What we've been up to lately...

In March, several of our Directors shared information about Medicare for All with students, faculty, and administration of Charlotte's HBCU, Johnson C Smith University. Here are JCSU President Armbrister and HCJ Board member Royce Wolfe.

HHS Secy. Becerra visited Charlotte In February to publicize the healthcare benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act. HCJNC Chair Dr. Bohmfalk and immediate past-Chair Dr. Saxe spoke with him about the problems with Medicare Advantage and the ACO/REACH program. They also visited with Reps. Alma Adams & Jeff Jackson.

Dr. Bohmfalk gave an overview of the ACO/REACH program to the State Convention of North Carolina Senior Democrats on July 16. The 70 attendees were encouraged to contact their elected representatives to request ending this program.  

On Mar 31 we held our Annual Members Meeting in person for the first time in 3 years, at the beautiful new Belk Hall at Caldwell Presbyterian Church. It was great to see everyone again, including many new members and guests. Dr. Saxe reminded us why we need to persist in our Medicare for All advocacy, and Dr. Bohmfalk gave an overview of the ACO/REACH program, an insidious move to privatize Medicare. Video of the meeting is available here.

Dr. Bohmfalk, a retired neurosurgeon and former member of the Texas Assn. of Neurological Surgeons, spoke about Medicare for All at their annual meeting in Houston on Mar 5, 2022. An audience poll showed that 25% of the attendees support MFA, a much higher number than expected in this surgical subspecialty group.

Drs. Saxe & Bohmfalk made virtual presentations on “The Pandemic, Health Inequities and Reckoning with Racism,” with overviews of Medicare for All and how it might mitigate those inequities. In January they spoke to the Charlotte Mecklenburg League of Women Voters. In June they addressed the staff of the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and Atrium Hospital System Pediatric Residents.

On Feb 10 Board members Royce Wolfe, Jessica Saxe & George Bohmfalk had a productive discussion with Rep. Adams, her healthcare legislative aide, and Charlotte  office director. Rep. Adams has agreed to be an original cosponsor of the new Medicare for All bill to be introduced soon. We encouraged her also to support other healthcare bills and to mention her support on her website.

On Nov 12, Dr. Don Berwick, former CMS Director in the Obama administration, gave a Zoom presentation on health disparities, sponsored by the Greater Charlotte Healthcare Executives Group.

On July 21 Drs. Saxe and Pressly Gilbert spoke via Zoom to 100 members of the Charlotte Rotary Club on how  Medicare for All could have helped with the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 6 Dr. Saxe and UNCC chapter president Chiamaka Okonkwo participated in a discussion of Racism and Health Care with the church's weekly Anti-racism Small Group.

On June 25 Dr. Jessica Schorr Saxe participated in a panel discussion on how the pandemic is further revealing the shortcomings of our healthcare system,  barriers to healthcare in the COVID-era and the work required to dismantle them.

On May 6, Dr. George Bohmfalk gave a Medicare for All presentation via Zoom to members of the Duke Medical School's Students for a National Health Program chapter. We're all locked down but still happy to share how Medicare for All can solve so many problems.