Health Care for America NOW

HCAN Congressional Briefing Book

Welcome to the HCAN Congressional Briefing Book. The following are key documents and resouces for Members of Congress and their staff. If you would like us to add something to this page or if you have any questions, please contact Doneg McDonough, Legislative Director, at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Read our Statement of Common Purpose.
View the list of Congressional supporters.
Download the "Which Side Are You On?" document. (PDF)
View the list of coalition partners.

Affordability Reports

New Report: Kennedy HELP Bill Makes Good Health Care More Affordable Than Senate Finance Bill - 10/14/09
Comparison of Affordability Provisions Between House and Senate Proposals (PDF)
Health Care Reform: The Cost of Doing Nothing - Democratic Policy Committee, State by State fact sheets
Health Insurance Coverage Keeps Shrinking as Premiums, Family Costs Continue Climbing - HCAN State by State Reports

Evidence in support of a public health insurance plan option

Experts Favor a Public Option - September 21, 2009 (PDF)
A Public Health Insurance Plan Option – What Is It? (doc)
Why a Public Insurance Plan is Essential for Health Reform - Economic Policy Institute
Why A Public Health Insurance Option (doc)
Leaders and Experts Agree on a Public Health Insurance Option (doc)
Support for a Public Health Insurance Option (doc)
Des Moines Register Op-Ed - Focus on the Facts (doc)
Report: "Can a Public Insurance Plan Increase Competition and Lower the Costs of Health Reform?" - Urban Institute Report Updated March 18, 2009
A Public Health Plan - New York Times Editorial June 21 , 2009
Joint Public Statement:“Physicians in Support of President Obama: Give Our Patients a Choice Between Private Insurance and a Public Health Insurance Option” - June 2009

Voters overwhelmingly support choice of private or public health insurance plan - Materials from briefing 1/30/09

Public Health Insurance Plan Option Poll Results - Lake Research and Associates, Health Care for American Now (PPT)
Voter support for a public health insurance plan option - Memorandum, Richard Kirsch and Ethan Rome, Health Care for America Now
Rural Polling on the Public Health Insurance Plan (PDF)
How to Talk About the Public Health Insurance Option (doc)

HCAN House Congressional Briefing Materials - 1/16/09

House Congressional Briefing Presenatation (PPT)
House Congressional Briefing Agenda (DOC)
House Congressional Leadership Supporting HCAN Principles (DOC) and (PDF)
HCAN Congressional Supporters by Leadership, Committee, and Caucus (as of 1/13/09) (PDF)
HCAN State Contacts List (XLS)
HCAN McCain "Fighter" TV ad
HCAN Obama "Congratulations" TV ad

Research and State-specific Data

Cost of Doing Nothing: State-by-State Impact - New America Foundation Report
The Case for a Public Insurance Plan Choice in National Health Care Reform - Jacob Hacker (PDF)

Health Care Reform Proposals

Achieving Universal Coverage and Health System Savings - Commonwealth Fund proposal for expanding health coverage that offers a choice of a public plan modeled on Medicare offered through a national insurance connector
Public and private health insurance plan choice - Achieving a true guarantee of quality affordable coverage

Polling Data on Health Care and the Electorate

“Health Care in 2009”: Power Point presentation from Lake Research dated November 6, 2008 presented at the HCAN Retreat
“HCAN Communications Campaign”: Memorandum from Lake Research to HCAN dated October 23, 2008 reviewing HCAN’s 2008 electoral activity (PDF)
“The Effectiveness of HCAN’s Communication Campaign”: Power Point presentation from Lake Research dated October 2008 reviewing results from HCAN 2008 electoral activity
“HCAN Progressive Messaging for the Health Care Debate”: Power Point presentation prepared by Lake Research Partners dated September 2008 for presentation to Members of Congress and Congressional staff