Will any of you (the panelists) introduce the Oregon Community Health Care Bill so that the legislature can finally debate a plan that challenges the fundamental premise of SB329 that the failed for-profit private health insurance industry should continue to be used as a model for future health reform in Oregon?

Well known lobbyist and Oregon Health Forum board member Len Bergstein has agreed, as moderator, to ask the above fundamental health care question to Oregon legislators heading to Salem for the 2009 session - that is if his private health insurance industry clients and the private health insurance industry board members that dominate the Oregon Health Forum will allow him. It's also not clear whether Len will find the courage to follow up lame answers or allow the audience to challenge the evasive responses that are sure to be offered by those legislative panelists who are wedded to the failed for-profit private health insurance industry.

Len Bergstein will direct the Oregon Health Forum, 2009 Legislative Preview on Health ,breakfast questioning on Wednesday, December 17, 7 - 9 a.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club. While the MAC club no longer requires a tie and jacket to get in you will be required to pay handsomely, $ 45.00, to join the central club for the private health insurance industry establishment listen to elected officials speak about stuff they avoided but should have been telling the voters for free throughout the election season.

John Frohnmayer, John Geyman MD, and Richard Ellmyer challenge the Oregon Health Forum, Oregon Health & Science University, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Reed College, Lewis and Clark College, the Pamplin Media Group and other press organizations, the Portland Business Alliance, the Association of Oregon Industries and the business community at large and the Oregon community of health care providers to sponsor a public discussion/debate with the Oregon Speaker of the House, Senate President and Oregon Medical Association President Monica Wehby MD on the question: Should Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis be resolved by continuing the failed for-profit private health insurance industry model or is a single payer type system similar to the Oregon Community Health Care bill the path to success?

Richard Ellmyer will not be spending $45 for the possibility of listening to legislators disingenuously explain why they have not allowed in the last two legislative sessions and will not permit in the 2009 session a public conversation and serious legislative consideration of public policy regarding the continuation of the failed for-profit private health insurance industry model despite the request of elected officials representing more than a million Oregonians (See Below). However, he will go if sponsored. In return Richard Ellmyer will provide his benefactor with an early release of the sure to be published Oregon Health Watchers commentary on this event which otherwise will go unreported and unanalyzed.


Richard Ellmyer

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March 12, 2007

Dear House Speaker Merkley and Senate President Courtney:

The current legislative debate over health care reform in our state does not include our view that the profit oriented private health insurance industry must not be the model upon which a solution to Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis should be based and that Oregon elected officials - public employees - voters and taxpayers must have equal access to the same level of health care not a perpetuation of our current multitiered health insurance class system.

We request that you find a place holder bill in each chamber which would substitute in its entirety the language of the Oregon Community Health Care Bill (see attached) so that an alternative choice may be discussed and debated this session. The Oregon Community Health Care Bill is the only current fully formed piece of proposed legislation which supports our vision of health care reform. We would welcome others that also meet our requirements.

Thank you for your attention.


Sincerely,

Richard Ellmyer - Oregon Community Health Care Bill author 

Sam Adams - Portland City Council

Jeff Cogen - Multnomah County Commissioner

Edwars "Chip" Enbody - Hubbard City Council

Darrell Flood - Mayor of Lafayette

Bill Hall - Lincoln County Commissioner

Jim Needham - Mollala City Council

Michelle Ripple - Wilsonville City Council

Mary Schamehorn - Mayor of Bandon

Pete Sorenson - Lane County Commissioner


[Since this letter was published the following have added their support:

John Frohnmayer - Former candidate for US Senate

Tim Grimes - Staton City Council

David P. Trott - Mayor City of Umatilla

Bill Dwyer - Lane County Commissioner

Dan K. Cummings - Ontario City Council President]