Here in California, the battle has been waged by Catholic institutions taking over our local hospitals. Dignity Health is the largest non-profit provider in California with 60 facilities across our state. Though the name has changed, Dignity follows the same Catholic tenets, requiring hospitals and doctors to abide by the chain’s “Statement of Common Values.” Those values include NO abortion, NO contraception, NO sterilizations, NO fertility treatment and NO DNRs or other end of life options.
Dignity Health has a plan to dominate California's healthcare market. All across the state, Dignity Health affiliated hospitals, medical centers and nursing homes have been seeking affiliation agreements with non-religious hospitals.
Before the Affordable Care Act and universal coverage, Dignity Health's expansion plans were confined to mergers or takeovers of county hospitals like MLK in Los Angeles. Now with universal healthcare coverage, Dignity Health's goal of dominating the healthcare market could become a reality.
When WOMEN heard about the takeover bid for MLK, WOMEN in Los Angeles organized and, with the power of a broad coalition, saved MLK Hospital.
Now we're fighting much more than a hospital takeover. The affiliation plans in Orange County include the newly formed Covenant Health Network that
intends to create an integrated regional health system including the
respective Southern California Hospitals, an expansive physician
network, and numerous outpatient and urgent care facilities in Orange
County and the High Desert.
Their plan - NO abortion, NO contraception, NO sterilizations, NO fertility treatment and NO DNRs or other end of life options anywhere!
Don't wait for Governor Brown to stop them because he not only doesn't have a problem with their desire to expand, he’s already opened the door to state government. Dignity Health’s CEO sits on the board of both the Bay Area Business Council and Governor Brown’s Strategic Growth Council. Those two boards are in charge of the state’s Strategic Plan for the Environment and Health. Yes, you read that right. The CEO for Catholic hospitals is helping to shape our state’s strategic plan on health.
This assault on women's health is happening to women across economic and geographic regions in California RIGHT NOW.
So, I need you to push through any race or class privilege that makes
you think you’re immune because you’re not. It’s time for all women to
stand united and demand that full reproductive and non-reproductive
healthcare be a priority for the State of California and its
sub-divisions. We cannot allow women’s health and access to be
compromised to ensure the profits and market share of Catholic
corporations like Dignity Health.
California NOW is working every single day on this fight but we need the financial resources to continue our work.
Together, let's prove that California women won't allow Catholic hospitals to dictate our healthcare!
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