Organizing for Healthcare Justice

People in the United States struggle to receive the healthcare they need. Among nations with similar GDPs, our country stands alone in its refusal to provide healthcare to everyone. CPD Network affiliates have a long history of winning victories that expand access to healthcare for millions of people. There are countless examples at the local and state level and nearly half of our organizations have a history of fighting to win the Affordable Care Act.

When Trump was elected, he swore that he would immediately repeal the Affordable Care Act, stripping access to healthcare away from over 30 million people. The CPD Network fought back then to ensure millions wouldn’t lose healthcare, and continues to fight time and time again. Along the way, we innovated new ways of organizing – such as the Birddog Nation and League of Heroes, which combines the deep, community-driven organizing that builds our affiliates with the concept of “big organizing” which positions us well for for rapid response moments. 

We also shared the story of our friend and colleague, Ady Barkan. Ady was struck by ALS at the age of 32 with a four month old son. His story galvanized thousands to join our struggle. His story elevated the healthcare needs of people living with disabilities, and centered our belief that every single person in our country needs healthcare, put meaning into the phrase “healthcare is a human right.” 

The Fight for Medicare for All
CPD is proud to be one of the first national organizations to declare our unwavering commitment to Medicare for All. Healthcare should never be driven by profit. Our fight for Medicare for All has led to several key moments and initiatives:

• CPD staffer Ady Barkan testified for hours in one of the first hearings on Medicare for All in Congress.

• CPD and Housing Works Birddog Nation member Rebecca Wood testified before the Rules Committee about how our current system of employer-provided, profit-driven insurance fails us.

• CPD continues to build state “tables” across the country that organize individuals and organizations to fight for Medicare for All.

• CPD’s Birddog Nation and League of Heroes continue to regularly engage candidates and elected officials about Medicare for All.

The Opioid Network
CPD affiliates regularly convene with harm-reduction organizations across the country with the goal of ending the nation’s opioid/overdose epidemic and the war on drugs. To accomplish this, we must scale up our efforts at the local, state, and federal levels. Together, we are fighting for progressive legislation that is centered on public healthcare. To date, CPD’s Opioid Network has led to

• CPD members developing the idea for the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act (CARE Act) and working with Senator Elizabeth Warren and the late Representative Elijah Cummings to introduce it; and

• CPD successfully advocating for the addition of $8 billion in federal funds to fight the opioid epidemic.

Fighting the High Cost of Prescription Medications
CPD affiliates have been sharing stories of their members paying far too much for prescription medication through Be A Hero’s Uncovered Series, and in hundreds of actions targeting federal elected officials in their home districts. We continue to push for policies that ensure all drugs are affordable, and that corporations are highly regulated to reduce prescription costs.