All photography provided by Jared Chambers

Since 1950, we have led the effort to permanently protect nearly 110 million acres of wilderness. We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory.

Our Mission

HCAO-Action works to move towards a universal, equitable, and affordable health care system at both the federal level (see National Strategy efforts [link]) and at the state level (see State Legislative efforts [link]). We need to be prepared to more on whichever front is most promising at the time. It is our belief that these efforts are synergistic – for a discussion of why, see an article by Chuck Pennacchio of Health Care for All Pennsylvania.

From a technical standpoint, a single payer system implemented at the federal level would be the simplest path to the system we want, and the best bill to do that has been HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, which has been introduced in the current Congress as HR xxx [link]. From a political standpoint, it often appears that the most likely route will involve one or more states implementing a universal system first, which will eventually lead to a national system as it becomes clear that both justice and affordability are improved with such systems. But things can change quickly at the national level, as evidenced by movement at the national level precipitated by the Sanders campaign, and the increase in support for the Affordable Care Act as Congress threatened to repeal it. We will work so that Oregon is ready to implement a system if that route seems more promising, while doing our part to convince Oregon’s Congressional delegation, voters, and activists that something like HR 676 should pass at the federal level.

For more information about our efforts at the national level, see [link]

For more information about our efforts at the state level, see [link]

For more information about issues related to what a bill should look like, or other issues of concern for a universal system, see [link]. Some particular prominent issues –

·      Why a single payer model is probably the best option for the U.S. (link)

·      Provider payment methods (link)

·      Why market solutions tend not to work in healthcare [link]

·      Pharmaceutical prices [link]

What We've Achieved