Wasup everybody. I’m back! We’re back. Happy 2010. Let’s go to it then.

My final posts from 2009 were an attempt to support where we’ve gotten on healthcare reform while encouraging action to improve our position, so that’s where I’ll pick up. From an information perspective, NYC activist Janice Caswell shared the following articles with me which break down the key points remaining in crafting the final bill.

From DailyKos, Jim Bow goes above and beyond the analytical call of duty and sets the mission as follows:

Next, we must define the central purpose of the bill.  To me, that central purpose is to create a sustainable health care system that protects every American from having large medical expenses for essential care, and shield them from its consequences (i.e., bankruptcy, death).  This, I believe, is what Democrats have aspired for the last 60 years.  We should always keep this in the back of our minds when we think of changing this bill, and think about the provisions that acheive this central purpose.

Next, we must define the central purpose of the bill.  To me, that central purpose is to create a sustainable health care system that protects every American from having large medical expenses for essential care, and shield them from its consequences (i.e., bankruptcy, death).  This, I believe, is what Democrats have aspired for the last 60 years.  We should always keep this in the back of our minds when we think of changing this bill, and think about the provisions that acheive this central purpose.

He then lists is top five priorities for improving the final bill which include things like
  1. Increasing subsidies
  2. Eliminating the “young invincible,” or “catastrophic,” policy, and increasing the minimum actuarial values
  3. Adopting the House’s rating rules
  4. Increasing the income exemption
  5. Improving the Senate’s noxious pay-or-play provision

The American Prospect also offers 10 things to watch in the emergence of the final bill, and it’s worth reading.

For those near NYC, tomorrow there’s a teach-in focused on what progressives can do to fix healthcare reform. The agenda includes:

  • A call to action for health justice — Rev. Donna Schaper, Judson Memorial Church
  • Understanding the conference committee process — Tim Foley, NYC for Change
  • Fighting the abortion restrictions — Lois Uttley, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need
  • Improving affordability of health coverage for low and moderate-income families — Elisabeth Benjamin, Community Service Society
  • Fighting for the public option and possible alternatives — Mark Hannay, Metro NY Health Care for All
  • Action steps and opportunities to get involved — Jennifer Coates, NYC for Change and Eesha Pandit, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need

With rumors that the House/Senate conference will be replaced with informal dealmaking in order to avoid GOP delay tactics, I don’t know what that means for our ability to influence the merging of these bills, but I’m sure gatherings like those tomorrow will attempt to address that, so chime in if you have knowledge, thoughts or other ideas.

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