National Nurses United

NewsBriefs.3:March alt 2 3/16/09 6:30 PM Page 8 WRAP-UP REPORT CNA/NNOC members, including copresident Zenei Triunfo-Cortez (second from left), at a Valentine's ball thrown by the Philippine Nurses Association of Nevada. Maine on march 10, MSNA/CNA/NNOC nurses joined Portland-area residents in telling Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield "no way" to a rate hike request and that Maine patients need a guaranteed single-payer healthcare system. Anthem is asking the state to allow them to charge an average of 18 percent more for its HealthChoice and Lumenos insurance products, and some up to 38 percent more. This comes at a time when thousands of citizens are without needed coverage, while the Maine insurance industry controls 70 of the state health insurance market and netted $75 million in 2007 profits, accumulated sizable reserves, and had a net underwriting gain of $4.2 million in 2007 in the individual market alone. "I do not support this excessive premium hike that puts profits over people because it will force many Mainers to drop their health insurance," testified Melanie Collins, an RN and CNA/NNOC member, at the hearing. "On a positive note, if the rate hike takes place, more people will be desperate and convinced that national or state healthcare reform should be passed into law." Collins said that if the rate hike does pass, the state should prohibit Anthem from increasing copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses. She also suggested awarding up to "20 times the amount of the claim plus interest" to patients who were wrongly denied for healthcare that should have been covered by the policy. Nevada registered nurses from all around the Las Vegas valley attended the Philippine Nurses Association's annual Valentine's Day ball. RNs cheered the message of standing up to discrimination and tearing down the barriers erected by the hospital industry to exploit and divide Filippino nurses in the United States through pay, language, testing, and educational disparities. Zenei TriunfoCortez, RN and member of CNA/NNOC's Council of Presidents, was on hand to participate in the festivities. The nurses enjoyed mingling, networking, and dancing all evening. Ohio guaranteed, single-payer healthcare has been the talk of Ohio over the last month. CNA/NNOC RN members have played a major role in events to educate the public and build momentum for passage of HR 676, which would expand Medicare to cover everyone in America. CNA/NNOC RNs spoke on a panel of health activists about the need to continue fighting for single-payer financingwhilehealthcare is at the top of the agenda in Washington, D.C.Other events around the state included a talk by Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, one of the founders of Physicians for a National Health Program and a CNA/NNOC ally, and a lively debate among members of the Cleveland Heights Democratic Club. CNA/NNOC RNs are also focused on gaining community and labor organization endorsements of the Ohio Hospital Patient Protection Act, their RN-to-patient ratio legislation, in preparation for its introduction in Ohio. —staff report CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro speaks March 11 in support of the introduction of SB 810, a bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Leno in the California Senate that would establish a single-payer healthcare system for the state. SB 810 is the successor bill to now-retired Sen. Sheila Kuehl's SB 840, which passed the Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. care clinic located near Southern Hills Medical Center, spoke about trying to gain hospital privileges there for at least five years without success. "Since 2004, the physicians at Medicos have been pursuing hospital privileges for deliveries at Southern Hills," said Dr. Concepcion Martinez, Medicos' medical director. "In the four years I have been here, I have received no help and no encouragement from the hospital administration. Approximately three to four times a year, we attempted contact, and were rebuffed." Martinez also noted that Medicos has about 90 active obstetric patients and averages about 15 to 25 deliveries per month, but patients are forced to give birth at Nashville General Hospital even though Southern Hills would be closer to home. Some patients in labor are rushed to the Southern Hills ER, where their regular obstetricians cannot attend them. The clinic's story, along with the activism of Nashville CNA/NNOC RNs and community members, convinced a majority of the board to deny HCA's application. There's no way to know for certain whether the two events are related, but the day after the vote, StoneCrest's CEO Neil Heatherly suddenly announced he was resigning. —staff report Bylaws Proposal Notification 2009 Bylaws Proposal Notification: Proposals for CNA/NNOC bylaws revisions can now be submitted for consideration by the Bylaws Committee to submit for review by the elected CNA/NNOC delegates at the September 2009 House of Delegates meeting. Any member in good standing, CNA/ NNOC committee, or constituent body (e.g. PPC, LUC, etc.) of CNA/NNOC may submit bylaws change proposals. Proposals must be written (preferably typed). They can also be submitted electronically by e-mail or on computer disc (MS Word format preferred). Proposals must include the text of the original bylaw as currently written; a summary of the proposed change; the complete text of the new proposed bylaw; the author's name, committee, or constituent body of CNA/ NNOC submitting the proposed change; and the justification for the proposed change. Send completed proposals to CNA/NNOC Headquarters, Attn: 2009 Bylaws Committee, 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, or by e-mail to admin@calnurses.org, or by fax to (510) 663-1681. The deadline for proposal submissions is May 4, 2009. MARCH 2009

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