NAOMI E. SHAIKEN, PRESIDENT

CT CALL TO ACTION, INC.

100 WELLS STREET, APT. 902

HARTFORD, CT 06103

NEWSLETTER- December 2002

[860] 728-0058     e-mail: alneshaiken@snet.net 

DECEMBER 2002 NEWSLETTER - AS I SEE IT  

It is the end of the year, and the last Newsletter for a difficult year.  CT CALL TO ACTION has worked long and hard to bring about changes in the delivery of our Health Care system; we wish we could tell you we succeeded in obtaining a comprehensive plan that would be affordable and acceptable, with everyone in and nobody out.  That hasn’t happened yet, but in a perverse way, we may be closer than one could possibly imagine.

With the numbers of uninsured and underinsured growing daily, with the number of people losing their jobs and their health care coverage, with the economy ‘tanking’, these are all indications of a stronger need for universal health care; it becomes the impetus to obtain health care for all as a human right because of all the wrong reasons, but now is the time to be certain that no one is left behind in their need for medical attention.

 At the annual meeting of the Physicians for National Health Plan in November they reinforced us that Health Care For All is a matter of Social Justice, and that it is up to providers AND advocates to work together and we shall!

 The CT CALL TO ACTION is involved in planning the new  CT State Universal Health Care Bill with Dr. John Battista.  We plan to have it complete and in the State Legislators’ mail boxes at the beginning of the New Year.

 We continue to work with Sheldon Toubman, Esq., of the New Haven Legal Assistance

Association on the egregious changes to our State’s Medicaid program.  We must let others know, in this season of “THE GRINCHES WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS”, that it is unacceptable to have people denied their medications, forcing them to choose between food, rent, or their scripts.

 We begin the New Year with HOPE! We will be following the ‘U.S. National Health Insurance Act’ in Congress, written by Rep. John Conyers of Detroit, Michigan.  Our meetings and discussions with him and his staff have been very positive and ongoing.  We will work closely with all organizations, statewide and nationally, who are seeking justice for all in our health care system.

  The CTCTA is planning a statewide RALLY, April 27, 2003, on the New Haven Green, from 1 pm – 4 pm – tentative titled ‘CT CALLS FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL’!!’  We are planning this with Yale and UCONN Medical Students Association [they want health care for all!], Unions…any other group or person who wish to help us – please contact us!  We’ve already received a note from Rep. Christopher Donovan that his band ‘BOONDOGGLE’ will provide entertainment, along with mikes and amps!  This will be a Statewide team spirit.  Join us in making our voices heard.  This is a RALLY to bring the entire State together for SOCIAL JUSTICE IN HEALTH CARE!