Archives

2007

2007 HCFAT Annual Report   (requires Acrobat Reader)

“For Whom the Bell Tolls” Spring and Summer Events

“For Whom the Bell Tolls,” was initiated in April 2007 to raise awareness about the 18,000 Americans who die unnecessarily every year due to lack of health insurance. This on-going project builds a coalition of churches, synagogues, mosques and temples and organizations that share common cause to draw attention to the 47 million of our brothers and sisters who go without health insurance and millions more who are underinsured and at risk of bankruptcy if faced with a major illness. (“For Whom the Bell Tolls” projects in Houston are supported in part by a grant from the Houston Endowment, Inc.)

• In May, HCFAT—Houston joined forces with Texas Bioneers to sponsor “Uncovered: The American Health Care Story,” a theater performance by the Potboilers Artists for Change, presented at the Institute for Religion and Health’s “Be the Change in Health Care Conference” at Rice University.

• HCFAT—Houston partnered with Covenant Church to present several events in April. Stories about health care practitioners and patients were performed by the Potboilers following a labyrinth walk to commemorate the 18,000 adults who die each year due to lack of health insurance.

• HCFAT—Houston held a demonstration at Mecom Fountain in April to raise awareness about the crisis of the uninsured in Texas.

• HCFAT—Austin collaborated with Physicians for Social Responsibility hosting a rally in support of universal health care in April. Presenters included physicians, patients, elected representatives, a theater group, and health care reform activists. Local ABC, NBC, and the Austin Chronicle covered this event.

• HCFAT—Austin reached 750 people at two SICKO premieres in Austin. HCFAT members joined forces with Gray Panthers of Austin, National Nurses Organizing Committee, and Women for Good Government to distribute leaflets and mobilize moviegoers to sign a petition in support of HR676 petition.

• HCFAT Austin held a press conference during a SICKO Premiere in Austin in June. Austin Chronicle: http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:499235

Speakers Series and the Media

Health Care for All Texas members have given hundreds of presentations on the health care crisis, speaking at churches, community centers, conferences, and medical centers in Houston, Galveston, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, and College Station. HCFAT members have also given interviews to radio, television, Internet, and print media.

Increasing Public
Awareness and Research

Surveys and feedback forms filled out by a sample of attendees at Health Care for All Texas events suggest that education efforts have been successful in increasing public awareness about the failings of the health care system and that support for universal health care is growing. HCFAT co-founder and chair, Ana Malinow, MD, presented “Evidence-based Activism: Activating the evidence” at the 2005 American Public Health Association National Meeting in Philadelphia. The presentation highlighted research conducted by Health Care for All Texas.

2006

Annual Report Legislative Briefing: The Texas Health Insurance Plan

In 2006, Health Care for All Texas presented “TIP—The Texas Health Insurance Plan: How to achieve single payer universal health care in Texas” at a legislative briefing in Austin.

In October 2006, Health Care for All Texas and Potboiler Artists for Change joined forces to present their theater performance, Uncovered: The American Health Care Story, at the Texas Bioneers conference at the University of Houston.

In November 2006, Health Care for All Texas also organized a Speakers Training in Houston to increase the number of individuals capable of speaking to large audiences about the health care crisis and universal health care.

2005

Annual Report Lecture Series and Theater Performances

2005 HCFAT Annual Report   (requires Acrobat Reader)

In 2005, Health Care for All Texas widened its outreach with two major medical centers; pursued education through art using popular theater; and continued its tradition of grassroots education by participating in more than 50 community and professional presentations, as well as newspaper, television, and radio interviews across the state.

• Lecture Series with David Himmelstein, M.D. from PNHP

In October 2005, almost 500 health professionals attended “Health Reform: A Medical Emergency,” a series of lectures, grand rounds, and small group discussions with co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, David Himmelstein, M.D. This was the first, and very successful, collaboration between Health Care for All Teas and the Grant Taylor Lecture at the Texas Medical Center, and the Vaughn Lecture at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

• Potboilers Theater Performance

In October 2005, Health Care for All Texas sponsored a performance in Houston by the Potboiler Artists for Change. Approximately 200 viewers in three different venues saw “Uncovered: The American Health Care Story,” a powerful emotional performance by local artists telling their own health care stories through theater, dance, and music.

2004

Denied: The Crisis of America’s Uninsured

2004 HCFAT

In 2004, Health Care for All Texas organized the photography exhibit “Denied: The Crisis of America’s Uninsured,” which toured six cities in Texas, recruited 88 statewide co-sponsors, held five opening receptions with speakers and media, involved 17 elected officials, and produced 30 media reports. See www.talkingeyesmedia.org for information on how to exhibit the show in your city.