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Oregon Business Association

Balanced Voice

March 3, 2008

Health Reform is Happening - Weigh In

OBA PROVIDES VOICE FOR THE OREGON HEALTH REFORM COLLABORATIVE

Are you worried about health care?

Are you uninsured or afraid you might lose coverage or be priced out of the market?

Are you an employer struggling to afford health benefits for your employees?

If so, you’re not alone.  Most Oregonians are concerned about health care.  Only about one in three have a lot of confidence that they will be able to maintain their present level of health care coverage at an acceptable cost over the next five years.  Right now, the Oregon Health Fund Board is working on a plan to ensure access to health care for all Oregonians.

Mandated by state law, this is a public process on a fast time line.  How will it work?  Will there be a requirement that everyone get insurance?  Premium assistance for lower income people?  Will universal coverage enhance or compromise the quality of health care Oregonians receive?  Most importantly, how will health reform affect you and your family?

Here is your opportunity to weigh in!  Voice your ideas and concerns.  Raise a question.  Hear from and respond to other Oregonians interested in health care.

And by all means, tell the Oregon Health Fund Board what you think should be done about health care.  You can learn how to make a public comment to the Oregon Health Fund Board by clicking here. We welcome your comments at talkhealthreform.org.  Comments made at this site are not considered official public comments to the Oregon Health Fund Board, but staff of the Oregon Health Fund Board are working with the Northwest Health Foundation to ensure that the discussions occurring here are shared with the Board and its Committees and Work Groups.

Visit talkhealthreform.org and share your ideas, thoughts and questions. Your contributions will make talkhealthreform.org a great place to talk health reform and to help ensure that Oregonians get the best reform for all of us.

Oregon Health Forum

BETTER HEALTH CARE TOGETHER
A National Coalition of Business, Labor, Nonprofit & Civic Entities

Monday, March 10th, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

The Governor Hotel
614 SW 11th Avenue
Portland, OR

Portland-area business leaders won't want to miss this significant health care reform event featuring Better Health Care Together coalition members and leading reform perspectives from local and national organizations.

Moderator:
David Von Drehle, Editor-at-large, Time Magazine

Panelists:
Craig Barrett, Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation
Carl Camden, President & CEO, Kelly Services
Alice Dale, Vice President, SEIU International; President, SEIU Local 49
Susan Sherry, Deputy Director, Community Catalyst
Bill Thorndike, President, Medford Fabrication

It's time once again to talk about health care reform.  Better Health Care Together is a national coalition of business, union, nonprofit and civic leaders who are focusing on bringing about national reform by 2012.  Rather than proposing specific reform agendas, the coalition aims to build momentum for reform by changing the political environment and building public support, in large part from efforts of employers.  Does your business operate in an environment that encourages health care reform?

Join us for a dynamic discussion in March to explore strategies and momentum-building steps businesses can take to promote reform.  How do Oregon employers, who vary dramatically in size and industry, get involved in the conversation?  How do policy discussions make their way to the consumer, whose vote is the ultimate factor in ushering in a new agenda?

Register online or by calling 503-226-7870 (800-501-4220).