First, I want to thank you for supporting the Archimedes Movement - locally, online, by email and in person, with us and with your legislators. You have done so much and it truly has made a difference.

We've grown to more than 7,000 members with 38 chapters throughout Oregon, and we've definitely had everyone talking about our bill - SB 27, the Oregon Better Health Act. In addition, we've got three chapters in Washington, one in Florida, one in Indiana and talk about chapters starting in New York and Philadelphia.

Even though SB 27 wasn't passed during this session, significant progress has been made to accomplish our future goals. We've got several options open to us and we'd like your input as we look at possible next steps.

The path of SB 27
Thanks to the efforts of our members and supporters all over Oregon, SB 27 got further than anyone predicted and we must remember - it was not the only health related bill to die without a hearing before Ways and Means. To recap SB 27's progress through this session:

• On March 12, because of your grassroots lobbying, The Senate Special Committee on Health Care Reform SB 27 had a hearing at which Governor Kitzhaber testified, along with advocates for health reform. There was no testimony in opposition to the bill.
• Two days later, a second day was scheduled for SB 27, but, since the merger had been announced earlier that week, testimony focused on how SB 27 and SB 329 (Healthy Oregon Act) could be merged.
• Several weeks later, when the decision was made to not include Medicare in the merged bill, we chose to move SB 27 on its own merits, knowing it would be a hard, uphill road. In late April your pressure resulted in the Senate Special Committee on Health Care Reform scheduling a work session at which Governor Kitzhaber read proposed amendments to SB 27. The committee adopted those amendments and voted to move SB 27 to Ways and Means. (See the Oregon Legislature web site for a glossary defining a hearing and a work session.)
• Despite continuous requests from supporters, allies and several legislators, SB 27 was never scheduled for a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee (although it was mentioned during Ways and Means hearings on SB 329, and several Senators requested that SB 27 come before that committee.) On Friday June 22nd Rep. Mary Nolan let us know via a conversation with Gov. Kitzhaber that SB 27 would not be scheduled for a hearing in Ways and Means.

SB 329 becomes law

The Archimedes Movement had a big impact on SB 329. First, the actual language in the bill includes all but one of the principles developed by the Archimedes Movement over the last year by you online, in chapters and in community meetings. Second, we worked hard to get community members to turn out for the meetings that Senators Bates and Westlund held about SB 329 and to the Ways and Means regional meetings. Lastly, we asked our members to contact legislators to support passage of SB 329, feeling that it would maximize what Oregon could accomplish without changing federal law, while SB 27 would allow for a broader discussion that could result in Oregon submitting proposals for discussion at the national level. Many legislators acknowledged that SB 329 was influenced by the work on SB 27 and credited the role of the Archimedes Movement for its content, particularly Sens. Bates and Westlund. As the planning process called for in SB 329 moves forward, we will need to stay engaged and offer public input. But we mustn't lose sight of our greater goal - defining a set of essential health services delivered in an economically sustainable health system that is accessible to us all.

The Archimedes Movement footprint
We knew when we launched the Archimedes Movement that trying to engage consumers in the political and policy decision-making process would be a long road. Nearly every member of the Oregon Legislature - House and Senate, Democrat and Republican - heard from constituents who were Archimedes members. Legislators listened to you advocate for Governor Kulongoski's Healthy Kids Plan, the DHS budget, OHP Standard, SB 329, expanding the safety net and SB 27. It was impressive. Legislators now know about the Archimedes Movement.

Where do we go from here?
Now that the session is over, we can identify specific strategies that will achieve the mission of the Archimedes Movement, operating within the framework that you helped define to envision a new health system and create the political tension necessary to bring it into being. Options that lay before us possibly include:

• filing for a Ballot Measure title;
• preparing a bill for submission in the yet-to-be-defined '08 Oregon Legislative session;
• shifting focus to other states who are talking about introducing SB 27 in their '08 sessions;
• taking on the benefit and delivery system design process ourselves.
• a combination of these efforts.

Each of these options require that we raise a lot of money to make them happen.

Over the summer, Matt, Katherine and I are going to be meeting with Archimedes members around the state to ask you what you think about the options we have for next steps. We'll be doing some strategic planning and we just got a grant from the Northwest Health Foundation to work with a consultant to help frame our messages as we expand outreach and education around health reform. One of our goals is to help support the chapters as local leaders so that by next session it's clear to all legislators that the Archimedes Movement is in their district and their home town; that when members come in to talk to them it's clear that each person can say "I am the Archimedes Movement."

Members of the Portland Eastside chapter are going to have a table at the premier weekend of Michael Moore's film "Sicko," handing out materials and asking others to join us in the Archimedes Movement.

Oregonians will be talking about changes to the health care system for some time to come. You made an enormous difference during this session and your voice remains critically important. Thank you for all you've done this past year.

Liz

Liz Baxter, Director
Archimedes Movement