Health Care Action and Resource Center

A clearinghouse for information, events, and opportunities for action regarding health care reform.

Plank from the Platform
The Democratic Party of Denver's is committed to a) establishing a universal single-payer, national healthcare system, including prescriptions, in the U.S. not tied to employment, and b) to supporting adequate funding for evidence-based services for people with mental illness and thus saving emergency services and correctional facility costs. 

Most Recent

Udall, Bennet Comment on Passage of Health Care Bill
Colorado Senators' statements and contributions to the Senate's Health Care Bill.  (Denver Business Journal, December 24, 2009)

DeGette Has 'Serious Reservations' About Abortion Compromise in Health Bill
Rep. Diana DeGette and other leaders in the Pro-Choice Caucus cite abortion provisions as offensive and possibly unconstitutional.  (The Hill, December 19, 2009)

Democrats Strike Health Care Deal
With a handshake agreement with holdout Senator Ben Nelson (D, Nebraska), the Senate secured the 60 votes it needs to pass their Health Care bill.  (Politico, December 19, 2009)

In Congress

HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
Text of the bill, summary of the bill, Energy and Commerce Chair Waxman's Statement, amendment to the bill, and more from the Committee of Energy and Commerce's official site. 

HR 676, The United States National Health Care Act
Text of the bill before the Committee of Energy and Commerce and the Committee of Ways and Means and Natural Resources.

America's Healthy Future Act of 2009
Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus' Bill.

Action

Sign up for our Action Alert email list
Click the link above to receive e-mail alerts specific to Health Care Reform events in Denver and throughout Colorado. 

Resources

Side-by-Side Comparison of the House and Senate Bills
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's look at the bill the House passed and the bill the Senate is voting on.  If the Senate bill passes, the two will need to be reconciled.

Summary of Coverage Provisions for U.S. Senate Consideration
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's summary of the Patient Protection and Afordable Care Act

Health Insurrance Reform Reality Check
Top White House officials debunk the myths being circulated by Health Care Reform opponents. 

Health Insurrance Reform and Seniors
A handful of facts about how reform will benefit senior citizens.

Key Challenges In The Health Care Debate
An on-line primer from The New York Times offers comprehensive coverage of the issues on the table for health care reform.

Meltdown 101: Why High Health Costs Hurt the Economy
The Associated Press posts a Q&A outlining the impact of health care on the current economic climate.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Proposals
This Kaiser Faimly Foundation interactive side-by-side compares the leading comprehensive reform proposals across a number of key characteristics and plan components.

House District 2A's Health Care Option Resources
2A Captain Tom Parson's page of resources, including further links to events and resources and access to your Representatives for calls and e-mails.

Commentary

The Three Artificially Manufactured Assumptions Driving the Insurrance/Drug Industry's Health Bill
David Sirota's commentary on the myths surrounding the process of passing meaningful Health Care Reform.  (Open Left, December 19, 2009)

The Values Question 
Like all great public issues, the health care debate is fundamentally about values, about whether we have a moral preference for vitality or security.  (New York Times, November 23, 2009)

America's Defining Choice
What's the best way to spend $100 billion per year?  Health reform or troops for Afghanistan?  Simple, because lack of insurance kills far more Americans than the Taliban does. (New York Times, November 12, 2009)

Trading Women's Rights for Political Power
Balancing Health Care Reform with Abortion Rights (New York Times, November 11, 2009)

Time for Health Care Hardball
Rep. Jared Polis' op-ed on Health Care Reform.  (CNNPolitics.com, September 10, 2009)

Why We Need Health Care Reform
President Barack Obama's op-ed making the case for meaningful reform.  (New York Times, August 15, 2009)

Progress Over Perfection
Paul Begala's antidote for the Health Care debate. (Washington Post, August 13, 2009)

Getting Care Is Not For Faint of Heart
Mike Littwin's account of his own experience battling insurrance companies.  (Denver Post, August 5, 2009)

Public Option Essential: Will Not Lead To Rationing or Curbing of Doctor Choice
Rep. DeGette and three of her colleagues in the U.S. Congress penned an op-ed on health care reform. 

Insurrance Does Not Equal Health Care: Specious Arguments by "Free Market" Opponents of Colorado's Single-Payer Plan
Michelle Swenson writes on the one-vote failure of Colorado's Guaranteed Health Care Act and its implications for health care reform nationwide.

House District 7B's Resolution on Health Care

Paid Sick Days Are A Healthy Idea
Rep. Daniel Kagen's guest editorial in the Denver Daily News making the case for providing paid sick days.

Obama Administration Releases, Reports, and Speeches

President Obama's Speech on Health Care to a Joint Session of Congress, 09.09.09

President Obama's Comments at his Health Care Reform Town Hall in Grand Junction, Colorado, August 15, 2009, including the full text of the questions and his answers.

President Obama's Health Care Reform Town Hall, Shaker Heights, Ohio, July 23, 2009

The full video of President Obama's prime-time press conference on Health Care Reform, July 22nd, 2009.

President Obama's e-mail on Health Care, preceding his prime-time press conference, July 22nd, 2009

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A brief video of President Obama's "Waterloo" response.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Releases New State-by-State Reports Highlighting Urgent Need for Health Reform, June 27, 2009

Text of President Obama's conference call on healthcare reform with Organizing for America volunteers.

The White House Council of Economic Advisors' Report on "The Economic Case for Health Care."

Notable News

Udall, Bennet Comment on Passage of Health Care Bill
Colorado Senators' statements and contributions to the Senate's Health Care Bill.  (Denver Business Journal, December 24, 2009)

DeGette Has 'Serious Reservations' About Abortion Compromise in Health Bill
Rep. Diana DeGette and other leaders in the Pro-Choice Caucus cite abortion provisions as offensive and possibly unconstitutional.  (The Hill, December 19, 2009)

Democrats Strike Health Care Deal
With a handshake agreement with holdout Senator Ben Nelson (D, Nebraska), the Senate secured the 60 votes it needs to pass their Health Care bill.  (Politico, December 19, 2009)

Obama: Forge On With Weaker Health Measure
Senators Udall and Bennet report on the Democratic Senate Caucus' meeting with President Obama Tuesday.  (Denver Post December 16, 2009)

In Colorado, A Sizeable Schizm on Health Care Reform
National coverage of a Health Care Town Hall in Windsor, Colorado.  (Washington Post, September 3, 2009)

Bennet Hears Health Care Concerns
In the midst of a month back with his constituents, Senator Bennet held a Town Hall Meeting in Edwards.  (Denver Post, August 14, 2009)

House Panel Reaches Deal on Health-Care Bill
Rep. Diana DeGette defends health insurrance for low income families while Blue Dog Democrats try to find ways to cut costs.  (New York Times, July 31, 2009)

Health Care A Hot Potato For Congress
A comprehensive rundown of the Colorado delegation's stance on pending Health Care legistation.  (The Colorado Statesman, July 17, 2009)

Crunch Time For Health Care Reform
The Senate Finance Committee strives to offer a bipartisan health care bill.  (The Hill, July 16, 2009) 

Past Action 

Block-by-Block for Barack
Health Care Reform Canvassing with Rep. Daniel Kagan and House District 3 Activists, Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. near DU.

U.S. Representative Events in Colorado and a Brief Guide to Effective Rallying
Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. Ed Perlumtter, and Rep. Betsy Markey have over a dozen events scheduled in Colorado in August and September.  Click the link for a brief "Rally Guide" and list of tentatively scheduled events.

Health Care Canvass Across Colorado, Summer 2009
President Obama has said "health care reform will pass this year, or not at all."  It's crunch time in Colorado and across the country.  Join Organizing for America and The Democratic Party of Denver as we canvass the streets of Denver for health care reform support.  Click the link above to find a canvassing event or to initiate your own.

Health Care Reform Needs You: Call Now
A message from Organizing for America

Past Events

Health Care Town Hall with Senators Udall and Bennet
and Representatives DeGette, Polis, Perlumutter, and Coffman
Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m.

President Obama in Grand Junction, Saturday, August 15.
Denver Democrats answered the call to go to Grand Junction and support President Obama as he came to Colorado for a Town Hall Meeting on Health Care Reform.  Click the link for more information.

Click here to visit the Health Care Action and Resource Center