Campaign for Better Health Care
Encyclopedia
The Campaign for Better Health Care (CBHC) is a grassroots coalition of more than 300 local and statewide organizations representing consumers, health care workers and providers, community organizations, seniors, religious organizations, labor, disability rights organizations, and other citizens to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system that provides for the health care needs of all Illinoisans. Founded in 1989, CBHC is now Illinois’ largest health care coalition.
The Campaign for Better Health Care is a coalition of organizations and individuals, working to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system that provides for all.
community organizations (Danville Area Community Services Council and the Champaign County Health Care Consumers) and statewide grassroots health care organizations (Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens now called Illinois Alliance for Retires Americans, Illinois Public Action Council now called Illinois Citizen Action, and the Coalition for Consumer Rights) establish the Campaign for Better Health Care to develop into the central statewide grassroots health care organization responsible for the health reform battle.
In the two years following, CBHC accomplished many things including:
A few other events that also occurred in these two years were the Congressional Outreach Project (COP) ,which initiated the "Health and Healing Day/Week", and CBHC organized a statewide public policy debate between congressional candidates running in seventeen of twenty congressional districts. 100 members of the Campaign traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas
and joined another 1,000+ members of the Universal Health Care Action Network to inform President Clinton
of the need for true national health care reform. CBHC also gathered over 75,000 postcards (in Illinois
, in less than 3 months) and delivered them to President Clinton in March 1993. This resulted in a single-payer bill to pass out of both the Illinois House and Senate Health committees.
In 1993, 5 hospitals in Chicago sign pledges agreeing to abide by and to post Hill-Burton regulations and not to discriminate against Medicaid recipients. Also in this year, over 1,000 people attend the Campaign's annual "Health Care ACTION Day" in Springfield, IL. A year later, CBHC succeeded in organizing 97 separate events around Illinois during National Health Care for People Week, mobilizing 1,500 people to attend Unity Health Care ACTION Day in Springfield, IL, initiating Phone ACTION Network (1,300 active participants) and Letter to Editor Network (25 papers), and establishing regular accountability committees in 12 Congressional Districts.
CBHC formed a Medicaid/Managed Care Monitoring Task Force and Corporations of Health Care Task Force in 1995 and utilized "Your Story is Important" fliers to counter the misinformation campaign against Medicaid managed care
. In the next year, CBHC kicks off a campaign detailing Medicaid managed care abuses throughout Chicago
, successfully organizes a statewide campaign to encourage the Illinois state legislature to enact a ban on all door-to-door and direct marketing. CBHC also initiated town hall debates/educational forums in targeted Congressional districts around Illinois to build support against Medicare
and Medicaid
cuts. CBHC also created the Managed Care Task Force and helped to pass a "Drive-through Delivery Bill" to protect women.
In 1997, CBHC surveyed members about problems of Medicaid managed care horror stories and gathered over 2,000 Medicaid managed care stories in 4 months, which later served as the origin of the CBHC helpline. This action forced the State of Illinois to ban all door-door marketing/other direct marketing and blocked the state from getting a federal waiver to enact Medicaid managed care. CBHC developed standards (Health Care Bill of Rights) for all managed care consumers that was introduced in the General Assembly and co-authored the "Health Care Choices Book for the Chicago Area." CBHC also held dozens of hearings around the state, initiated a targeted organizing campaign in the Latino community of Pilsen and the surrounding communities, and released three reports on the impact of cuts to Medicaid/Medicare and airs radio ads throughout the state.
A case that originates from CBHC’s helpline goes to the Supreme Court
in 1998, which rules in 2002 in favor that no HMO
can refuse to allow you to get a second opinion. CBHC intervenes in 4 for-profit mergers by stopping two of them, wins concessions to keep vital local services operation and health care programs in place after the mergers, and forces Columbia/HCA
to lower its initial selling price of several hospitals by $34 million dollars. Also in this year, CBHC launched a statewide campaign to expand local and statewide public accountability of health care facilities (when they are planning to merge), expand/change the level of free care they offer, and continue to ensure that providers honor their community benefits obligations. CBHC initiated a Medicare managed care monitoring and surveillance project that trains volunteers to go undercover and document a series of abuses by Medicare managed care companies in a publicity release report. CBHC exposed the abuses of two Medicare managed care companies by seeking stronger oversight by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
, and CBHC supported the development and implementation of KidCare
.
In 1999, CBHC continued to collaborate with consumers, health care providers and social service providers to improve access to health care services in Medicaid/KidCare and expanded outreach to kids younger than 5 years old, including mental health
, oral hygiene
, and other care. Also, the Consumer Managed Care Medicare Bill of Rights passed in the Illinois General Assembly
. The following year CBHC initiates an educational campaign with families about dental health services and medical services available in Chicago
, which brought together over 100 organizations to collaborate on state-based principals for universal health care
, and started an initiative called IU2K (Illinois Universal 2K) as part of the national U2K to enact universal health care this decade. Also, CBHC worked with children health coalitions to expand KidCare and surveyed 700 parents across the state to assess their children's access to health care services. In 2001, CBHC hosted town hall meetings for downstate Illinois to provide community input to the Illinois' Oral Health Plan and began working with the Illinois Dental Hygienists Association to move legislation to ease supervision restrictions. CBHC also supported the effort to stop the closure of City of Chicago Public Health clinics.
(chief sponsor) and state Rep. William Delgado
(chief sponsor) in 2002 and worked with Provena Behavioral Health to improve access to mental health services through their new Open Clinic. In the same year our CBHC Executive Director Jim Duffett was recognized as the Health Care Activist of the Year by Families USA
, a national leader in health care advocacy. Also, CBHC coordinated the Illinois effort for the national Health Care Access Resolution Campaign (House Concurrent Resolution 99), recruited statewide organizational endorsement, added legislative cosponsors, lead Illinois in the National Call-in Day for Universal Health Care for the public launch of this campaign, and initiated the Illinois Health Care Accountability Act of 2002.
In 2003, CBHC initiated with then Senator Barack Obama public hearings around Illinois regarding universal health care. CBHC also launched the Health Care Justice Campaign (HCJC) to broaden the fight for accessible, affordable, quality health care for all Illinois residents, passed legislation for health care for all Illinoisans (HB 1984) out of the Illinois House of Representatives
, and developed an educational video of testimonies from uninsured people and practicing doctors advocating for health care reform.
In the next two years, the Health Care Justice Act of 2004 passes in the Senate with bipartisan support in the House, and the Governor signs the Health Care Justice Act into law. Also, CBHC secured over 1 million dollars to fund the HCJA, appointed the Executive Director to serve on the Health Care Justice Act's Adequate Health Care Task Force, and mobilized 300 people to testify and 2500 people to participate in 22 Health Care Justice Task Force public hearings (2005–2006). ALL Kids enactment plays a major role with national groups helping with the development of the plan and enactment in Illinois. In 2006, CBHC pushes for an Illinois plan similar to the public option under debate in 2009, and the Faith Caucus Reconvenes. CBHC set up Congressional District Committees across Illinois in 2007 and worked to pass the Illinois Covered Health Care Plan in the face of a split Democratic Party and strong Republican opposition. Three major components of the Adequate Health Care Task Force/Illinois Covered Plan passed the Senate but stall in the House in 2008, and CBHC fights to preserve the Family Care program.
Just this past year, the Faith Caucus organizeed over 200 congregations across Illinois for the Health Care Sabbath, 50,000+ Illinois parishioners sound the Alarm for Health Care Justice, and CBHC’s maximum effort is focused on passing the public option and national health insurance reform.
. These stories are used to assist CBHC in the fight to enact quality health care for all. CBHC has and continues to launch numerous campaigns and grassroots activities around Illinois advocating for a robust public option.
signaled to Congress that he wanted to pass health care reform for all Americans. Campaign for Better Health Care held press conferences, rallies, and educational events all around Illinois to help pass health care reform. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
, guaranteeing affordable, accessible, quality health care for all Americans. Now CBHC will be working to implement and improve health care reform for everyone in Illinois.
Mission statement
We believe that accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right for ALL people.The Campaign for Better Health Care is a coalition of organizations and individuals, working to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system that provides for all.
History
A year before CBHC’s founding, a handful of downstateDownstate Illinois
Downstate Illinois refers to all of Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. This term is flexible, but because it is generally meant to refer to everything outside the Chicago-area, some cities in Northern Illinois, such as Rockford and DeKalb, , are considered to be "downstate".The term...
community organizations (Danville Area Community Services Council and the Champaign County Health Care Consumers) and statewide grassroots health care organizations (Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens now called Illinois Alliance for Retires Americans, Illinois Public Action Council now called Illinois Citizen Action, and the Coalition for Consumer Rights) establish the Campaign for Better Health Care to develop into the central statewide grassroots health care organization responsible for the health reform battle.
Accomplishments/Activities 1990's
In 1989, CBHC advocates for a progressive reform policy and builds a coalition of African American legislators in Chicago and Caucasian legislators downstate to work on health care issues affecting both rural and urban areas of the state. CBHC launches the Rural and Urban Health Initiative in 1990, which expands the need and roles of community health centers and public health districts, develops alternatives for hospitals to not close in medically under-served areas, bolsters the expansion of immunization programs, and establishes an allied health services corp (educational opportunities for nurses, social workers, and doctors).In the two years following, CBHC accomplished many things including:
- Established eleven functioning local grassroots working committees throughout the state
- Initiated the Congressional Outreach Project, which develops the Congressional Organizing Kit, to focus on health care reform from the perspective of "Health and Healing"
- Mobilized over 1,000 people to attend 1st ever "Health Care Action Day" in Springfield, IL to protest budget cuts to MedicaidMedicaidMedicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
and create support for the Illinois Universal Health Care Plan (single-payer) - Coordinated with the National Emergency Drive for Health Care for Illinois, holding 47 separate public education events with 4,000 participants, gathered 97,500 ballots in support of health care reformHealth care reform in the United StatesHealth care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
sent to Washington, and in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, IL 1,300 people attended the largest national drive focusing on universal health care and the national crisis - Initiated local grassroots campaign to stop Medicaid discrimination
- Rallied 1,300 health care activists in front of the Illinois State Medical Society's (ISMS) building in Springfield, IL to protest their unanimous opposition to a wide range of health care reforms and universal health care
- Delivered nearly 200,000 postcards to state legislators in support of the Illinois Universal Health Care Plan
A few other events that also occurred in these two years were the Congressional Outreach Project (COP) ,which initiated the "Health and Healing Day/Week", and CBHC organized a statewide public policy debate between congressional candidates running in seventeen of twenty congressional districts. 100 members of the Campaign traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
and joined another 1,000+ members of the Universal Health Care Action Network to inform President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
of the need for true national health care reform. CBHC also gathered over 75,000 postcards (in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, in less than 3 months) and delivered them to President Clinton in March 1993. This resulted in a single-payer bill to pass out of both the Illinois House and Senate Health committees.
In 1993, 5 hospitals in Chicago sign pledges agreeing to abide by and to post Hill-Burton regulations and not to discriminate against Medicaid recipients. Also in this year, over 1,000 people attend the Campaign's annual "Health Care ACTION Day" in Springfield, IL. A year later, CBHC succeeded in organizing 97 separate events around Illinois during National Health Care for People Week, mobilizing 1,500 people to attend Unity Health Care ACTION Day in Springfield, IL, initiating Phone ACTION Network (1,300 active participants) and Letter to Editor Network (25 papers), and establishing regular accountability committees in 12 Congressional Districts.
CBHC formed a Medicaid/Managed Care Monitoring Task Force and Corporations of Health Care Task Force in 1995 and utilized "Your Story is Important" fliers to counter the misinformation campaign against Medicaid managed care
Medicaid managed care
Medicaid managed care provides for the delivery of Medicaid health benefits and additional services in the United States through an arrangement between a state Medicaid agency and managed care organizations that accept a set payment – “capitation” – for these services...
. In the next year, CBHC kicks off a campaign detailing Medicaid managed care abuses throughout Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, successfully organizes a statewide campaign to encourage the Illinois state legislature to enact a ban on all door-to-door and direct marketing. CBHC also initiated town hall debates/educational forums in targeted Congressional districts around Illinois to build support against Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
and Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
cuts. CBHC also created the Managed Care Task Force and helped to pass a "Drive-through Delivery Bill" to protect women.
In 1997, CBHC surveyed members about problems of Medicaid managed care horror stories and gathered over 2,000 Medicaid managed care stories in 4 months, which later served as the origin of the CBHC helpline. This action forced the State of Illinois to ban all door-door marketing/other direct marketing and blocked the state from getting a federal waiver to enact Medicaid managed care. CBHC developed standards (Health Care Bill of Rights) for all managed care consumers that was introduced in the General Assembly and co-authored the "Health Care Choices Book for the Chicago Area." CBHC also held dozens of hearings around the state, initiated a targeted organizing campaign in the Latino community of Pilsen and the surrounding communities, and released three reports on the impact of cuts to Medicaid/Medicare and airs radio ads throughout the state.
A case that originates from CBHC’s helpline goes to the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in 1998, which rules in 2002 in favor that no HMO
Health maintenance organization
A health maintenance organization is an organization that provides managed care for health insurance contracts in the United States as a liaison with health care providers...
can refuse to allow you to get a second opinion. CBHC intervenes in 4 for-profit mergers by stopping two of them, wins concessions to keep vital local services operation and health care programs in place after the mergers, and forces Columbia/HCA
Hospital Corporation of America
Hospital Corporation of America is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world, It is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is widely considered to be the single largest factor in making that city a hotspot for healthcare enterprise.-History:The founders of HCA include Jack C....
to lower its initial selling price of several hospitals by $34 million dollars. Also in this year, CBHC launched a statewide campaign to expand local and statewide public accountability of health care facilities (when they are planning to merge), expand/change the level of free care they offer, and continue to ensure that providers honor their community benefits obligations. CBHC initiated a Medicare managed care monitoring and surveillance project that trains volunteers to go undercover and document a series of abuses by Medicare managed care companies in a publicity release report. CBHC exposed the abuses of two Medicare managed care companies by seeking stronger oversight by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration , is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer...
, and CBHC supported the development and implementation of KidCare
State Children's Health Insurance Program
The State Children's Health Insurance Program – later known more simply as the Children's Health Insurance Program – is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children...
.
In 1999, CBHC continued to collaborate with consumers, health care providers and social service providers to improve access to health care services in Medicaid/KidCare and expanded outreach to kids younger than 5 years old, including mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
, oral hygiene
Oral hygiene
Teeth cleaning is part of oral hygiene and involves the removal of dental plaque from teeth with the intention of preventing cavities , gingivitis, and periodontal disease. People routinely clean their own teeth by brushing and interdental cleaning, and dental hygienists can remove hardened...
, and other care. Also, the Consumer Managed Care Medicare Bill of Rights passed in the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
. The following year CBHC initiates an educational campaign with families about dental health services and medical services available in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, which brought together over 100 organizations to collaborate on state-based principals for universal health care
Universal health care
Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
, and started an initiative called IU2K (Illinois Universal 2K) as part of the national U2K to enact universal health care this decade. Also, CBHC worked with children health coalitions to expand KidCare and surveyed 700 parents across the state to assess their children's access to health care services. In 2001, CBHC hosted town hall meetings for downstate Illinois to provide community input to the Illinois' Oral Health Plan and began working with the Illinois Dental Hygienists Association to move legislation to ease supervision restrictions. CBHC also supported the effort to stop the closure of City of Chicago Public Health clinics.
Accomplishments/Activities 2000's
CBHC developed and implemented the Health Care Justice Act with then state Senator ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(chief sponsor) and state Rep. William Delgado
William Delgado
William "Willie" Delgado is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 2nd district since 2006. He was first elected in 2006, replacing Miguel del Valle, who was elected Chicago City Clerk...
(chief sponsor) in 2002 and worked with Provena Behavioral Health to improve access to mental health services through their new Open Clinic. In the same year our CBHC Executive Director Jim Duffett was recognized as the Health Care Activist of the Year by Families USA
Families USA
Families USA is an American non-profit consumer health-care advocacy organization. It was co-founded by attorney Ronald Pollack, its current executive director, and Philippe Villers, the organization's current President....
, a national leader in health care advocacy. Also, CBHC coordinated the Illinois effort for the national Health Care Access Resolution Campaign (House Concurrent Resolution 99), recruited statewide organizational endorsement, added legislative cosponsors, lead Illinois in the National Call-in Day for Universal Health Care for the public launch of this campaign, and initiated the Illinois Health Care Accountability Act of 2002.
In 2003, CBHC initiated with then Senator Barack Obama public hearings around Illinois regarding universal health care. CBHC also launched the Health Care Justice Campaign (HCJC) to broaden the fight for accessible, affordable, quality health care for all Illinois residents, passed legislation for health care for all Illinoisans (HB 1984) out of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, and developed an educational video of testimonies from uninsured people and practicing doctors advocating for health care reform.
In the next two years, the Health Care Justice Act of 2004 passes in the Senate with bipartisan support in the House, and the Governor signs the Health Care Justice Act into law. Also, CBHC secured over 1 million dollars to fund the HCJA, appointed the Executive Director to serve on the Health Care Justice Act's Adequate Health Care Task Force, and mobilized 300 people to testify and 2500 people to participate in 22 Health Care Justice Task Force public hearings (2005–2006). ALL Kids enactment plays a major role with national groups helping with the development of the plan and enactment in Illinois. In 2006, CBHC pushes for an Illinois plan similar to the public option under debate in 2009, and the Faith Caucus Reconvenes. CBHC set up Congressional District Committees across Illinois in 2007 and worked to pass the Illinois Covered Health Care Plan in the face of a split Democratic Party and strong Republican opposition. Three major components of the Adequate Health Care Task Force/Illinois Covered Plan passed the Senate but stall in the House in 2008, and CBHC fights to preserve the Family Care program.
Just this past year, the Faith Caucus organizeed over 200 congregations across Illinois for the Health Care Sabbath, 50,000+ Illinois parishioners sound the Alarm for Health Care Justice, and CBHC’s maximum effort is focused on passing the public option and national health insurance reform.
Helpline
Currently, Campaign for Better Health Care also collects stories shared by callers to its helpline, a source of information for individuals seeking affordable health care. CBHC focuses on collecting stories pertaining to rapidly increasing insurance premiums, high deductible plans, and difficulties using Medicare Part DMedicare Part D
Medicare Part D is a federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. It was enacted as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and went into effect on January 1, 2006.- Eligibility and...
. These stories are used to assist CBHC in the fight to enact quality health care for all. CBHC has and continues to launch numerous campaigns and grassroots activities around Illinois advocating for a robust public option.
National Health Care Reform
In 2009, President ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
signaled to Congress that he wanted to pass health care reform for all Americans. Campaign for Better Health Care held press conferences, rallies, and educational events all around Illinois to help pass health care reform. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, guaranteeing affordable, accessible, quality health care for all Americans. Now CBHC will be working to implement and improve health care reform for everyone in Illinois.