What: Our monthly meeting will take the form of a potluck dinner and panel discussion.

Panel discussion question: Will health care reform happen in the 2009 Oregon legislative session?

Bring a salad or dessert to share. Beverages provided.

Who: A panel of local legislators will speak about what is expected in this 2009 Legislative session. (still confirming individuals)

When: The monthly meeting time has changed to the 1st Wednesday of the month for all of 2009.

Wednesday Evening, January 7, 2009
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Potluck/Social 6:30 to 7:00; Panel 7:00 to 8:00

Where: EWEB Public Meeting Rooms
500 E 4th Ave, Eugene

Local members of Archimedes Movement and Health Care for All–Oregon co-sponsor meetings on the first Wednesday of each month (a change from 2008) for those interested in improving our health care system. All are welcome to attend.

The Archimedes Movement (begun by Dr John Kitzhaber in 2006) and Health Care for All–Oregon (members placed Measure 23 on the 2002 ballot) are Oregon non-profit organizations committed to preparing the public to participate in the process of improving our health care system.

Join us for an informative evening!

Questions: Call Billy Burger at 607-1162

Archimedes member Roberta Hall will be interviewing nurse practitioner Ruth Palma, who discusses her profession, current problems in the health care system and the need for universal health care.

The interview is part of KBOO's Health and Health Care Forum, radio series that provides a window into today's health care by interviews with diverse people involved in it. One goal of the programs is to help the public expand its horizons about needed changes, and hence reduce fear and increase support as changes are planned.

The show will be aired on KBOO fm radio (90.7 Portland, 91.9 in the Columbia Gorge, and 100.7 in the Willamette Valley) from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Mondays. The program is hosted by Roberta Hall, co-leader of the Corvallis Archimedes chapter and produced by her and Joe Magner of Anabyte Recording and Electronics, Corvallis.   

If you enjoy the show, let Kathleen Stephenson know; she is KBOO morning news editor (amnews@kboo.org). The show is also available to community radio stations in other parts of Oregon, who can contact Hall for information (rhall@oregonstate.edu). 

Paul Hochfeld, M.D. was featured last week with John Frohnmayer as speakers for the City Club of Eugene program. The event will be aired on KLCC radio at 6:30pm on Nov. 17th.

From KLCC:

John Frohnmayer and Dr. Paul Hochfeld are advocates for single payer health care. They recognize the need for an affordable health plan that halts the steep escalation of health care costs in America today. Change can happen only when there is a fair excahnge of facts related to costs and services and an honest evaluation of why other countries do so much better at half the cost.

John Frohnmayer, lawyer and author, captured national attention when he served the first Bush Administration as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For over 30 years, Dr. Paul Hochfeld has been a practicing emergency medical doctor in Oregon. He took a video camera and crossed the country, interviewing experts on why they think our medical system is failing. He has just returned from lectures in Washington, D.C., and a conference for the Physicians for a National Health Program in San Diego. Paul says "our health care system is a bizarre blend of the worst of capitalism and the worst of socialism." He ends his film "Health, Money and Fear" saying, "we need to get over our fear of the government and embrace the idea that in health care, somebody needs to be in charge so that we can keep our eye on the prize, which is health, not profit."

Our first question will be asked by Senator Bill Morrisette, Chair of Senate Committee for Seniors and People with Disabilities.

You can download or listen to an MP3 recording of the event.

There will be a presentation and discussion of the Oregon Health Fund Board and its proposals for changing the way health care is delivered and paid for in Oregon.

The proposals are under final development, and will be released publicly in late November. The Oregon Legislature will take them up in January 2009, and changes may be implemented during the year.

A draft proposal is available on the Oregon Health Fund Board website.  www.oregon.gov/OHPPR/HFB/

We are expecting some of our local legislators to attend.

The meeting will be facilitated by local members of our group. All are welcome to attend.

Contact: Dr. Frank Turner - turners@rio.com