Faithful Reform in Health Care

1. Faithful Reform in Health Care “Health Care Reform 2010” What’s at stake for people of faith Prepared by: Faithful Reform in Health Care February 3, 2010

2. Faithful Reform in Health Care A tale of 2 sons

3. Faithful Reform in Health Care A tale of 2 sons

4. Faithful Reform in Health Care Health care reform 2010 If all other industrialized democracies can make health care available to all their people, WHY CAN’T WE? ?

5. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: 3 Imperatives Three imperatives for reform:

6. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #1 The moral dilemma I am my brother’s or sister’s keeper. Health care is a personal responsibility.

7. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #1 Moral commitment We have to answer the question once and for all “Do want everyone to have the health care they need – or not?”

8. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #2 Agreement on the goal Do we want to… improve/guarantee access or… restrain the growth of costs?

9. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #2 All other industrialized democracies have found ways to maintain quality while addressing both access and costs. COST ACCESS QUALITY

10. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #3 Marketplace or the government? Are human needs better served by markets, individual ownership, competition and profits, or by governments and laws that guarantee access and the fair distribution of costs?

11. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #3 The marketplace + the government We must find a solution with a creative mix of effectivegovernment regulation fairmarket incentives +

12. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #4 Political partisanship The decline in cooperation between the two major political parties has created unnecessary tensions between these perspectives, and has limited their willingness to seek common ground for the common good.

13. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #4 Overcoming political partisanship will depend upon all of us demanding dialogue over “my-way-or-no-way” thinking… AND cultural transformation around shared moral values. THE KEY? PEOPLE OF FAITH!!!

14. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #5 • Economic self-interests of key players • Campaign contributors • & lobbyists affect: • how issues are framed • how bills are written • which bills get committee hearings • what goes to the floor for votes

15. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues: Challenge #5 Strong public demands (voices of faith) for change can: Promote the common good as a benefit to everyone’s self-interest. Prevent special interests from blocking progress toward reform.

16. Faithful Reform in Health Care Health care reform 2010 If health care reform in our states and in our nation is inevitable. Are people of faith prepared to be the change agents we are meant to be… to ensure that systemic reform “bends toward justice”? (ML KING, JR.) ?

17. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision In calling us to partnership in completing creation, and creating a world of justice and peace, God has ennobled humanity to raise above mere biological existence and give into our lives destiny and meaning and purpose… That call to provide that moral witness… is a fulfillment of God’s call for us to be partners in shaping this better more hopeful future for all of God’s children. Rabbi David Saperstein Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Video, Vision and Voice curriculum

18. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision “A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care” (in the packet of materials available prior to the meeting)

19. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision As people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity. That vision embraces a system of health care that is inclusive, accessible, affordable, and accountable.

20. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision: Inclusive Health care is a shared responsibility that is grounded in our common humanity. The values: inclusive community… common good… care for one another… compassion… sharing our abundant health care resources with everyone. 

21. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision: Affordable Health care must contribute to the common good by being affordable for individuals, families and society as a whole. Values: abundant resources… meet the needs of one another… faithful stewardship… equity

22. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision: Accessible All persons should have access to health services that provide necessary care and contribute to wellness. Values: health and wholeness… act with justice and love… overcome all barriers… eliminate disparities

23. Faithful Reform in Health Care A Vision: Accountable Our health care system must be accountable, offering a quality, equitable and sustainable means of keeping us healthy as individuals and as a community. Values: responsibility for the care of our bodies… work in partnership… timely, quality and safe care that treats body, mind and spirit.

24. Faithful Reform in Health Care The measure of justice Questions of justice arise from this vision: • Who’s included? Who’s excluded? • Who pays? Who profits? • Who profits at the expense of those who cannot pay?

25. Faithful Reform in Health Care The measure of justice Questions of justice arise from this vision: • Whose voices are being heard? Whose voices are not being heard? • Who’s accountable? To whom?

26. Where are we?

27. Where are we?

28. Where are we?

29. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? Success! We passed comprehensive reform in the 5 committees of jurisdiction: • 2 in the Senate • 3 in the House of Representatives

30. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? Success! 2 Senate committee bills 1 Senate bill (H.R. 3590) (passed with 60 votes - Dec. 24, 2009) 3 House committee bills 1 House bill (H.R. 3962) (passed with 220 votes – Nov. 7, 2009)

31. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? Success! Both houses of Congress agreed that: • Our goal should be to get everyone covered • A significant expansion of Medicaid was needed (15+ million more people in health insurance!)

32. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? Success! Both houses of Congress agreed that: • Insurance market reforms are needed: • No exclusions for pre-existing conditions • Insurance can’t be cancelled just because you get an expensive illness

33. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? Success! Both houses of Congress agreed that: • Insurance market reforms are needed: • Insurers must spend a minimum % of premiums on health care, not paperwork & perks

34. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? Success! Both houses of Congress agreed that: • Seniors must be protected from the doughnut hole in Rx drug coverage • The # of community health centers needs to be increased to better serve under-served populations.

35. Faithful Reform in Health Care So... Where are we? The two bills should have gone to a Conference Committee of Senate & House leadership to produce a reconciled bill that would have been must be approved in both chambers of Congress in exactly the same form.

36. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? A “pseudo” conference process was underway when supporters of health care reform lost their filibuster proof majority in the Senate.

37. Faithful Reform in Health Care Where are we? THE RESULT? BOTH houses now lack the votes to pass the Senate bill. • The House is not likely to pass the Senate bill as is / by itself. • The Senate won’t pass anything that comes out of the conference.

38. Faithful Reform in Health Care Options ahead? The suggestions we are hearing: Unlikely: • Start over • Scale back (From a justice perspective, we know what that means!)

39. Faithful Reform in Health Care Options ahead? The suggestions we are hearing: More likely #1: • Split the bills into at least two bills, one with the provisions that have broad agreement (such as insurance industry reforms).

40. Faithful Reform in Health Care Options ahead? The suggestions we are hearing: More likely #2: • House passes the Senate bill along with a budget reconciliation bill that “amends” some of the financial issues in

41. Faithful Reform in Health Care Options ahead? Stumbling blocks: • The only “fixes” permitted in budget reconciliation are those that relate to the federal budget, taxation, etc. • The Senate parliamentarian makes the decision about what qualifies.

42. Faithful Reform in Health Care Options ahead? More stumbling blocks: • Funding for abortion • Whether there will be a national exchange (House) or 50 state exchanges (Senate). • The public option (yes, the public option!)

43. Faithful Reform in Health Care The legislative process Once an identical bill is passed in both Houses of Congress, the bill goes to the President for his signature…. HEALTH CARE REFORM IS PASSED!

44. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues & our faith values “Moral Vision in the Health Care Reform Bills”

45. Faithful Reform in Health Care The issues & our faith values Where is the focus for people of faith? • Affordability for low-middle income individuals and families • Immigrant inclusion • Public option (or comparable alternative) • Insurance industry accountability

46. Faithful Reform in Health Care Actions around our faith values What to do… what to do… • Continued outreach to Congress • Be a part of the “truth squad” • Commit to staying engaged for the extended short-term & the long term

47. Faithful Reform in Health Care Actions around our faith values Immediate: • Interfaith Virtual Vigil of Prayer, Hope, and Action • Sign “A Call to Political Courage, Vision, Leadership, and Faith”

48. Faithful Reform in Health Care Actions around our faith values Long-term: Education, dialogue, and advocacy around implementation, improvements, & state-based reforms

49. Resources • Vision and Voice: Faithful Citizens and Health Care • 4 session interfaith dialogue and education series • Free downloads, including a video of faith leaders speaking • http://www.visionandvoice.org • The Thoughtful Christian • Ecumenical health care adult study resources • Small fee for downloads • http://www.TheThoughtfulChristian.com

50. Faithful Reform in Health Care Faithful Reform in Health Care http://www.faithfulreform.org 216-685-0796 Rev. Linda Hanna Walling 2800 Euclid Avenue #520 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Cleveland, OH 44115