· 17 issues
The July 1968 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin discusses the evolving health services landscape in New York City, particularly under Mayor John Lindsay's administration. It highlights the push for a consumer-oriented Comprehensive Health Planning Authority and the challenges posed by budget cuts and limited city leadership. The issue also features grassroots organizing efforts in the Lower East Side, where the North East Neighborhood Association (NENA) is establishing a community-owned health center to address local health needs. Additionally, a movement in Harlem is advocating for a community-controlled health board to oversee Harlem City Hospital, reflecting broader demands for accountability and responsiveness in urban health services.
The August 1968 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin highlights the activism of the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) as they negotiate for better salaries and working conditions in New York City's municipal hospitals. Dr. David Goldman, president of CIR, emphasizes the disparity in pay compared to other city employees and the need for reforms to improve hospital staffing and patient care. The issue also discusses the Student Health Project, which engages health science students in community health initiatives, particularly in low-income areas like the South Bronx, and the establishment of the North East Neighborhood Association Health Center aimed at providing comprehensive care in underserved neighborhoods.
The May 1969 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the disorganization and inequities within mental health services in New York City, drawing parallels to the broader medical care marketplace. It critiques the reliance on private providers and the inadequacies of public mental health services, emphasizing the need for community involvement and control in mental health initiatives. The issue highlights the growing tension between city and state mental health agencies, particularly regarding funding and service delivery, and discusses the implications of proposed legislation aimed at restructuring mental health governance. Notable contributors include Robb Burlage and Barbara Ehrenreich, who address the systemic issues and advocate for a more equitable approach to mental health care.
The June 1969 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin highlights the severe impact of Medicaid cuts on public health services in New York City, emphasizing the retreat of city officials from their responsibility to provide care for the medically needy. The editorial critiques the lack of effective management and advocacy from health officials, leading to potential closures of municipal hospitals and cuts to essential services. Notable articles discuss the historical context of Medicaid's implementation and its subsequent decline, illustrating how the program has exacerbated health disparities. The issue calls for community and worker control over health resources as a necessary response to the fiscal crisis and the failures of public leadership.
The September 1969 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the healthcare crisis in New York City, highlighting the dominance of large medical institutions, referred to as 'Medical Empires,' and their impact on healthcare access and costs. The editorial critiques Blue Cross for its recent rate increases and its failure to address rising hospital costs, despite being a major financier of healthcare. The issue also discusses the growing consumer and health worker movements advocating for better healthcare services and community control over health resources, as exemplified by protests against Blue Cross. Notable figures include Governor Rockefeller, who advocates for universal health insurance, and the Medical Liberation Front, which actively challenges Blue Cross's practices.
The December 1969 issue of HealthPAC focuses on the struggle for community control over health services, particularly in the context of mental health facilities in New York City. It highlights the challenges faced by local residents, particularly Black and Puerto Rican communities in Washington Heights, against the established power of institutions like Columbia University and the Department of Mental Health. The issue critiques the top-down planning approach that often excludes community voices and emphasizes the need for grassroots involvement in decision-making processes. The editorial stresses that true community control is essential for addressing the social determinants of health and ensuring that services meet the actual needs of the community.
The February 1970 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin critiques the collusion between health institutions and government policies that undermine poor communities, particularly in New York. It highlights the expansion of Columbia Medical Center into predominantly Black and Puerto Rican neighborhoods, emphasizing the lack of community engagement and transparency in urban renewal projects. The issue also discusses the environmental health implications of nuclear power and urban pollution, urging communities to demand accountability from health institutions. Notable articles include case studies on Columbia's expansion and the Health Action Coalition's efforts to resist institutional encroachment.
The June 1970 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin critically examines the drug epidemic in America, particularly focusing on the racial and socioeconomic disparities in drug addiction and enforcement. It argues that the harsh drug laws disproportionately affect black and brown communities while the middle class is only now becoming alarmed as addiction spreads among their youth. The issue highlights the political exploitation of addiction fears by figures like Richard Nixon and Nelson Rockefeller, who have shifted the narrative from treating addiction as a health issue to a criminal one. Notable articles discuss the historical context of drug laws, the ineffectiveness of current treatment programs, and the need for community-driven solutions rather than punitive measures.
The July-August 1970 issue of HealthPAC focuses on the critical role of unionization among hospital workers, emphasizing the urgent need for better wages, job security, and working conditions. It discusses the ongoing unionization efforts led by organizations such as Local 1199 and the Service Employees International Union, highlighting the challenges faced by hospital workers, including high turnover rates and poor job conditions. The editorial argues for a solidarity between health workers and consumers, suggesting that while unions can provide immediate economic benefits, they must also evolve to support broader systemic changes in the health care system. The issue reflects a growing awareness of the intersection between labor rights and health care reform, advocating for a more democratic and participatory approach within unions and the health system as a whole.
The October 1970 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the ongoing struggles at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, where community and worker groups are challenging the control of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Hospital. The issue highlights the tensions between medical empires and grassroots movements advocating for patient care over institutional priorities. Notably, the Think Lincoln group has been at the forefront of demands for better health services, including changes to the hospital's abortion program following a tragic incident. Additionally, the Bulletin discusses broader community health initiatives in the Lower East Side, emphasizing the rise of insurgent forces seeking accountability from established medical institutions.
The December 1970 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin critiques the inadequacies of New York City's health system, particularly in addressing the urgent needs for abortion services and drug addiction treatment. It highlights the failure of both public and private sectors to meet these demands, with a focus on the exploitative nature of the abortion industry that has emerged following the state's liberalized abortion law. The United Harlem Drug Fighters are noted for establishing their own detoxification program in response to the lack of adequate public services. The issue underscores the systemic issues of profit-driven healthcare and the need for community-led solutions to ensure access to necessary medical care.
The January 1971 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin critiques the failures of several health reform initiatives, particularly the Harvard Community Health Plan (HCHP) and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. Despite significant investment and planning, HCHP has struggled with low enrollment and financial instability, failing to meet its goals and serve the community effectively. In contrast, the Lincoln Hospital Pediatrics Collective is highlighted as a successful grassroots initiative that has managed to provide innovative care despite systemic challenges. The issue underscores the tension between elite-driven health reforms and community needs, emphasizing that true progress requires genuine engagement with the public.
The March 1971 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the growing public distrust of Blue Cross amid rising health care costs and allegations of mismanagement and corruption. The issue highlights the formation of the Subscribers' Coalition in New York and similar groups in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which are mobilizing against proposed rate increases and demanding greater accountability from Blue Cross. Senator Philip Hart's hearings reveal Blue Cross's monopolistic practices and its failure to represent consumer interests, as the organization is largely controlled by hospital administrators. The Bulletin underscores the urgent need for national health insurance and the potential role of Blue Cross as an intermediary, while advocating for consumer rights and transparency in health care financing.
The October 1971 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the rise and significance of free clinics in the U.S. healthcare system, emphasizing their role in providing accessible medical care and challenging the traditional medical establishment. Articles highlight the principles of comprehensive, decentralized healthcare and the importance of community control and deprofessionalization of medical practices. The issue features insights from community staff and patients at various free clinics across cities like New York, Baltimore, and San Francisco, illustrating the clinics' efforts to meet the needs of underserved populations while advocating for systemic change in healthcare delivery. Notable contributors include Constance Bloomfield and Howard Levy, who conducted research on the impact and operations of these clinics.
The January 1972 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the struggle for community-worker control at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, highlighting the need for radical restructuring of the health system to prioritize people over profit. The editorial discusses the pivotal role of hospital workers in effecting change and the challenges they face in organizing alongside community members. Notable groups involved include the Health Revolutionary Unity Movement (HRUM) and the Young Lords Party, both of which advocate for improved health services in underserved communities. The issue also outlines the dire conditions at Lincoln Hospital, exacerbated by systemic neglect and budget cuts, while emphasizing the importance of solidarity between workers and the community to achieve meaningful reform.
The May 1972 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the evolving landscape of hospital construction financing, highlighting a shift from philanthropic support to loans and government grants. It discusses the significant role of the Hill-Burton program and the impact of hospital expansion on urban communities, particularly in New York City, where tenant groups are organizing against evictions caused by hospital development. The issue emphasizes the financial burdens of hospital construction on patients and taxpayers, as well as the need for community involvement in hospital planning to prevent displacement of low-income residents.
The June 1972 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the challenges and evolution of neighborhood health centers, particularly highlighting the NENA Health Center in New York's Lower East Side. It discusses the historical context of these centers, their initial promise in the 1960s, and the subsequent decline in their effectiveness due to lack of resources and political support. The issue critiques the reliance on federal funding and the fragmentation within communities that undermined the potential for meaningful health care reform. Notably, it emphasizes the importance of community control and the lessons learned from the NENA experience, illustrating both the strengths and limitations of the neighborhood health center movement.