| Revision as of 05:08, 4 December 2013 editRoccodrift (talk | contribs)682 edits →Affordable Care Act: Removing editorial aside not found in source← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 00:45, 9 January 2024 edit undoPustam.EGR (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,238 edits #suggestededit-add-desc 1.0Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit | ||
| (77 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Short description|Political advocacy group}} | |||
| {{distinguish|Healthcare-NOW!}} | {{distinguish|Healthcare-NOW!}} | ||
| {{POV|date=June 2020}} | |||
| '''Health Care for America Now''' ('''HCAN''') is a progressive political coalition of more than 1,000 organizations that joined together in 2008 in a successful effort to promote legislation to overhaul the United States health care system and extend medical benefits to most of the population that is currently uninsured. The ] (PPACA or ACA) was signed into law by President ] on March 23, 2010,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation |title=Focus on Health Reform: Summary of New Health Reform Law |date=April 15, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf}}</ref> and HCAN was credited with being a "major contributor" to its passage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cramer|first=Dan|last=Novick|first=Tom |publisher=The Atlantic Philanthropies |title=Evaluation: Executive Summary of Findings and Lessons from the HCAN Campaign |date=September 21, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/learning/hcan-evaluation-executive-summary}}</ref> After enactment of the law, HCAN shifted its activities to defending the law from opposition attacks and advocating for the law before ] and federal and state regulatory agencies. | |||
| {{Overly detailed|date=June 2020}} | |||
| '''Health Care for America Now''' ('''HCAN''') is a political advocacy group of more than 1,000 organizations{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} that joined together in 2008 in a successful effort to promote legislation to reform the United States health care system and extend medical benefits to most of the population that is currently uninsured. The ] (PPACA or ACA) was signed into law by President ] on March 23, 2010,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|publisher=The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation |title=Focus on Health Reform: Summary of New Health Reform Law |date=April 15, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf}}</ref> and HCAN was credited with being a "major contributor"{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} to its passage.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|last1=Cramer|first1=Dan|last2=Novick|first2=Tom |publisher=The Atlantic Philanthropies |title=Evaluation: Executive Summary of Findings and Lessons from the HCAN Campaign |date=September 21, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/learning/hcan-evaluation-executive-summary}}</ref> After enactment of the law, HCAN shifted its activities to defending the law from opposition attacks{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} and advocating for the law before ]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} and state{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} regulatory agencies. | |||
| ==Organization== | ==Organization== | ||
| HCAN is directed by a steering committee that consists of a wide range of tax-exempt public charities, ], ] and civil rights groups.<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=Who We Are |date=December 2, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/who_we_are/}}</ref> HCAN is a ] ] organization that runs national and state-based legislative and regulatory campaigns through grassroots action, public education, aggressive media outreach, research and policy analysis. It works in cooperation with its ] partner, Health Care for America Education Fund, a project of the ], a public charity.<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=More About HCAN |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/more_about_hcan}}</ref> | HCAN is directed by a steering committee that consists of a wide range of tax-exempt public charities, ], ]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} and civil rights groups.<ref name="auto2">{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}}{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=Who We Are |date=December 2, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/who_we_are/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721160315/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/who_we_are/ |archivedate=July 21, 2011}}</ref> HCAN is a ] ] organization that runs national{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} and state-based{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}{{like what?|date=June 2020}} legislative and regulatory campaigns through grassroots action, public education, aggressive media outreach, research and policy analysis.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} It works in cooperation with its ] partner, Health Care for America Education Fund, a project of the ], a public charity.<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=More About HCAN |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/more_about_hcan |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907085855/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/more_about_hcan |archivedate=September 7, 2011}}</ref> | ||
| The "national organizations" that are members of the umbrella group is composed of the following organizations:<ref> |
The "national organizations" that are members of the umbrella group is composed of the following organizations:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/about-us/members/|title=Member Organizations, National Organizations|publisher=|access-date=2013-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024203600/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/about-us/members/|archive-date=2012-10-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
| {{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] Action Fund | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] Action Fund | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *Progressive Future | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * Progressive Future | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] | |||
| *USAction | |||
| * ] | |||
| *Women's Voices. Women Vote | |||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * Women's Voices. Women Vote | |||
| * ] | |||
| }} | |||
| ==Funding and activities== | ==Funding and activities== | ||
| Funding for HCAN's operations has come from its member organizations, individual contributions and |
Funding for HCAN's operations has come from its member organizations, individual contributions and foundations, including the ].<ref name="auto2"/>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} HCAN also received $5 million from billionaire George Soros.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/george-soros-pledges-5-million-to-bankroll-health-care-reform-push-group-says/ |title=George Soros Pledges $5 Million to Bankroll Health Care Reform Push, Group Says | the Plum Line |access-date=2011-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029010455/http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/george-soros-pledges-5-million-to-bankroll-health-care-reform-push-group-says/ |archive-date=2011-10-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In their $50 million{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} campaign for passage of the ACA, HCAN mounted a multi-faceted field program that included television advertising{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} events{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}, demonstrations{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}, and advocacy meetings{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} with government officials{{example needed|date=October 2020}} across the country. | ||
| HCAN assembled a network of state-based advocacy groups to carry the message from the ground up to ]—an effort widely credited with strengthening |
HCAN assembled a network of state-based advocacy groups{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}{{example needed|date=October 2020}} to carry the message from the ground up to ]—an effort widely credited with strengthening like-minded organizations.{{by who?|date=June 2020}}{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} HCAN published numerous research reports<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=Reports |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/reports/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721160220/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/reports/ |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and conducted extensive media outreach<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=Media |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/media/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721160352/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/media/ |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> during the legislative campaign. An outside evaluation praised HCAN's "effective and disciplined strategic planning, decision-making and implementation; well-thought-out benchmarks; strong and effective internal leadership, efficient allocation of resources to staff and to fund a wide-ranging field program; resilience to buffeting external events; and its creation of opportunities for supporters to meaningfully engage with the movement for reform through multiple points of entry."<ref name="auto1"/>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} | ||
| ==Major actions== | ==Major actions== | ||
| HCAN's two largest public demonstrations occurred on June 25, 2009, when thousands of people from around the nation converged on ] in ], for a rally in support of health reform,<ref>{{cite video|author=Health Care for America Now |publisher=YouTube |title=Health Care Can't Wait-June 25th 2009 |date=June 26, 2009 |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url= |
HCAN's two largest public demonstrations occurred on June 25, 2009, when thousands of people from around the nation converged on ] in ], for a rally in support of health reform,<ref>{{cite video|author=Health Care for America Now |publisher=YouTube |title=Health Care Can't Wait-June 25th 2009 |date=June 26, 2009 |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elf4-JtZv8I}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} and on March 9, 2010, when more than 5,000{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} people rallied on the street outside a health insurance industry conference at the ] Hotel in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite video|author=CNN The Situation Room |publisher=MoxNewsDotCom |title=Howard Dean Joins Pro Health Care Reform Protesters Who Surround Ritz Carlton |date=March 9, 2010 |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scgw-WtyLlA&playnext=1&list=PLEEC5F763FFE7984D}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} HCAN led grassroots online activists, conducted news conferences and published reports on health insurance industry profits, executive compensation, concentration of market power, and mistreatment of consumers and health care providers. | ||
| ==Affordable Care Act== | ==Affordable Care Act== | ||
| HCAN did not achieve one of its central goals, the creation of a so-called public option, a government-run health plan that would introduce greater competition into local health insurance markets, nearly all of which are dominated by one or two large companies.<ref>{{cite report|author=Health Care for America Now |title=Premiums Soaring in Consolidated Health Insurance Market: Lack of Competition Hurts Rural States, Small Businesses |date=May 2009 |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://hcfan.3cdn.net/1b741c44183247e6ac_20m6i6nzc.pdf}}</ref> ] joined with ] |
HCAN did not achieve one of its central goals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/sites/default/files/uploads/HCAN_Executive_Summary.pdf|title=Executive summary|publisher=}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} the creation of a so-called public option{{says who?|date=June 2020}}, a government-run health plan that would introduce greater competition into local health insurance markets, nearly all of which are dominated by one or two large companies.<ref>{{cite report|author=Health Care for America Now |title=Premiums Soaring in Consolidated Health Insurance Market: Lack of Competition Hurts Rural States, Small Businesses |date=May 2009 |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://hcfan.3cdn.net/1b741c44183247e6ac_20m6i6nzc.pdf}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} ] joined with ] to block the public option and a proposal to allow Americans over 55 years old to pay unsubsidized premiums{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} to the government to purchase ] benefits, which now are provided to the elderly and disabled{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} through a single-payer system that picks up the vast majority of patients' costs. Despite those losses, HCAN supports the Affordable Care Act and frequently declares that the ACA's impact will be extensive in the policy and political arenas.<ref name="auto"/> | ||
| ==Activities since enactment of Affordable Care Act== | ==Activities since enactment of Affordable Care Act== | ||
| In 2010, as a result of political and ]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} to the ACA, in 2010 HCAN transitioned from campaigning for passage of the law to a broad campaign to fully implement health care reform at the state and federal level.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} HCAN's executive director, Ethan Rome{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}, has repeatedly declared{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} in media statements and in frequent writings on Huffington Post<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Huffington Post |title=Ethan Rome |accessdate=September 6, 2011 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ethan-rome}}</ref> that Congress and the Obama administration should carry out all implementation activities.<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=HCAN Shifts To Second Phase Of Health Reform |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/second_phase |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907145849/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/second_phase |archivedate=September 7, 2011 }}</ref> HCAN has said it intends to do this by identifying significant public policy issues as they arise and taking responsibility to lead campaigns to address them in collaboration with the diverse membership of its coalition.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}{{says who?|date=June 2020}} These efforts include pushing for strong accountability measures for insurance companies<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=Health Care Advocates Disinfect Big Insurance Meeting, Clean Up Lobbyistsí Dirty Tricks |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/clean_up_lobbyists_dirty_tricks |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823232736/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/clean_up_lobbyists_dirty_tricks |archivedate=August 23, 2011 }}</ref> and countering what HCAN claims is false information that has been systematically disseminated by opponents of the law.<ref>{{cite web |author=Health Care for America Now |title=HCAN Asks Broadcasters to Stop Airing Misleading Ads About Health Care Law |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/stop_airing_misleading_ads |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709014137/http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/stop_airing_misleading_ads |archivedate=July 9, 2011 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} HCAN continues to prepare reports{{like what?|date=June 2020}} that they believe highlight insurance industry excesses and abuses and to educate the public about developments related to implementation of the law by state and federal agencies. | |||
| In the fall of 2010, HCAN co-produced a short, two-part satirical comedy video starring ] and ] about professional "Mis-informant" Nathan Spewman, who spreads lies about the Affordable Care Act as part of an industry propaganda campaign.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/12/jack-black-the-mis-inf_n_759873.html | accessdate=5 December 2013 | work=Huffington Post | first=Katla | last=McGlynn | title=Jack Black Is Nathan Spewman: 'The Mis-informant' (VIDEO) | date=October 12, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| As a result of political and legal challenges to the ACA, in 2010 HCAN transitioned from campaigning for passage of the law to a broad campaign to fully implement health care reform at the state and federal level. HCAN's executive director, Ethan Rome, has repeatedly declared in media statements and in frequent writings on Huffington Post<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Huffington Post |title=Ethan Rome |accessdate=September 6, 2011 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ethan-rome}}</ref> that Congress and the Obama administration should carry out all implementation activities.<ref>{{cite web|author=Health Care for America Now |title=HCAN Shifts To Second Phase Of Health Reform |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/second_phase}}</ref> HCAN has said it intends to do this by identifying significant public policy issues as they arise and taking responsibility to lead campaigns to address them in collaboration with the diverse membership of its coalition. These efforts include pushing for strong accountability measures for insurance companies<ref>{{cite web|author=Health Care for America Now |title=Health Care Advocates Disinfect Big Insurance Meeting, Clean Up Lobbyistsí Dirty Tricks |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/clean_up_lobbyists_dirty_tricks}}</ref> and countering what HCAN says is false information that has been systematically disseminated by opponents of the law.<ref>{{cite web|author=Health Care for America Now |title=HCAN Asks Broadcasters to Stop Airing Misleading Ads About Health Care Law |accessdate=July 19, 2011 |url=http://healthcareforamericanow.org/2010/09/22/hcan-asks-broadcasters-to-stop-airing-misleading-ads-about-health-care-law/}}</ref> | |||
| HCAN continues to prepare reports highlighting insurance industry excesses and abuses and to ] the public about developments related to implementation of the law by state and federal agencies. In the fall of 2010, HCAN co-produced a short, two-part comedy video<ref>{{cite video|people=Black, Jack (actor) Ferrera, America (actor) Bremer, Gloria (executive producer) Health Care for America Now (executive producer)|date=October 11, 2010 |title=The Mis-Informant Part 1-with Jack Black as Nathan Spewman |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj4uBwpimjg |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=September 6, 2011}}</ref> starring ] and ] about professional "misinformant" Nathan Spewman, who spreads lies about the Affordable Care Act as part of an industry propaganda campaign. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 96: | Line 102: | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Health Care For America Now!}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Health Care For America Now!}} | ||
| Line 104: | Line 110: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:45, 9 January 2024
Political advocacy group Not to be confused with Healthcare-NOW!. | The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (June 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. Please help by spinning off or relocating any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against Misplaced Pages's inclusion policy. (June 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is a political advocacy group of more than 1,000 organizations that joined together in 2008 in a successful effort to promote legislation to reform the United States health care system and extend medical benefits to most of the population that is currently uninsured. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, and HCAN was credited with being a "major contributor" to its passage. After enactment of the law, HCAN shifted its activities to defending the law from opposition attacks and advocating for the law before Congress and state regulatory agencies.
Organization
HCAN is directed by a steering committee that consists of a wide range of tax-exempt public charities, advocacy organizations, labor unions and civil rights groups. HCAN is a 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization that runs national and state-based legislative and regulatory campaigns through grassroots action, public education, aggressive media outreach, research and policy analysis. It works in cooperation with its 501(c)(3) partner, Health Care for America Education Fund, a project of the Tides Center, a public charity.
The "national organizations" that are members of the umbrella group is composed of the following organizations:
- 9 to 5, National Association of Working Women
- Abundant Children and Family Services
- Adventists Community Services
- AFL–CIO
- AIDS in Action
- Alliance for a Just Society
- Alliance for Retired Americans
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Academy of Nursing
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Family Voices
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
- American Federation of Teachers
- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
- American Medical Student Association
- American Nurses Association
- Americans for Democratic Action
- Americans United for Change
- AskSlim.org
- Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
- Association for Better Insulation
- Black Women’s Health Imperative
- Brave New Films
- Bus Federation
- Cafemom.com
- Campaign for America's Future
- Campaign for Community Change
- Campus Progress Action
- CareTALK
- Center for American Progress Action Fund
- Center for Rural Affairs
- Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Center for Social and Economic Justice
- Child Advocate Network
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Communications Workers of America
- Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare
- Commonwealth Institute
- Communications Workers of America
- Community Action Partnership
- Community Service Society
- Clergy Strategic Alliances, LLC
- CREDO Mobile
- Democracy for America
- Democracia Ahora
- Direct Care Alliance
- Eagle Medical Services
- Human Rights Campaign
- Leadership Center for the Common Good
- Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
- League of United Latin American Citizens
- MoveOn.org
- National Abortion Federation
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- National Council of Jewish Women
- National Council of La Raza
- National Congress of American Indians
- National Education Association
- National Women's Law Center
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Progressive Future
- Rock the Vote
- Service Employees International Union
- UAW
- United Food and Commercial Workers
- USAction
- Women's Voices. Women Vote
- Working America
Funding and activities
Funding for HCAN's operations has come from its member organizations, individual contributions and foundations, including the Atlantic Philanthropies. HCAN also received $5 million from billionaire George Soros. In their $50 million campaign for passage of the ACA, HCAN mounted a multi-faceted field program that included television advertising events, demonstrations, and advocacy meetings with government officials across the country.
HCAN assembled a network of state-based advocacy groups to carry the message from the ground up to members of Congress—an effort widely credited with strengthening like-minded organizations. HCAN published numerous research reports and conducted extensive media outreach during the legislative campaign. An outside evaluation praised HCAN's "effective and disciplined strategic planning, decision-making and implementation; well-thought-out benchmarks; strong and effective internal leadership, efficient allocation of resources to staff and to fund a wide-ranging field program; resilience to buffeting external events; and its creation of opportunities for supporters to meaningfully engage with the movement for reform through multiple points of entry."
Major actions
HCAN's two largest public demonstrations occurred on June 25, 2009, when thousands of people from around the nation converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for a rally in support of health reform, and on March 9, 2010, when more than 5,000 people rallied on the street outside a health insurance industry conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. HCAN led grassroots online activists, conducted news conferences and published reports on health insurance industry profits, executive compensation, concentration of market power, and mistreatment of consumers and health care providers.
Affordable Care Act
HCAN did not achieve one of its central goals, the creation of a so-called public option, a government-run health plan that would introduce greater competition into local health insurance markets, nearly all of which are dominated by one or two large companies. Republicans joined with conservative democrats to block the public option and a proposal to allow Americans over 55 years old to pay unsubsidized premiums to the government to purchase Medicare benefits, which now are provided to the elderly and disabled through a single-payer system that picks up the vast majority of patients' costs. Despite those losses, HCAN supports the Affordable Care Act and frequently declares that the ACA's impact will be extensive in the policy and political arenas.
Activities since enactment of Affordable Care Act
In 2010, as a result of political and legal challenges to the ACA, in 2010 HCAN transitioned from campaigning for passage of the law to a broad campaign to fully implement health care reform at the state and federal level. HCAN's executive director, Ethan Rome, has repeatedly declared in media statements and in frequent writings on Huffington Post that Congress and the Obama administration should carry out all implementation activities. HCAN has said it intends to do this by identifying significant public policy issues as they arise and taking responsibility to lead campaigns to address them in collaboration with the diverse membership of its coalition. These efforts include pushing for strong accountability measures for insurance companies and countering what HCAN claims is false information that has been systematically disseminated by opponents of the law. HCAN continues to prepare reports that they believe highlight insurance industry excesses and abuses and to educate the public about developments related to implementation of the law by state and federal agencies.
In the fall of 2010, HCAN co-produced a short, two-part satirical comedy video starring Jack Black and America Ferrera about professional "Mis-informant" Nathan Spewman, who spreads lies about the Affordable Care Act as part of an industry propaganda campaign.
References
- ^ "Focus on Health Reform: Summary of New Health Reform Law" (PDF). The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. April 15, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ Cramer, Dan; Novick, Tom (September 21, 2010). "Evaluation: Executive Summary of Findings and Lessons from the HCAN Campaign". The Atlantic Philanthropies. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ Health Care for America Now (December 2, 2010). "Who We Are". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- Health Care for America Now. "More About HCAN". Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- "Member Organizations, National Organizations". Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
- "George Soros Pledges $5 Million to Bankroll Health Care Reform Push, Group Says | the Plum Line". Archived from the original on 2011-10-29. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- Health Care for America Now. "Reports". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- Health Care for America Now. "Media". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- Health Care for America Now (June 26, 2009). Health Care Can't Wait-June 25th 2009. YouTube. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- CNN The Situation Room (March 9, 2010). Howard Dean Joins Pro Health Care Reform Protesters Who Surround Ritz Carlton. MoxNewsDotCom. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
{{cite AV media}}:|author=has generic name (help) - "Executive summary" (PDF).
- Health Care for America Now (May 2009). Premiums Soaring in Consolidated Health Insurance Market: Lack of Competition Hurts Rural States, Small Businesses (PDF) (Report). Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- "Ethan Rome". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- Health Care for America Now. "HCAN Shifts To Second Phase Of Health Reform". Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- Health Care for America Now. "Health Care Advocates Disinfect Big Insurance Meeting, Clean Up Lobbyistsí Dirty Tricks". Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- Health Care for America Now. "HCAN Asks Broadcasters to Stop Airing Misleading Ads About Health Care Law". Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- McGlynn, Katla (October 12, 2010). "Jack Black Is Nathan Spewman: 'The Mis-informant' (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 December 2013.