairs Advisor along with representatives from Group Health Cooperative, Regence, Premera, Legacy Health System, Dr. Dawn Doutrich, Ph.D who is nursing faculty at Washington State University, Providence Centralia Hospital, AARP, and the Free Clinic of SW Washington.
WSNA testified in favor of a nationwide public option for health care access, the importance of supporting prevention and public health, and the critical role that Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners have played in providing primary care in Washington.
Next Steps
WSNA continues to work with partners such as Health Care for America Now to mobilize members and send the message the Washington State federal delegation and others that meaningful health care reform is needed.
