S eptember 08, 1993 • T he P ortland O bserver
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Can Politicians Reform Health Care In America?
It was th is past sp rin g that I w rote
a th re e -p a rt series here, "T h e C o lo r o f
H e a lth ” . T h e fa r -ra n g in g to p ic s
ranged fro m apprehensions over a
huge federally -funded research project
to study a possible “ C rim e/G ene”
connection am ong A fric a n A m e ri­
cans (3 /1 0 /9 3 ) to new in itia tiv e s for
ture We are being forced to a fr ig h t­
tria l nations—and on the other hand,
w h ile U S . life expectancy has h it a
new h ig h o f 75.5 years, th is has
b rought about serious problem s o f
m a in ta in in g wellness in the longer
"g o ld e n ” years A lo t o f special con­
cerns in fu n d in g the increased m e d i­
la rg e -s c a le p r o ­
g ra m s to screen
b la ck c h ild re n fo r
‘ b e h a v io ra l p ro b ­
cal needs by both federal and private
p ro v id e rs have
a ris e n In b e ­
tween. a disaster
mode.
As recently
as A ugust 25 I
used this colum n
to b rin g us up to
date on the “ O r­
le m s ’ a n d tr e a t
th e m w ith drugs (3 /
24/93).
T h e re has
been no lessening
o f these assaults and we w ill continue
to keep you advised However, as you
are qu ite aware, the status o f a ll our
h e a lth -fro m infants to the aged--is a
m a tte r o f o v e r-rid in g concern to the
n a tio n and a m a jo r to p ic in the media.
W e fin d ourselves d istra u g h t that
A m e rica has the most disgraceful rate
o f in fa n t m o rta lity am ong, the indus­
egon H ealth Plan” , as disa p po in tin g
an exercise as that may have been to
you 1 reported on the continued lack
o f cla rity and d ire ctio n in the p la n ­
n in g and, worst o f a ll, absolutely no
consensus on the method o f fu n d in g
However, the local and state uncer­
tainties pale in to in sig n ifica n ce w hen
we consider the chaotic national p ic-
‘ th in k - a n d - g r o w - r ic h ’ schem es,
though m a il order and group p ro v id ­
ers arc h e lp in g in some cost-cutting
There must be a “ A N ational
A ssociation o f S enior B lue Cross
Executives” , considering the em erg­
in g national pattern o f th e ir super
compensation and perks. The m il­
lio n -d o lla r salaries o f m any are qua­
druple the pay o f managers in indus­
try w ith comparable duties. O f course,
th is is the ‘ tip o f the iceberg’ in the
Managed C are’ fie ld ; the media likes
to get attention fo r its alleged revela­
tions by using highly-recognizable
names lik e “ B lue Cross” . There are
m any s im ila r providers w ith tickets
on this health care gravy tra in .
part o f th e ir profits? “ M e th in ks thou
doth protest too m uch” . Just lately, we
fin d that the b ig medical testing labs
have been rip p in g o fT b illio n s in over­
charges, unnecessary tests (w ith con­
nivance), and fo r services not per­
formed. V ic tim iz e d have been gov­
ernm ent program s lik e M edicare,
M edicaid, Veterans and in ad d ition ,
w as decades in d e v e lo p in g and,
lik e the " d e f ic it ” debacle, re p o rte d
b y m edia, d e crie d by p o litic ia n s
and s u ffe re d b y the s ic k and d is ­
tics?
A neighbor o f m ine has re ite r­ ab le d B u t, lik e the e c o n o m ic mess,
ated an e a rlie r caustic co m p la in t, “ 1 those in ch a rg e o f o u r so cia l sys­
d id n ’ t v o te fo r H illa r y R o d m a n tem s k n e w f u ll w e ll th a t they th e m ­
C lin to n fo r ’ H ealth C z a r’ o r any other selves w e re p a rt o f the p ro b le m —a
responsible position in the new ad­ m a jo r p a rt! A n d w e need lo o k no
m in is tra tio n , and now m y w orst fears fu rth e r th a n th a t lita n y o f a ccu sa ­
are realized. A fte r that g litz y in tro ­ tio n s and cro ss charges a m o n g the
d uction as the most know ledgeable h e a lth p ro v id e rs (m o st o f w h o m
and com petent health care specialist to o k th e H ip p o c ra tic O a th ). T h e
to emerge on the A m e rica n scene, we S a vin g s and L o a n ra sca ls w e re
fin d ourselves awash in absolute con­ a m a te u rs
The m a jo r drug companies have
fusion w ith o u t a clue as to how to
solve a problem o f th is m agnitude made unconscionable p ro fits w ith
Since we d id n ’ t elect her, who do we th e ir prices allegedly raised to cover
developm ent and testing, but actually
hold responsible?”
W h o indeed? F irs t, I th in k w e to finance m arketing, wars, acquisi­
s h o u ld a ll concede th a t it was n a ive tions and enhancement o f the bottom
o f these rip offs that have escalated
mess we were to ld “ H illa ry ” was go­
in g to solve. There is the co llu sio n
between the in d u stry giants in lens
m a n ufacturing and local dispensers
o f contact lenses: occultists, et. The
idea is to w ith hold prescription in fo r­
m ation fro m the m a il order firm s so
that prices can be m aintained at an
a rtific ia l level. I could go on fo r page
after page but you get the idea. I
and p re p o s te ro u s fo r a n y o f us to
e xp e ct th a t a n a tio n a l\s o c ia l p ro b ­
lem o f th is m a g n itu d e to he s o lve d
o v e rn ig h t o r in one y e a r o r in even
one a d m in is tra tio n T h e s itu a tio n
health cost beyond the ca p a b ility o f so
m any beyond m aintenance o f a de­
cent q u a lity o f life ? C ould it be that
the a dvertising revenues fro m the
health industry' constitute a m ajor
the A m erican M e dical Association in
health care re fo rm - o r other profes­
sional associations, manufacturers.
The yearly take could be a “ tr illio n ” .
en in g question: Was there ever a
•C lin to n Health Plan ? or ju st p o li­
line. A n d we have ju s t noted that
these m a jo r p o litic a l co n trib u to rs w i ll
not be burdened by police controls.
M a n y local pharm acists across the
country should not be le ft out o f these
Speaking o f the “ m edia” , how is
it they are ju s t now discovering many
hospitals, clin ic s and consumers.
T h a t is ju s t the be g inn in g o f the
haven’ t mentioned the b lo c k in g o f
Legal Aid Series 17: Proof Needed For Government Benefit Programs
F or those w h o need it, the gov­
ernm ent can provide a h e lping hand
th ro u g h w elfare program s. B ut that
hand keeps a tig h t g rip on its cash and
alm ost always asks fo r p ro o f you
q u a lify.
W henever you apply fo r p u b lic
assistance such as food stamps, em er­
gency assistance, A id to Fam ilies w ith
Dependent C h ild re n (A D C ) o r other
w elfare programs. A d u lt and F a m ily
Services (A F S ) w ill ask fo r v e rific a ­
tio n . T h is ju s t means p ro o f AFS w ill
ask you to prove basic facts lik e w here
yo u r c h ild was b o m , where you liv e
and how you pay rent Y ou must
prove to AFS you qualify fo r these
program s, but sometimes p ro o f you
g ive fo r one program could cover
another For example, v e rific a tio n for
A D C may also w o rk fo r food stamps
A FS has the fin a l say on w hat p ro o f is
required, but they must be reasonable
about it. A n d i f you can’ t get the
v e rific a tio n yourself, they must help
you get it.
T o receive A D C , you must p ro ­
vid e p ro o f o f your id e n tity , address,
c itize n sh ip or a lie n status and Social
Security num ber o r a p p lica tio n fo r
one. Y o u must also show AFS p ro o f
o fy o u r income, such as wage stubs, as
w e ll as in fo rm a tio n about assets, lik e
Social Security card o ra w ritte n state­
m ent fro m you o r someone y ou know .
A n o th e r way is through a c o lla t­
bank accounts, inheritance, cars o r
w o rk e r’ s compensation benefits For
your kids, you must prove th e ir ages
and school attendance, and that y o u ’ re
related to o r ta kin g care o f them AFS
may also seek in fo rm a tio n about the
eral contact, w h ic h is when you get a
frie n d , neighbor o r fa m ily member to
v e rity som ething fo r y ou. Sometimes
they can go to AFS, o r your w o rke r
can ta lk to them over the phone. I t ’ s
usually best, though, to have that
person provide p ro o f in a w ritte n
statement. T h is is called an a ffid a vit.
father o r fathers, to seek c h ild sup­
port. B u t you can be excused from this
requirem ent i f y o u ’ re afraid o f the
father
T o get food stamps, you have to
In fo rm a tio n given in an a ffid a v it must
be firsthand and should include things
lik e yo u r name and the name o f the
person g iv in g the statement, how long
that person has kn o w n you and the
prove y our identity . m a ilin g address,
alien status or citizenship. Social Se­
c u rity number, income, u tility costs
and m edical expenses i f you w ant to
c la im them as a deduction I f you lost
actual in fo rm a tio n sought For e x­
ample, your neighbor could w rite that
he o r she has kn o w n you 10 years and
has never seen the father v is it your
c h ild re n . A ffid a v its can be h a n d w rit­
ten o r typed, but must always be nota­
rized by a notary p ublic, that you have
sw orn under oath the facts in the
your jo b o r got your wages cut. you
must show you had good cause for
doing so F or expedited or emergency
food stamps, y ou only need to provide
p ro o f o f your identity . AFS cannot
hold these up i f you ca n ’ t provide
p ro o f o f your id e n tity . AFS cannot
hold these up i f you can’ t provide
other in fo rm a tio n But you must pro­
vide the other required in fo rm a tio n
before th e y’ ll give you next m o n th 's
affidav it arc true, and that the notary
p u b lic has signed and put a seal on the
a ffid a v it M a n y banks have notary
publics, o r you can get it done at
M u ltn o m a h County Legal A id , where
you can also pick up an affidav it form .
I f you can’ t p rovide w ritte n p ro o f
o f yo u r liv in g situation, AFS may
v e rify it by v is itin g yo u r home. I f the
food stamps
There are several ways you can
v e rify in fo rm a tio n fo r AFS. The firs t
is called documentary , w h ic h means
w ritte n p ro o f It can include a d riv e r’ s
license, rent receipt, b irth certificate,
Broadway Bridge Closure
WÌfe
Tropicana
Restaurant
Serving Breakfast, Lunch 4 Dinner
Specializing in Barbeque Ribs 4 Beef
Tues Thus 10 00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fri 4 Sat. 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
3217 N Williams Avenue
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T hank Y ou F or R eading
T he P ortland O bserver
d o n 't have one, you could use a l i ­
brary card, m a il received at that ad­
dress, u tility b ills , rent receipts, your
d riv e r’ s license, your voter registra­
tio n card, school records o r a state­
y o u r in co m e , i f yo u have a n y sav­
ings o r o th e r money , i f yo u have
p ro p e rty , am o n g o ther th in g s P ro v ­
in g y o u r in co m e can be done b y
sh o w in g p a y stubs, s e lf-e m p lo y ­
ment records, a statem ent fro m y o u r
e m p lo ye rs, w a g e re co rd s, u n io n
records. Y o u can p ro v e y o u have
no incom e by p ro v id in g u n p a id b ills
o r statem ents fro m p e o p le w h o
loaned yo u m o n e y fo r liv in g e x ­
penses
I f asked to v e rify yo u r assets, you
can use bank books o r statements, tax
returns, m ortgage statements, credit
union records, credit applications o r a
car title To show your c h ild ’ s other
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W elfare R ights H o tlin e at 241 -4111.
M u ltn o m a h C ounty Legal A id
Service provides legal advice and rep­
resentation to low -incom e people liv ­
in g in M u ltn o m a h C ounty having
w elfare problems. Appointm ents may
be made by c a llin g our N o rth /N o rth -
east C o m m u n ity L aw O ffice (on the
P ortland C o m m u n ity College Cas­
cade Campus) at 295-9494.
In a d dition to the $8.4 m illio n
n ancially. we have reached a po in t
where i t ’ s not a question o f i f we break
ground on the C enter fo r S e lf E n­
m illio n in Oregon L o tte ry funds The
co n trib u tio n put the organization over
the ha lfw a y m ark in ra isin g money to
b u ild a co m m u n ity center in N o rth
Portland.
“ T h is is an in cre d ib le vote o f
confidence fro m the legislature,” said
Ray Leary, S E I’ s dire cto r o f develop­
ment. “ Law m akers listened and re­
fo r S elf Enhancem ent O th e r recent
c o n trib u to rs in c lu d e :
• N ordstrom : $25,000
• N orthw est N atural Gas: $20,000
• B oyd’ s Coffee: $15,000
• West One B ank: $10,000
These groups jo in a broad-based
assembly o f organizations that sup­
port SETs capital cam paign, in c lu d ­
N ortheast Portland schools. The fo ­
cus o f the SEI program is to help
sponded to the hundreds o f letters and
phone ca lls from SEI supporters.”
in g U. S Bancorp, the C hiles Founda­
tion, the W cssinger Foundation. Stan­
dard Insurance. First Interstate Bank,
students im prove th e ir grades, atten­
dance and self-esteem, as w e ll as iden­
tify and create career opportunities.
Bank o f A m erica and Sisters o f P ro vi­
dence. The C ity o f P ortland has do­
nated the use o f land at U nthank Park,
valued at $750,000.
SEI cu rre n tly senes 700 students,
grades 2-12, each year; the new Cen­
ter fo r S e lf Enhancement w ill trip le
that capacity.
hancement, but w hen.”
S E I’ s capital campaign has raised
more than $4.2 m illio n fo r the Center
needed to b u ild the center, the cam ­
paign is ra isin g $7.5 m illio n required
to operate it fo r the firs t five years.
L o ca te d in N o rth e a st P o rtla n d ’ s
U n th a n k Park, the Center w ill in ­
clude classrooms, com puter labs, a
lib ra ry, a health resource center and a
p e rfo rm in g arts center. SEI hopes to
open the Center in 1994.
Founded in 1981, SEI operates
in partnership w ith Portland P ublic
Schools on the campuses o f seven
o f D irectors, has appeared in O f f
Broadway plays in c lu d in g "M a m a , I
W an, to S in g " and cu rre n tly w orks as
a substance abuse and A ID S educa­
tio n counselor in New Y o rk C ity ’ s
homeless shelters.
The show features clip s from v id ­
eos released by G M A D w h ich target
a safe sex message to the black gay
com m unity and explore the d iffic u l­
ties fo r black men to “ come o u t" gay
in a society that is both hom ophobic
and racist Says Parrish, “ A lot o f
people talk about the issues o f gay
people as what goes on in the bedroom,
but our issues reach far deeper We try
to focus on issues o f em powerm ent .”
Fulani, New man and Parrish also
ta lk about the relationship between
A fric a n A m erican gay people to the
m ostly w h ite movement, as w e ll as
the fa ilu re o f many elected o ffic ia ls
and leaders in the A frica n A m erican
co m m u n ity to address the issues o f
black gay people.
F u la n i! is seen every week on
p u b lic access cable in 27 c itie s
throughout the U nited States.
Send your letters to the Editor to:
Editor, PO Box 3137, Portland, OR, 972108
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ment must contai n a diagnosis, a prog­
nosis (how long yo u ’ ll be disabled),
test results, medical records o r other
evidence or your disability Legal aid
has the form s fo r your doctor to com ­
plete
Remember, your w orker has to
be reasonable in accepting v e rific a ­
tio n fro m you and must get it i f you
ca n ’ t do it yourself. I f you have ques­
tions o r problems, call Legal A id ’ s
In last m o n th ’ s race fo r Oregon
L o tte ry dollars, P o rtla n d 's in n e r-city
c h ild re n were clear w inners. S e lf
Enhancem ent (SE1), a n a tio n a lly-
recognized Portland program serv­
in g a t-ris k youth, was awarded $1.2
O n Tuesday, September 7 on
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city, -------------
Stato
the parent, a frie n d o r relative.
Y o u may be asked to prove some­
th in g sim ple, lik e where you live. To
do this, the best th in g to show is a
rental agreement, o r lease. I f you
channel 33 at 5:30pm and Sunday,
September 12 on channel 11 a, 5:30ptn
D r Lenora B F ulani, tw o -tim e Presi­
d e n tia l candidate and national c h a ir­
person o f the New A llia n c e Party,
inte rvie w s K u rt Parrish, fro m Gay
M en o f A fric a n Descent (G M A D ).
G M A D is a seven year o ld organiza­
tio n interested in the health, educa­
tio n and p o litic a l em pow erm ent o f
black gay men. H a ilin g from Bedford
Stuyvesant, B ro o klyn . M r Parrish, in
addition to being on the G M A D Board
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the kids, use custody papers, divorce
papers, o r a le tte r o r statement from
certificate, hospital records, a pass­
port, an alien registration card, an
im m ig ra tio n record o r a statement
fro m a frie n d o r relative w ho has
Show Takes A Look At Black-Gay Relations
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Namo _______________I
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tifica te , you can use m edical or hospi­
tal b irth records, a baptism al c e rtifi­
cate, adoption papers, a fam ily bible,
a b irth d a y o r baby book, a b irth an­
nouncem ent fro m a newspaper or
statements fro m friends o r relative
who knew you when yo u r c h ild was
b o rn . T o prove y o u ’ re the caretaker o f
legal alien, however, can be d iffic u lt,
even i f yo u ’ve liv e d here a ll your life.
B u t you can prove th is th ro u g h a b irth
parent is absent fro m the home, use
divorce papers, a re stra in in g order
fro m the court, a statement fro m the
absent parent, m ail received at the
absent pa re n t’ s new address, state­
ments fro m friends, relatives o r neigh­
bors o r a statement from the person
the absent parent lives w ith . I f receiv­
in g pu b lic assistance due to a d isa b il­
ity , you must provide a statement
fro m a doctor, osteopath, psychiatrist
o r psychologist The d o cto r’ s state­
/ ’a/fa/rs/
T he P ortland O bserver :
PO B ox 3 1 3 7 ,
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P ortland , O regon 9 7 2 0 0 |
Oregon.
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know n you a ll your life.
E ven a fte r p ro v id in g a ll th is
in fo rm a tio n , y o u m a y s till be asked
fo r m ore. A F S can seek a ll k in d s o f
fa cts a b o u t yo u T h e y m u s t kn o w
capital cam paign
“ T hiscam paign hasbeen all about
m om entum ,’’ Leary continued “ F i-
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Box 3137, Portland, OR 97200. Second class postage paid at Portland
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M ail
need to prove yo u ’ re related to your
ch ild re n and d o n 't have a b irth cer­
The State o f O regon’ s co m m itm e n t is
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ment fro m yo u r la n d lo rd o r neighbor.
I f you have none o f these, you can use
a collateral contact o r ask fo r a home
visit. S h o w in g yo u ’ reaU .S . citize n o r
Oregon Lottery Funds Push Self Enhancement, Inc.
Capital Campaign Over The Halfway Mark
503/281-8696
M u ltn o m a h C ounty Transporta­ be rerouted, please contact T ri-M e t
tio n D iv is io n announces the closure c u s to m e r s e rv ic e s at 2 3 8 -R ID E
o f the Broadway B ridge. The bridge (7433). R iver tra ffic w ill not be af­
w ill be closed to a ll ve h icu la r, pedes­ fected by the bridge closure
The p ublic is advised to use a lte r­
tria n , and bicycle tra ffic on Sunday,
September 12, 1993, between 7am nate routes th is period M u ltn o m a h
and 5pm. M u ltn o m a h C ounty Tra n s­ C ounty is u n dertaking th is action to
p o rta tio n D iv is io n , B ridges Section assure the safety o f the tra v e lin g pub­
w ill be undertaking repairs and m a in ­ lic and regrets any tem porary in co n ­
tenance o f the bridge.
venience th is may cause
T ri-M e t service w ill necessarily
v is it is fo r food stamps, you must be
n o tifie d in advance. Y o u can refuse
any unscheduled visits, and th is ca n ’ t
be used as reason to deny benefits, but
it may delay them. A n AFS w o rke r
cannot go thro u g h yo u r closets o r
drawers w ith o u t your perm ission d u r­
ing one o f these visits
A FS accepts va rio u s types o f
p ro o f to v e rify any num ber o f things
for people seeking w elfare. I f you
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