THE PRINCETON HEALTH CARE POLICY COMMITTEE

MINUTES April 26, 2006

Attending: T. Abe, N. Hall, L.Kane

The meeting began by the group deciding to re-name the committee “The Princeton Health Care Policy Committee”. Likewise the group decided that the committee would be open to anyone to join i.e. not just PDCO members. All present agreed to reach out to others to join the committee including contacting Jenny Crumiller to ask her to further mention this committee in the PDCO newsletter, etc.

Discussion then ensued about a week of action being planned for the week of June 7th by a group called “Healthcare Now”. The agenda of that week is to push forward a bill currently being proposed in Congress, Bill HR676, which calls for a single payer system which would provide all American’s with free healthcare. Conversation followed about whether or not the group wanted to be involved in that week of action. Issues that arose were the fact that 1) Rush Holt had not signed on to support the bill, 2) two other bills were currently being proposed, 3) the committee had little information on Healthcare Now, 4) limited time existed between now and the next Healthcare Committee meeting to mobilize extensive action to support the week. Members decided that they wanted to find out more about the three bills and Rush Holt’s position on them before actively supporting any one bill.

Nevertheless it was agreed that the Chair would provide Jenny Crumiller with a brief description of the 3 bills (see below) and info. on the June 7th action to publicize/ be circulated to PDCO members in order to raise their awareness and give them the option of participating in any action.

In the meantime, L. Kane to find out more about HR676, T. Abe to find out more about the “American Health Security Act”, N. Hall to find out about the “Medicare for All Act”, the Chair to call Rush Holt’s office to find out more about his position on all of these bills. Those present were asked to make 2 copies of all information retrieved, with the Chair to hold master copies of all info. for future reference.

Discussion then turned to the recent healthcare bill passed in Massachusetts. Those present agreed that the provisions of the Mass. law appeared complex but that it was important because it meant that something was going on in that state. The hope was that laws passed in individual states would send a signal that national healthcare reform legislation needed to be enacted.

The next meeting of the committee will be on Wednesday, May 24 th at 7:30 at the home of the Chair at 429 Walnut Lane.