Monday, March 21, 2011
HCAN Readies for Major Week of Events to Promote
Health Care Law's Benefits, Consumer Protections
More Than 75 HCAN-Sponsored Events Nationwide Part of Broad Effort by Groups to Mark Affordable Care Act’s First Birthday
Washington, DC – Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the nationwide coalition that led the successful fight for health reform, will host more than 75 educational events and activities in 27 states next week to promote the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on its first anniversary and to rally against Republican efforts to undermine the law. By the end of the week, thousands of people will have participated in HCAN gatherings nationwide, including town-hall meetings, news conferences and educational forums.
The HCAN program is part of a coordinated effort by more than a dozen advocacy groups producing nearly 200 events in 35 states. Many of the HCAN events focus on Republicans who have devoted themselves to defunding and repealing the ACA.
"One year later, Republicans still have no health care plan other than to take away prescription drug discounts for seniors, no-cost preventive care for everyone, small-business tax credits and consumer protections like the ban on denyingcare or charging more because of pre-existing medical conditions,” said HCAN Executive Director Ethan Rome. "The Affordable Care Act eliminates the worst health insurance company abuses and frees families, seniors and small businesses from crushing health care costs and devastating denials of care. The GOP's only health care plan is to put the health insurance companies back in charge so they can deny our care and jack up our rates. We must move forward and stop re-fighting the battles of the past."
The events and actions feature seniors, children, small businesses, faith communities, and young people across the country coming together to explain how they are benefiting from the law and to highlight what is at stake as opponents of reform work overtime to take away ACA cost savings and consumer protections. The events will demonstrate that the nation must move forward and protect our health care from those who would take it away to help large corporations that put profits ahead of people.
Each day during the week of March 21–25 will focus on the different communities that are being helped by the ACA. Event details will be released before each of the following theme days:
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Monday, March 21: Moving Forward, Protecting Small Business’s Care
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Tuesday, March 22 Moving Forward, Protecting Seniors’ Care
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Wednesday, March 23: Moving Forward, Protecting Patients’ Rights
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Thursday, March 24: Moving Forward, Protecting Women’s Care
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Friday, March 25: Moving Forward, Protecting Young Adults’ Care
In addition to HCAN’s events, activities will be sponsored by these grassroots organizations: Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Community Catalyst, Doctors for America, Families USA, Herndon Alliance, Main Street Alliance, MomsRising, National Council on Aging, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center, PICO National Network, ProgressNow, Progressive States Network , Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Small Business Majority, Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN), USAction, U.S. PIRG, Vote Kids and Young Invincibles.
An online effort featuring stories of people being helped by the ACA will complement the grassroots activities, along with targeted radio and social-media advertising campaigns promoting the benefits of the law.
Health Care for America Now is a national grassroots coalition of more than 1,000 organizations in 46 states representing 30 million people. HCAN led the fight to win passage of health reform and to keep Congress from being steamrolled by corporate special interests.