FW: Regence | Community Health Workers | New Dental Clinic

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues, Look at the first story below in the Lund Report relative to one insurer Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon who has shelled out over $800,000 to our state elected officials.  Which validates what I’ve said repeatedly over the years regarding our political activities “we will never match the big money of the big lobby.â€Â  We will nor have we ever have the $$$ big pharma has, the insurance companies, large corporations, teachers union, hospitals, Oregon Medical Assoc., labor unions  etc., etc.  Nonetheless somehow since 2005 your only trade organization the Oregon Chiropractic Association continues to win in Salem time and time again so how in the world do we do it,  (us) kicking Goliath’s (them) collective butts? We have been doing it together with grass roots work, doing more with less, making every PAC penny we have count.  We don’t have the hundreds of thousands of dollars to throw at candidates or legislators we counter with grass roots activities together.   What is grass roots activity? Its doctors and our patients stepping up to help a candidate that may be a patient or who is known to be good on our issues, door knocking, planting lawn signs, being on that candidates election team.  Colleagues simply introducing themselves to a new candidate or current legislator asking to get involved with their campaigns and educating them to our patient issues and developing a relationship.  One of the most successful methods of spending our limited ChiroPAC  funds is by hosting a private function in a doctors home (best) or private club or local restaurant.  Then inviting doctors, patients and community leaders to come to the event with $50, $100 checks.  This builds a personal emotional connection with that legislator that the big lobby simply cannot duplicate and that which has helped level the political playing field for us.  Those of you who came to our home in Albany witnessed the power of such an event for Co-Chair of the House Health Committee Rep. Jim who isn’t even in my House district.  The home was full of colleagues, it was fun, Jim was beaming and emotions ran high and the connection made to our profession incredible.  Rep. stepped up for us during the subsequent Feb. short 30 day session like you cannot believe and so it has gone for us…..and the result last session?  The OCA strategically built a strong coalition of non-MD health care providers and with many legislators who we had supported with grass roots and Jim leading the charge compelled a very positive and favorable Governor (because of our grass roots work) Kitzhaber, MD, to include the OCA’s monumental “Non-discrimination language†in (drum roll please) his bill  Senate Bill 1580 the language of which was even improved on with a new appeals process within Senate Bill 1509!   This Thursday the Governor has granted us a special signing ceremony “us†being the coalition members that the OCA strategically put together…oh and did I mention because of this bill and the work of your only trade association the OCA, Oregon is the talk of the nation and this new law a possible model for the country!!! I am telling you all of this because I have been asked to take back charge of our political PAC, “ChiroPAC†and I will be personally contacting each one of you who were prior donors to fast track us…â€back on track†we must have as strong as PAC as possible.  Yes, compare to the “Goliath’s†our little “Dave†PAC may be small in total dollars but I assure you the OCA will continue to do more with less being absolutely strategic how we spend our very limited funds which represent your hard earned dollars.  We will be excellent stewards of our resources and we will continue to move the profession forward as well as protect your collective “backsides.†To The Continued Good Fight, dear colleagues!!! Vern Saboe Questions, call me any time at From: The Lund Report On Behalf Of The Lund ReportSent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 8:39 AMTo: vsaboe@...Subject: Regence | Community Health Workers | New Dental Clinic Is this email not displaying correctly?View it in your browser. The Lund Report | March 27, 2012This week at The Lund Report: NEWS: Regence BlueCross BlueShield Takes the Lead in Campaign ContributionsOf the $816,624 Regence spent on elections in Oregon over the past years, the majority went to state and local political candidatesHigh Level Executives Leave Regence Clement, vice president of provider services in Idaho and Stellman, senior vice president of healthcare services for Cambia Health Solutions, have announced their departuresGuidelines Set for Community Health Workers to Participate in CCOsBut more work needs to be done to develop the training and education programsGermans May Complain But Still Have Better Care Than The U.S.Frequently German hospitals have three or four beds per room, but don’t have long waits for surgeryCentral City Concern, Multnomah County Partner to Open Dental ClinicThe clinic, in its early planning stages, hopes to begin seeing patients as early as this fallSouthern Oregon Providers Work to Embed Behavioral Health into Primary ClinicsThe effort, initially funded by a 2006 grant, is now being extended to coordinated care organizations in southern OregonSchool District’s Achievement Compacts will Include AbsenteeismChildren’s advocates hope that more school-based health services will be created once more is learned about why students miss school PRESS RELEASES: Health Insurance Rates to Rise 8-14% for Many Oregon Small BusinessesAdditional Medicaid Funds Available to Oregon’s Recognized Primary Care ProvidersKaiser Permanente Northwest Appoints New Executive Director of Communications and Public RelationsHealthcare Reform: Two Years Later, What’s Changed?CMS Announces New Initiative to Bolster Primary Care Workforce follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend Thanks for your support.Copyright © 2012 The Lund Report, All rights reserved. This mailing was sent to vsaboe@.... You are receiving this email because you joined our newsletter list at http://www.thelundreport.org Our mailing address is: The Lund ReportPOB 82841Portland, OR 97282Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser