Stop AIDS . . . Keep the Promise

This is the theme for World AIDS Day, Friday December 1, 2006 What is your promise? As the years have passed and the epidemic of AIDS/HIV has unfolded it has become painfully clear that we all have a role to play, a promise to make, in helping to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in our own personal lives and in our communities. This year as a reminder of our responsibility to each other we are collecting 'Promises' to be read out loud on World AIDS Day during a Candlelight Walk and Community Gathering, here in Lynn. The event starts at 6PM on the steps of Lynn City Hall and finishes at St. Stephen's Church 74 South Common Street, Lynn. Join us! There are no promises too big, too small, too personal . . . Help us to hear the voices in our community and join us for the Candlelight Walk and Gathering. If you cannot make it, or live far away, send in your promise electronically. We will include it as we read aloud what we all have promised. Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise

We have a new telephone number!

Please make a note, that the Lynn Health Task Force has a new phone number: 781-244-1419.    The information on the left side of this home page will be changed soon. 

As always questions and concerns can be brought to our attention by phone or by email: hbrauner@lynnhealthtaskforce.org

Thank you for your support!

Thanks to all of you who helped the Lynn Health Task Force celebrate 21 healthy years!                             

On November 4th, Don White, a local folksinger/comedian, was on hand to help us celebrate.  His hysterical, yet thought provoking stories and engaging delivery kept us all focused carefully on his every word.  Thank you, Don for sharing your gifts!

Thank you Gary Langis, the Lynn Health Task Force's Unsung Hero 2006, for your dedication and tenacity in working with people battling addiction and at high risk of HIV/AIDS.  Your commitment, shown in outreach efforts in programs like Health Streets, inspires us to keep up the fight for access to affordable health care in Lynn.

Thank you also to our donors, local businesses and agencies that helped us raise over $18,000! The donor list includes, Partners Health Care, North Shore Medical Center, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Lynn Economic Opportunity, Lynn Community Health Center, Eaton Apothecary, Neighborhood Legal Services, CAB Health and Recovery Services Health Care For All, Lynn City Council, Community Catalyst, just to name a few. On behalf of all health care consumers who benefit from the efforts of the Lynn Health Task Force, thank you so much for your support!

21 Years and Counting!

 The Lynn Health Task Force is a grassroots health care advocacy organization working to improve health care access in Lynn, Massachusetts. The Task Force has been a major force in important local improvements for the uninsured and other vulnerable populations in Lynn and an active voice in state and national health care reform. This site provides information about the Task Force, specific information for residents of Lynn and neighboring communities about how you can get access to health care locally regardless of your language, income or ability to pay and general health care and insurance information for use by all Massachusetts residents. In our Speak Out section you can join or start a discussion about a health topic you care about. Click the links above or to the left to check out the site.....and thanks for visiting! 

Health Care Reform in Massachusetts

A nearly unanimous vote at the State House on Tuesday, April 4^th spoke volumes regarding the Commonwealth’s need and readiness for comprehensive health reform. Months in debate, years in the making, this bill is far more dynamic and inclusive that it otherwise would have been without the collective actions of many health care advocacy groups in the region. Too many groups to name here, really.

Visit our website often as this reform gets implemented.  We will do our best to update you on the latest, with some detail of eligibility, etc.  Its a moving target, however, and sometimes hard to keep up with changes.  So come back often.  In the meantime,

There is much to celebrate!

Just a few highlights of the Health Care Reform bill include:

• Extensive expansion of affordable insurance coverage for hundreds of thousands of uninsured MA residents, through high-quality subsidized plans for people below 300% of poverty (about $60,000/family of 4).

• Restoration of coverage and benefits for thousands of who lost MassHealth coverage in 2002, including adult dental services for 600,000 low income adults (120,000 of whom are poor seniors, and 180,000 of whom are disabled). This began July 1.

• Creation of the "Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector" that can result in more affordable insurance options for workers and small businesses.

• Determination that employers with 11+ workers have an obligation to contribute something to the health coverage needs of their workers. (details remain to be worked out)

And finally, "The Individual Mandate": While details of this are being addressed in a special board of directors called the Connector Authority.  This will affect people for whom purchasing insurance is deemed ‘affordable’ – what ever that means. Affordability in this context is yet to be defined. Stay tuned for more on this particular issue . . .

Moving forward to implementation of all the parts of this plan will take years. According to the bill, over the next three years all but a very small percentage of Mass residents will be covered by health insurance. Other parts of the plan will also take time and lots of work to get going.

Join the Lynn Health Task Force, help us to support efforts to expand access and affordability to all in Massachusetts!

August 4th - Overdose Candlelight Vigil

On Friday, August 4th over 200 people gathered at the Lynn Commons to remember those we have lost to overdose.

Together we listened to four families members of different victims of overdose.  They spoke of pain, loss, anger and frustration of what might have been.  They each also spoke of the need to remember their sibling, son, daughter, nephew when they were alive and well, before addiction took over.

One mother spoke of the need for hope that might come from coming together to reflect, raise awareness and speaking freely about the overpowering grip drugs have on our young people. 

We need to keep talking now, more than ever.

As the candles flickered, 435 names were read, all lost within the last five years, most of them very local, within Lynn, Saugus, Everett, Revere, Beverly.

While on August 4th we remembered and honored, there is still so much to do for those who are actively using drugs.  We need to keep talking, we need to keep meeting.

The Lynn Health Task Force is a private, consumer driven advocacy group that works to remove barriers to health care access. Increasing the number of long term services for those struggling with addiction is one focus of this work.  Please feel free to call the Task Force for more information. We can be reached at 781-244-1419.

To learn more about the Overdose Vigil call Mary, Amy or Fermin at CAB Health and Recovery 1-781-592-0243 or 1-978-767-3850

Health Care Constitutional Amendment

The Constitutional Convention, that was supposed to be held on May 10th was put off until July 12th AND THEN AGAIN INDEFINITELY!  Its in "Special Committee" now.  Our hope is that if it gets voted in at the November 8 Constitutional Convention to qualify for the ballot in November 2008.  Alas we wait.  Health care advocates like the Lynn Health Task Force have been working to raise awareness of this Health Care Constitutional Amendment and its pivotal role in getting our government to make health care a basic right.  Details about the amendment itself can be found at the Health Care For Massachusetts website (www.healthcareformass.org)  

You as a voting, living breathing person of Massachusetts, can call your elected official today and tell them that you need affordable health care, and it needs to be THEIR priority.   If you would like to learn more about this amendment go to: www.healthcareformass.org/ .

As always, the Lynn Health Task Force supports all efforts to remove barriers to access to health care.

Tell us what you think

 Click here to join an online discussion on health care and other ideas for better health care access on our speak out page.....