CaHPSA E-Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 12
Year One Reflection and Engagement Opportunities
A wrap-up of our first volume and opportunities to connect with CaHPSA
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Dear CaHPSA Supporters,
Over the past year, we have had the opportunity to connect with you all through our newsletters and collective advocacy efforts. Thank you, everyone, for your readership, support, and generosity!
With this 12th issue, we are concluding Volume 1 of the CaHPSA Newsletter, a publication we launched to make topics in health care reform and policy more accessible and digestible for students and new advocates. In this issue, we take a quick look back at our previous publications and share some engagement opportunities.
CaHPSA is continually inspired by your activism, leadership, and commitment to social and health justice. At this particular moment in time, our members are finding comfort in solidarity. Joining fellow justice advocates in calling for change has been a meaningful way for students to take action. This month, as the U.S. passed a grim COVID-19 milestone, we were reminded of the urgent need for a better health care system, one rooted in compassion and equity, rather than profit. Furthermore, a new series of nationwide protests against longstanding systemic racism that results in the tragic loss of life has highlighted how fundamental racial justice is for an equitable society. During these challenging times, we know that both health and racial justice are inextricably linked and necessary to achieve true equity. We stand with you in this fight for justice.
In solidarity,
California Health Professional Student Alliance
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A LOOK BACK: REFLECTING ON VOLUME 1
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In our first volume of the CaHPSA Newsletter, we have covered a variety of topics regarding our health care system, the need for reform, and exciting legislation that spark hope for progress going forward. Now more than ever, the policies and plans outlined in our newsletter are critical for responding to the unmet health and social needs in our communities. Our publications were created with the intention of being a source of information and inspiration for all of our CaHPSA readers. We hope you enjoyed reading them as much as we enjoyed writing them!
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 One of the first topics we covered was the Road Map to Golden State Care, a compilation of strategic steps to get California to universal coverage and an equitable healthcare system. This Road Map was developed by our parent organization, California Physicians Alliance (CaPA), and outlines a comprehensive, visionary plan that California needs with a unique step-wise approach. To find out more about the Road Map, check out our newsletter here.
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A fundamental concept we covered in our newsletters is the need health care reform. The need for reform is a foundational tenet of the CaHPSA mission and goal. In our September newsletter, we outlined the need for national reform with facts, figures, and excellent insight from CaHPSA advisors Zachary Nicholas and Matthew Musselman. The 2019-2020 State Budget showed promising change for health care reform in California, as outlined in our October newsletter. We look forward to updating you over the summer as the enacted 2020-2021 budget becomes available.
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 As we approached the New Year, our focus pivoted towards reflecting on the remaining uninsured in California. CaHPSA members strongly believe that a health care system that doesn’t help everyone ultimately hurts everyone. Click here to read the ITUP Snapshot report on the uninsured.
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 In February, we introduced a new and very promising commission announced by Governor Gavin Newsom. The Healthy California for All Commission was tasked with developing a plan to move California toward a unified healthcare financing system, including, but not limited to a single-payer system, that provides coverage and access for all state residents. Meetings for the commission are currently postponed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. However, we look forward to seeing what plans this commission proposes and will continue to provide updates.
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Our March and April issues focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the health care system, including its global toll on more than 200 countries and our nation's struggles with controlling the spread of the virus in order to flatten the curve. 
Particularly in the US, the focus has fallen on the infrastructure of our national healthcare system, which does not offer universal coverage and provides care within a fragmented system. This pandemic has revealed significant gaps in our health and medical systems as well as safety net programs. Furthermore, it is deepening existing health and economic disparities which can ultimately exacerbate and prolong this crisis. COVID-19 is something that has changed our daily routines and lives in many ways. We also offered an analysis of both state and federal level legislative responses that you can read here.
In this time of physical distancing, our new series of CaHPSA and CaPA virtual events have offered engaging opportunities to connect and discuss reform and policy in an online setting. There has been a variety of insightful conversations around COVID-19 and its implications for our health care system.
All of our first volume publications are available here. Thank you again for your readership over the past year! As we publish our 12th issue and conclude our first volume, we are grateful for this opportunity to inform and stay connected with students and advocates throughout the state.
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We want to hear from you! In this section, we pose a couple of questions for you to consider. Your responses will inform us of your views on health care reform, policy, and advocacy as well as ways we can improve our newsletter.
Feel free to answer however many questions you want (response link button below).
- Do you believe health care is a human right?
- What health disparities are you most interested in learning about?
- Which part of our health care system do you believe needs the most improvement?
- What does your ideal health care system look like?
- In what ways do you believe students and health/medical professionals can effectively advocate for reform?
- Why do you choose to advocate for health care reform?
- Is there an advocacy skill you want to learn or strengthen?
- Is there a particular topic in health care reform or advocacy that you want to learn more about?
- What are your suggestions for future CaHPSA newsletters?
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VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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All are welcome to join upcoming virtual events from CaHPSA and CaPA, our parent organization. These live sessions are opportunities for members to engage with medical professionals and fellow advocates throughout the state.
We hope to connect with you soon!
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Health4All Seniors would remove immigration status as a barrier to comprehensive Medi-Cal for all income-eligible California seniors ages 65 and over. Join us in supporting this inclusive health policy!
Please take action and contact us if you have any questions.
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Stay tuned for our next issue of the CaHPSA E-Newsletter!
Read our past newsletters here
Questions? Suggestions for future newsletters? Contact us
CaHPSA is the student section of California Physicians Alliance (CaPA).
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