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Masschusetts Nurse | April 2000
Join the Coalition for Health Care ballot initiative:
Local committees set up in 100 Massachusetts towns
Nurses and other health care reform activists across
the commonwealth continue to build momentum toward achieving sweeping
reforms via an initiative petition on the November 2000 ballot.
This month, the MNA signed on as a member of the steering committee
for the Coalition for Health Care, the political action group that
is spearheading the statewide campaign to win passage of this initiative
on Nov. 7, 2000.
The ballot initiative, if passed, would mandate
high-quality health care coverage for all Massachusetts residents,
establish an extensive patients' "Bill of Rights" and create a moratorium
on future conversions of non-profit health care institutions to
for-profit status. Advocates expect spirited, if not fierce, opposition
to the proposal, particularly from entities in the health care sector
that seek to preserve the status quo.
One of the most important activities of the campaign
over the coming months will be the formation of more than 100 town
committees across the commonwealth. These local committees, made
up of citizens, nurses, physicians, social workers, local labor
activists and others will serve two vital purposes to the success
of the campaign: 1) to mobilize their respective communities to
participate in and support the ballot initiative for a successful
vote in November; and 2) following a successful vote, continue to
mobilize support for the solutions called for in the referendum.
Anyone who signs up for these committees will be provided with training
and support from the coalition in how to participate in the campaign.
All MNA members are encouraged to participate in
the town committee serving their own community, or to support the
campaign in any number of ways. Fill out the form below and mail
or fax it to the Coalition for Health Care, or visit the Coalition
for Health Care web site at www.voteforhealth.org
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