This report, Beyond Coverage: Putting People First in Pennsylvania’s Healthcare System, tells the story of Pennsylvania’s healthcare system from the perspective of the people of the state. Through surveys of over 300 people in 43 counties and stories from five courageous individuals, Beyond Coverage reveals the critical ways in which the state’s private, for-profit insurance system is failing to […]
Purpose: Policy Advocacy
What’s Up with the Insurance Markets? Questions and answers on why costs keep going up and what can be done
In 2016, problems with the health insurance marketplaces that were set up by the Affordable Care Act became too big to ignore. Here are are talking points on the market turmoil, the problems with treating healthcare as a market commodity, and how universal, publicly financed healthcare offers the solution.
Equitable Healthcare Financing: The Vermont Proposals
In this presentation, NESRI and the Vermont Worker’s Center summarize the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign’s proposals for financing universal healthcare in Vermont, based on the Campaign’s detailed report published in response to the Vermont Governor’s failure to implement the state’s universal healthcare law.
Human Rights Assessment Tool for Healthcare Systems
This comprehensive tool enables a human rights assessment of a wide range of healthcare reform initiatives, based on key human rights principles. It was originally developed for and applied to the reform effort in Vermont.
Research Brief: Evidence for Adverse Health Effects of Out-of-Pocket Costs (“Cost-Sharing”)
This document summarizes research evidence showing that all forms of out-of-pocket costs, or “cost-sharing,” harm people’s health by discouraging especially low-income people from seeking necessary care and filling their medication prescriptions.
Towards Equitable Financing of Green Mountain Care
In this report, the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign sets out financing standards for universal healthcare and specifies a mix of equitable revenue sources for financing Vermont’s universal healthcare system.
The Policy Story of Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign
This table illustrates the five stages of Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign from a policy perspective. It outlines which policy tools have been developed for which advocacy phase of the campaign with reference to the human rights framework.
“Lines-in-the-Sand” Tool for Campaign Decision-making
This set of 10 criteria was developed by Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right campaign to facilitate the determination of “lines-in-the-sand” for specific issues, which may arise over the course of advocacy activities, such as new opportunities or threats to the campaign’s policy positions. A “line-in-the sand” means that a campaign commits to taking action […]
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Policy Positions Worksheet
This policy training tool was designed to help Vermont Workers’ Center members to better link their own healthcare stories to the HCHR Campaign’s collectively agreed policy positions, thus enabling members to communicate and advocate for policy positions in a more compelling and effective way.
Beyond Obamacare: In Many States, the Health Care Is a Human Right Movement Is Growing
This article explains why the Affordable Care Act fails to ensure the human right to health care and discusses how the HCHR campaigns are building a people’s movement to win publicly financed healthcare systems in their states to realize human rights.
Voices of Maryland’s Healthcare Crisis and the Rising Human Rights Movement
This report from HCHR-MD and NESRI documents Maryland’s healthcare crisis and highlights the HCHR campaign. The report draws on HCHR-MD’s survey and the stories of several Maryland residents.
Healthcare Is a Human Right – Maryland Healthcare Survey
This survey from Healthcare Is a Human Right – Maryland is both a data collection tool and an outreach and organizing tool. Data from the survey was published in the Voices of Maryland’s Healthcare Crisis and the Rising Human Rights Movement report.
Healthcare Is a Human Right – Maryland Fact Sheet of Preliminary Survey Results
HCHR-MD survey results fact sheetThis fact sheets presents preliminary findings from HCHR-MD’s 2012-2013 survey. It was followed up by the report Voices of Maryland’s Healthcare Crisis and the Rising Human Rights Movement.
Healthcare Is a Human Right – Maryland Campaign FAQ
This fact sheet by HCHR-Maryland answers frequently asked questions about human rights, the human rights framework for healthcare reform and single payer. It contrasts publicly financed healthcare with market-based health insurance, explains the basics of the Affordable Care Act, and addresses issues relevant for labor unions.
Policy Background and Templates for Letters to the Editor on Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Expansion
This tool was designed to help Pennsylvania residents write letters to the editor about Governor Tom Corbett’s harmful Healthy PA proposal in 2014, which sought to expand Medicaid in Pennsylvania, but through through privatization. The tool includes tips on and templates for writing letters to the editor and policy background on Medicaid expansion under the […]
Maine Care Flyer
This one-page flyer explains why Maine’s State Legislature must expand Maine’s Medicaid program, Maine Care, under the Affordable Care Act, explaining how not expanding Medicaid denies many people access to healthcare, a denial that will kill some people.
Maine Healthcare is a Human Right FAQ
This set of frequently asked questions lays out the mission and vision of Maine’s Healthcare is a Human Right campaign, discusses human rights and a human rights framework for healthcare in Maine, explains why the Affordable Care Act fails to meet people’s healthcare needs, contrasts universal publicly financed healthcare with market-based health insurance, discusses why […]
Maine Healthcare Is a Human Right Survey
Maine’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Survey, developed with NESRI’s support, is an example of a survey that’s useful for both collecting data and stories of human rights violations to be included in reports as well as doing outreach to recruit new members and build an organization’s base. HCHR-Maryland used a similar survey for its […]
The Time Is Now! Equitable Healthcare Financing for Vermont, Explained in Under 3 Minutes!
This short video gives a concise explanation of the Vermont Campaign’s equitable financing plan for universal healthcare.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Testimony, Joint Health Care Committee Hearing
This testimony was presented by Traven Leyshon on behalf of the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign to the Joint Health Committee Hearing on January 29, 2015. It calls for equitable healthcare financing and demands a democratic process for implementing universal healthcare in Vermont, following the Governor’s unilateral decision not to adopt a public financing […]
Vermont Human Rights Council Calls for a Budget that Advances Equity and Dignity
This statement by organizations affiliated with the Vermont Human Rights Council responds to Gov. Shumlin’s budget address and calls on legislators to formulate a budget that meets the fundamental needs of all residents.
Now More Than Ever: Growing the Movement for the Right to Health Care and Economic Justice
In this statement, NESRI reflects on why Vermont Governor Shumlin abandoned public healthcare financing and offers lessons and ideas for next steps for the movement in Vermont and elsewhere.
Now Is The Time: Calling legislators to action on universal healthcare financing
This letter calls on Vermont state legislators to end the ongoing healthcare crisis and work to develop a public financing proposal for universal healthcare that meets human rights standards.
National Open Letter in Support of Universal, Publicly Financed Healthcare in Vermont
This open letter, signed by 70 organizations, urges Gov. Shumlin not to give up on universal, equitably financed healhtcare and calls on the Vermont legislature redouble their efforts to develop and agree on a public financing plan that advances equity and realizes Vermonters’ right to healthcare.
Statement on Governor’s Failure to Act on Universal Healthcare
This statement from the Vermont Workers’ Center responds to Gov. Shumlin’s failure to act on universal healthcare.
Open Letter from Economists for Universal, Publicly Financed Healthcare
This letter, signed and submitted by over 100 economists, states that universal, publicly financed healthcare is not only economically feasible but highly preferable to a fragmented market-based insurance system.
Equitable Financing of Universal Healthcare in Vermont
This document outlines the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign’s plan for equitable financing of universal healthcare in Vermont.
Equitable Financing Plan for Vermont’s Universal Healthcare System
In this report, the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign shows how public financing for universal healthcare can be achieved in Vermont by 2017. It presents detailed cost and revenue models that demonstrate it is not only possible, but financially and economically advantageous to implement a publicly financed healthcare system in Vermont. Download the report […]
Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity Social Determinants
This is the final report of The World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. It contains a plethora of recommendations for all countries, including a call for universal, equitable health care.
Why Universal Health Care Is Essential for a More Equitable Society
This article explains why the current healthcare system is exacerbating inequality in our society and how public healthcare financing can help change this. It uses the equitable healthcare financing plan introduced by Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign to illustrate why healthcare is a matter of equality.
A Human Rights Approach to Health Care Reform – How Does the Affordable Care Act Measure Up?
This presentation describes how the Affordable Care Act fails to meet key human rights principles and outlines steps health advocates can take to move beyond Obamacare.
Using Human Rights for Health Care Advocacy
This presentation sets out the basics for using a human rights approach to develop broad-based campaigns and advocacy initiatives for health care reform, illustrated with examples of lessons learned from Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign.
Toward a Unified Policy Approach for Healthcare Is a Human Right and the People’s Budget
This document outlines how the key policy positions for universal healthcare, as formulated by Vermont’s HCHR campaign, are aligned with policy demands for a People’s Budget, i.e. human rights-based budget and revenue policies that meet people’s needs and raise revenue equitably.
NESRI’s Universal Periodic Review Report
This report was submitted to the UN Human Rights Council by NESRI and a coalition of seven collaborating organizations. It addresses serious and ongoing issues in the state of economic and social rights in the US, and gives recommendations for action by the US Government.
Human Rights Principles for Financing in Healthcare
This issue brief proposes 10 principles for health care financing in the U.S., grounded in international human rights standards.
Why the New Health Reform Law Fails to Meet Human Rights Standards
This analysis of the new federal health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, was prepared for a national tele-briefing organized by the Opportunity Agenda on March 31, 2010.
Rural Montana Community for Human Rights – APHA
This presentation explains the pioneering effort in Lewis & Clark County, Montana, to establish a local universal health care system based on human rights. It focuses on the first phase of the endeavor, a community needs assessment.
Building Local Support for the Human Right to Healthcare
This presentation, prepared for the conference “Health and Human Rights in Connecticut” at the University of Connecticut, April 28, 2011, shows how the human rights framework can be used for health reform advocacy in the United States, with examples from Montana and Vermont.
What’s Next for Universal Healthcare in Vermont? Transition to Green Mountain Care
This presentation outlines the next steps on the road to Green Mountain Care, explains important decisions that must be taken during the transition phase, and shows how to use the human rights principles as guidance in the transition process.
Human Rights and Public Goods
This presentation explores how human rights and public goods interact in health.
Vermont Universal Access to Healthcare Act (Act 128)
Written legislation for Vermont universal healthcare bill.
Pursuing a Vision for Healthcare: A Human Rights Assessment Presidential Candidates
Assessment of Presidential Candidates 2008.
Human Rights Assessment of the Presidenal Nominees’ Healthcare Plans
Assessment of Obama and McCain Plans.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Presents Testimony in Vermont Statehouse
This document explains how the testimony presented by the Vermont Workers’ Center to a joint session of the health committees translates human rights principles into health care reform.
NESRI UPR Consultation Statement on Health
This statement describes what is a human right to healthcare and offers recommendations to see this in action.
NESRI Statement on Federal Health Reform
Despite all the celebrations about the federal health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in March 2010, the law fails to meet the key human rights standards of universality, equity, and accountability.
Resolution for Action on the Human Right to Health US Social Forum
This resolution for action was created by the People’s Movement Assembly at the US Social Forum in June 2010.
Unequal Health Outcomes in the US
This report to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination documents racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care in the United States.
Washington Health Reform Proposal: Human Rights Assessment
The report uses a human rights framework to evaluate the five proposals that the Washington Legislature is considering as models for state-based health reform.
Embedding the Human Right to Healthcare in the US State Constitutions
Over recent years, health reform advocates in a number of U.S. states have run campaigns for including the human right to health care in state constitutions. This review summarizes these efforts, analyzes challenges common to this advocacy strategy, and offers key lessons learned. It examines cases from Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina, and Florida.
Human Rights Assessment of Single Payer Plans
This report provides an in-depth human rights assessment of single payer health care proposals, along with a framework for assessing legislation. It compares single payer plans to the market-based insurance model and finds that a single payer approach is able to meet most human rights standards.
Access to Healthcare: Experience and Views in Lewis & Clark County
The Universal Access to Health Care Task Force conducted nine focus groups with community members across Lewis & Clark County to assess the health needs of community members and collect their suggestions for improving access to care. NESRI helped prepare this in-depth research report on participants’ views and experiences.
Phase 2 Report for Universal Healthcare Task Force, Lewis & Clark Montana
The Universal Health Care Task Force in Lewis & Clark County presented its final reports and findings to the Board of Health.
Human Rights to Health and Women’s Reproductive Health Policy
According to the fact sheet, “advocates for reproductive health care in the United States can find strong support for their work in the principles underlying the human right to health.”
Role of Single Payer Proposals in the Human Right to Healthcare
This fact sheet compares single payer health care proposals to market-based approaches, based on human rights principles, and finds that single payer proposals are far better at meeting human rights standards. Download the factsheet below, or read the full report on single payer and human rights here.
Human Rights Assessment of Federal Single Payer Bills
This fact sheet assesses two national single payer bills, introduced by Rep. Conyers and Sen. Sanders, against human rights principles.
Women and the Human Right to Healthcare: Federal Health Reform Law
This fact sheet measures the federal health reform law against human right to health principles and gives an overview of some of the ways women will be affected by the new legislation.
Immigrants and the Human Right to Healthcare: Federal Health Reform Law
This issue brief explains how the Affordable Care Act impacts access to healthcare for immigrants. It concludes that the ACA fails to meet immigrant’s health needs and rights.
People of Color and the Human Right to Healthcare: Federal Health Reform Law
In its series of fact sheets on the human rights impact of the new law, the NESRI release this analysis from the perspective of people of color. We find that the law’s failure to meet the key human rights standards of universality, equity, and accountability has concrete repercussions for people of color.
From Market Competition to Solidarity?
The human right to healthcare offers an analytical and advocacy framework for shifting the healthcare reform debate from individualist, market-based approaches to the collective responsibility for health care as a public good.
Integrating Human Rights Principles into a County Health Reform Project
This article presents a first-person, “hands-on” account of efforts to operationalize a human rights framework in public health advocacy and action in a local setting, King County, a jurisdiction of Washington, USA, that includes the city of Seattle.
From Private Profits to Public Goods?
This article discusses the health policy proposals of the 2008 presidential election campaign and primaries, thereby offering a historical perspective on the reform positions that have shaped health policy under the Obama administration
Huff Post: Health Reform Law Fails to Meet Human Rights
Amidst the celebrations of a ‘historical moment,’ a healthy dose of realism seems in order as we assess the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the related reconciliation measures.
Human Rights US Social Forum People’s Movement Assembly
This article lays out the human rights principles stated and agreed upon by collaborating organizations of the People’s Movement Assembly on the Right to Health at the US Social Forum in Detroit to guide the struggle for health and healthcare in the United States.
Reviving Progressive Activism: A Case Study of Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign
This case study of Vermont’ Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign presents the history of the campaign and its 2011 success, analyses the rationale, strategy and tactics of the campaign, and offers lessons learned for developing transformative grassroots campaigns.
A Rights-Based Approach to Healthcare Reform
This book article outlines the history of the human right to health in the U.S., derives principles and standards from international human rights law, and offers a human rights framework for guiding health reform efforts.
Vermont Workers’ Center Mission Statement and Strategic Orientation
This document is a statement of the Vermont Workers’ Center mission and strategic orientation.
The People’s Recipe (for People’s Convention)
This document explains and gives examples of seven key organizing principles.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign 2010 FAQ
This FAQ from from 2010 answers questions about the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign in Vermont.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Comments on the draft “Hsiao” report
This document poses questions and comments on the healthcare system proposals drafted by Dr. Hsiao for Green Mountain Care. It raises concerns about the delay before implementation of universal coverage, calls for the inclusion of undocumented workers under the principal of universality, and questions whether the proposals provide equity of access and financing.
Human Rights Assessment of the “Hsiao” Healthcare System Design Options
This document charts detailed assessments of the healthcare system design proposals presented by Dr. William Hsiao for Green Mountain Care.
Vermont Workers’ Center People’s Toolkit
This is a comprehensive guide to assist Healthcare Is a Human Right campaign members in answering common questions, applying the human rights principles, evaluating legislative proposals and advocating with legislators.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Renews Call for Legislature to Move Forward, Not Backward, on Healthcare Reform
This statement calls on the Vermont Legislature to protect the rights of low-income Vermonters who were forced into the federally-mandated health insurance ”exchange” marketplace pursuing the ’Affordable Care Act’. It emphasizes the importance of continued access to care for low-income people who were covered under Vermont’s Catamount and VHAP health insurance programs.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Analysis of the Administration’s Financing Report
This document provides an analysis of and response to the Vermont State Administration’s healthcare financing report and was presented by the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign to the House Committee on Health Care on January 30, 2013.
The People’s Address
This Address on the future of Vermont’s budget and healthcare systems was delivered by the Vermont Workers’ Center and its Put People First partners. The People’s Address was given ahead of the Governor’s Budget Address and the Administration’s presentation of a financing plan for universal healthcare on January 24, 2013.
Put People First Agenda
This Address on the future of Vermont’s budget and healthcare systems was delivered by the Vermont Workers’ Center and its Put People First partners. The People’s Address was given ahead of the Governor’s Budget Address and the Administration’s presentation of a financing plan for universal healthcare on January 24, 2013.
Parameters for the Equitable Financing of Green Mountain Care
This document describes the requirements for the equitable financing of Vermont’s universal healthcare system, Green Mountain Care.
How Green Mountain Care Should Be Financed
This factsheet outlines how Vermont’s universal healthcare system, Green Mountain Care, should be financed in order to ensure it meets human rights standards.
Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Responds to Leaked Healthcare Financing Proposal
This document is the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign’s response to leaked information regarding Vermont Governor Shumlin’s financing plans for Green Mountain Care.
Health Workers and Green Mountain Care
This document explains why Green Mountain Care is good for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, and emphasizes the importance of solidarity between patients and health workers in calling for universal healthcare.
2014 Questions about Universal Healthcare
This document provides answers to frequently asked questions about Green Mountain Care and the Affordable Care Act.
Human Rights Standards for Healthcare Benefits
These human rights standards for health care “benefits” were developed by Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign to hold the government accountable for enabling access to all needed care and meeting all health needs.
Human Rights Assessment Tool for Healthcare Benefits
This tool enables a human rights assessment of a healthcare benefits proposals, based on key human rights principles. It was developed for assessing the Green Mountain Care universal healthcare system planned in Vermont.
Healthcare Is a Human Rights Campaign Policy Positions 2014/2015
This document outlines the 2014-2015 policy positions for the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign.
From Coverage to Care: Re-envisioning Our Healthcare System
This statement sets out the Vermont Campaign’s position on healthcare “benefits,” demanding a shift from a limited “benefits” model, which restricts access to care based on what is covered by an insurance plan, to a comprehensive model that guarantees access to all needed care.
Responsibilities and Rights in Healthcare
This document offers talking points regarding rights and responsibilities in healthcare.
Affordable Care Act Supreme Court Challenge FAQ
This document explains the significance of the 2012 Supreme Court case dealing with challenges to the federal healthcare reform act and responds to frequently asked questions regarding the relationship between the ”Affordable Care Act” and the human right to healthcare.
Voices of Vermont’s Economic Crisis: The Challenge to Put People First
This report details the unmet needs of Vermonters, describes how current systems are violating their human rights, and presents a vision for moving towards a more democratic and accountable government that prioritizes the needs and rights of the people.
Voices of the Vermont Healthcare Crisis: The Human Right to Healthcare
This report introduces the concept of healthcare as a human right and documents human rights abuses in the Vermont healthcare system.
A Moral Obligation Still Unmet
This document details the shortcomings of federal healthcare reform plans and calls on Vermonters to unite in their shared values and continue their legacy as a leading force in establishing human rights by rallying for the human right to universal, publicly financed healthcare.
Vermont Workers’ Center Statement on Commencement of Green Mountain Care Board
This statement by the Vermont Workers’ Center calls on Governor Shumlin’s administration and the board responsible for the development of Green Mountain Care’s budget and benefits package to continually guide its decisions by the human rights principles outlined in Act 48 — universality, equity (of access and financing), transparency and accountability, participation. The statement notes […]
Statement on Equitable Financing of Green Mountain Care
This statement by the Vermont Workers’ Center calls for equitable, public financing of Vermont’s universal healthcare system (Green Mountain Care) through income taxes based on ability to pay as well as a progressive payroll tax paid by employers.
Statement on the Green Mountain Care Financing and Benefits Debate
This statement by the Vermont Workers’ Center calls on the Governor Shumlin’s administration to replace costly health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs with an equitable financing mechanism. It explains why “benefits packages” do not meet people’s health needs and places limitations on their ability to get comprehensive care.
Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign Proposal for Equitable Financing of Green Mountain Care
This document introduces the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign’s proposal for equitable healthcare financing, which would replace premiums, deductibles and co-pays with public financing through progressive taxation.
Worker’s Compensation: Governor Should Prioritize Workers’ Health Over Industry Interests
This document is a joint statement by the Vermont Workers’ Center, Vermont AFL-CIO, Vermont Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Local 5221, and United Electrical Workers Northeast Region calling for integration/alignment of workers’ compensation with Vermont’s universal healthcare coverage (Green Mountain Care).
Detailed Standards for Assessing Vermont’s Healthcare Reform Proposals
This assessment chart defines the detailed human right to health care standards developed by Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right campaign in 2010 to evaluate the reform proposals put forward by Dr. Hsiao (under Act 128 Vermont law).
Human Rights Principles for Healthcare
This document presents Vermont’s Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign’s original statement of the five human rights principles (universality, equity, accountability, transparency, and participation).
Vermont Workers’ Center Healthcare Survey
This seven-question survey is designed to collect information about access to healthcare and give participants the chance to get involved further in the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign.
Building a Grassroots Movement for HRHC
In this document, the Vermont Worker’s Center shares their experience and lessons learned in building a Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign.
Vermont Must Lead the Way on Healthcare
This op-ed by James Haslam, Director of the Vermont Workers’ Center, explains why the federal healthcare reform model, which offers public options alongside private insurance coverage, is a half-measure that will not protect the people’s human rights. The article urges fundamental change that establishes healthcare as a public good, not a market commodity.