Diabetes patients & experts - Facebook Live interview
2018-02-27 19:30 (America/New_York)
RSVP for this event on Facebook
The RCA is kicking off our campaign to lower drug prices with a Facebook Live event on February 27th at 7:30pm.
On Facebook Live, RCA leaders will be interviewing the patients who feel the effects of high insulin prices, and the clinicians who treat them.
Panelists include:

Leigh Simmons, primary care doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital
David Nathan, director of the diabetes center at Massachusetts General Hospital
Chris Noble, patient and activist with Partners in Health
Dierdre Waxman, patient and social worker
Shannon Brownlee (Moderator) – Health care journalist and co-chair of the Right Care Alliance

The event will be filmed in Boston, but other chapters are gathering together to watch the Livestream and participate in the discussion remotely.
Watch the interview live on the Right Care Alliance Facebook Page. And contact the chapter leader in your city to learn more about a local meetup to watch.

Insulin Price Write-a-thon!
2018-03-10 10:00 - 14:00
Are you mad about out-of-control insulin price increases? Write about it!
As part of the Right Care Alliance drug price campaign, we’re holding a Write-a-thon to raise awareness about out-of-control insulin prices and advocate for policies to make insulin affordable, by writing op-eds and letters to be published in local media.
To sign up, fill out the form below:

Write-a-thon details
On March 10th starting at 10am EST, chapter members will gather in person or on Skype to write op-eds and letters to the editor, and then submit them to our local papers. There will be groups in cities all over the country, so you can participate no matter where you are.
Participants can write collaboratively, with partners, or as solo authors. You can write either with a partner in the same location as you, or we can match you with somebody in a different city. You don’t have to be an experienced writer to participate. Editors will be available, and help will be provided to get your pieces published.
Link to videochat
https://zoom.us/j/794700141 Or if you need to use phone instead of video chat, here’s the phone number: 669-900-6833, access code [REDACTED]#
If you have not used Zoom video chat you will need to download the application. This only takes a few minutes.

Insulin Cost Tweetchat
2018-03-26 12:00 - 13:00
Join us on Twitter on March 26, 12-1pm ET for an interactive discussion about the problem of out-of-control insulin prices! We’ll be chatting about how insulin costs have increased, how far people are willing to go to get insulin, whether Big Pharma’s justifications hold water, and more. You don’t want to miss it!
Here’s how to participate:

Follow @RightCareNow on Twitter
Log onto Twitter at 12pm ET on Monday, March 26
Use the hashtags #Insulin4all and #RightCare to follow the conversation
Get chatting!

The hashtag #Insulin4all was created by T1 International, an organization that has been fighting against high insulin prices for many years. Check out their website and follow them on Twitter!

Insulin 101
Insulin is a hormone that helps turn blood sugar into energy. Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or respond to insulin. For the 1.23-3 million people in the US with Type 1 diabetes, their pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. Without taking insulin, people with Type 1 diabetes cannot turn food into energy, and will die in a matter of days.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body develops a resistance to insulin. About 4 million people with Type 2 diabetes use insulin to manage their blood sugar and avoid long-term complications like vision impairment and nerve damage.
Over the past few decades, the price of insulin has risen to astronomical levels. In 1996, the list price of a vial of insulin (about a month’s worth) was $21. In 2010, it rose to $112, and again in 2017 to $275 a vial! The reason? The “big three” companies that manufacture insulin have no regulations on what they can charge and no generic competition, so they raise prices to whatever the market will bear.
The Right Care Alliance launched a campaign in mid-February targeting high insulin prices, to organize clinicians, patients, and the public around this crucial issue. Learn more about the campaign, read more facts about insulin, and sign up for our direct action on our campaign page.

RCA Rally Against Drug Profiteers
2018-03-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Joslin Park, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA, 02215
The Right Care Alliance is standing in solidarity with those who have suffered needless, preventable deaths from the lack of access to medicines they need to survive. We call on institutions in the Longwood Medical Area, including some of the world’s most prestigious medical innovators and health providers, to join our fight to improve access to these essential medicines, starting with insulin.
We will be holding a march in Joslin Park, next to the Joslin Diabetes Center. Join us to hear from patients, talk to clinicians in the area about insulin prices, and make some noise!
For materials, go to the Right Care Boston page
Sign up on Facebook here!

Rally Against Insulin Profiteering
2018-04-08 16:00 - 17:00 | national portrait gallery, 8th and F Streets, NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Join the Right Care Alliance and #Insulin4All advocates on Sunday, April 8th for a demonstration regarding high insulin prices in the U.S.
Sign up on Facebook here!
The hashtag #Insulin4all was created by T1 International, an organization that has been fighting against high insulin prices for many years. Check out their website and follow them on Twitter!

People are dying because they cannot afford their insulin. About seven million Americans are dependent on insulin to sustain their life. High insulin prices are causing more Americans to ration insulin to make it last longer – a dangerous practice that led to the deaths of two young men last year. We hope to create pressure to reduce insulin prices and improve transparency on drug prices in the U.S.
NOTE: We will be meeting near the Portrait Gallery on F street between 7th and 8th street NW.
Bring yourself and, if you wish, a sign and a chair! We will be leading chants and will have patients share their stories.

Sign up on Facebook here!

Panel on drug price collusion and corruption
2018-05-02 18:30 - 20:30 | The Lown Institute Office, 21 Longwood Ave, Brookline, MA, 02446, United States
Join us Wednesday May 2 at 6:30pm at the RCA Headquarters to discuss collusion and corruption in drug prices with two health care law experts. The event will be broadcast on Facebook Live starting at 7pm ET.

Speakers include:

Hannah Brennan, a member of the legal team bringing a class-action suit against insulin manufacturers will give us a history of the case, challenges, and important updates.
Alex Arnold, a law student at Boston University and member of Right Care Boston, will speak about the role of Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) in increasing drug costs, and the viability of forming a publicly funded state-run PBM. This session will be recorded live on Facebook.

The event will be at our office, 21 Longwood Ave in Brookline. We’re a quick walk from the Coolidge Corner T station, and limited parking is available. Please come a few minutes early to get a parking spot!
** The second floor of our building can only be accessed by stairs. Please let us know if you have trouble climbing stairs and we will provide an alternative accessible site. **
RSVP using this form below:

Gainesville Insulin Prices Town Hall
2018-07-31 08:00 - 17:00
Why is insulin so expensive? How are patients coping? What can we do to help?
The Gainesville, FL chapter of the Right Care Alliance is hosting a town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 31 to discuss these questions.
Speakers include:

Dr. Mark Atkinson, Director of the University of Florida Diabetes Institute
Sidney Look, Person with type 1 diabetes and UF medical student
Dr. Brittany Bruggeman, UF diabetes fellow
Jeff Santere, former diabetes patient and RCA leader

Where: Reitz Union hotel
When: Tuesday, July 31, 5-6 pm
How: Everyone is welcome to come, no RSVP necessary. For more information about the event, contact southf@ufl.edu.

Affordable Insulin Concert/Speakout - Gainesville, FL
2018-11-04 13:00 - 16:30 | bo diddley plaza, Gainesville, FL
On Sunday, November 4th from 1 PM-4:30 PM, Right Care Gainesville is partnering with the UF Diabetes Institute to hold an open-air concert and speak-out to raise awareness of the high prices of insulin. We plan to highlight the many challenges those with Diabetes now face – Insulin costs (nearly $1,000/month, liquid gold), glucose monitoring costs and logistics, and access to health care.
There will be music, educational tables, speakers to present their personal stories and perspectives, and caregivers from UF Health to speak about their challenges trying to provide effective care to our diabetic population.
To join the event or volunteer, email Fred Southwick (fsouthwick@gmail.com)

Sanofi Protest/Die-in - Right Care Boston
2018-11-16 11:30 - 16:30 | Sanofi Corporation, 640 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA, United States
Mothers to deliver ashes of children who died rationing insulin to Cambridge drug corporation
Civil disobedience, die-in planned by drug price activists
The mothers of two young adults with diabetes who died while rationing insulin last year will deliver the ashes of their children to Cambridge pharma corporation Sanofi. The mothers will be joined by activists from at least five local groups that are demanding a reduction in insulin prices so that no more people die.
Sanofi is one of the Big Three manufacturers of insulin that are charging as much as a 5,000 percent markup on their products. Three people with diabetes died while rationing last year, including the children of the two mothers, Antroinette Worsham and Nicole Smith-Holt, who will be leading the protest.
DETAILS
Friday, November 16
11:30am – Gather at Micro Center, 730 Memorial Dr., Cambridge
12:00pm – Arrive at Sanofi Corporation, 640 Memorial Dr., Cambridge
Protest and civil disobedience against the high price of insulin. Marching, chants, die-in, speakers, sign-holding, and delivery of ashes.
Join patients, nurses, doctors, healthcare professionals, students, and others to protest outrageous insulin prices. Sponsoring organizations include the RCA (Right Care Alliance), the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), PNHP (Physicians for a National Health program), Harvard Medical School Racial Justice Coalition, and others.
View the PRESS RELEASE
Download flyer for the Sanofi event (pdf)
Download media alert for Sanofi event (pdf)
Fore more information, email us at organize@rightcarealliance.org

Healthcare Happy Hour @ Politics & Prose
2019-02-21 17:00 - 19:00 | politics and prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW,, Washington, DC, DC, 20008, United States
Join the DC chapter for a health care happy hour at the Politics and Prose Bookstore (downstairs) on Thursday, February 21, 5-7 pm. These casual meetings are a chance to meet other members of RCDC and talk about our plans to tackle high drug prices and our broken healthcare system.
RSVP to DC@rightcarealliance.org or just meet us there!

Community Action Forum: Busting High Drug Prices
2019-03-16 16:00 - 18:00
The Right Care Alliance DC chapter invites you to join us at a Community Action Forum about Busting High Drug Prices, Featuring U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin.

Saturday, March 16, 2018
4-6 p.m.
Northwood High School
919 University Blvd West, Silver Spring, MD 20901

U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin will discuss out-of-control drug prices and the fight to build a pharmaceutical system in the public interest.

Additional speakers include:

Dr. Vikas Saini, Co-Chair, Right Care Alliance and President of the Lown Institute
Shannon Brownlee, Co-Chair, Right Care Alliance and Senior Vice President of the Lown Institute
Barbara Dominguez, DNP for Unity Health and Washington Adventist Hospital
Dr. Natalie Spicyn, internist and pediatrician
Jessie Alston, patient activist with AYUDA in Puerto Rico and Type 1 diabetic
Alex Lawson, Executive Director, Social Security Works

Healthcare Happy Hour @ Takoma Beverage Company
2019-03-21 17:00 - 19:00
Join the DC chapter for a health care happy hour at Takoma Beverage Company on March 21, 5-7 pm. These casual meetings are a chance to meet other members of RCDC and talk about our plans to tackle high drug prices and our broken healthcare system.
RSVP to DC@rightcarealliance.org or just meet us there!

April Sign-making Happy Hour
2019-04-18 17:00
Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 5 p.m.
Location: Republic, 6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 (the back room)
Republic Menu: $8 cocktails, plus beer, wine and dinner
Parking and Metro: Republic is about a quartermile west of the Takoma Park metro stop (roughly 5 blocks). There is also plenty of street parking and a lot nearby at 7000 Carroll Ave.
Does our healthcare system cause you more anxiety and frustration than a government shutdown? Are you and your loved ones able to get all the medications you need? Do high drug prices make you wonder whether you will be able to make rent?
We are holding our first demonstration on April 25th! At 5:00 we will gather downtown and let PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbyists, that they can’t hide behind anonymous concrete walls anymore. But we can’t go empty handed. During our happy hour this month, we will be making signs posters to convey our message to those who make sure the drug companies get the most bang for their bucks, bucks patients just don’t have.
Even if you can’t come to our protest, come out and make a sign or add your message to one of ours. We are happy to carry your questions and comments with us.
We look forward to seeing you there!

PhRMA Demonstration
2019-04-25 17:00
We are holding our first demonstration on April 25 at 5pm in front of the PhRMA building. At 5:00 we will gather downtown and let PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbyists, that they can’t hide behind anonymous concrete walls anymore. We’ll be making signs at the happy hour event on the 18th to prepare.

April 30th action at Harvard Medical School
2019-04-30 07:30 - 09:30
On Tuesday April 30, leaders in biotech, health care administration, and government will be attending an event at the Longwood Fund — and we will be there too! We are holding a protest in front of the meeting building, to make sure the attendees can’t ignore the insulin pricing crisis. We will have speakers, chanting, and direct actions.
Our next meetings for to plan the event will be April 17 from 9-10am by phone and April 25 from 7-8:30 in person.

For more information and to RSVP, contact organize@rightcarealliance.org.

Women's Health Webinars!
2019-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
The RCA Women’s Health Council, in partnership with Frontier Nursing University and IHI, is hosting a series of Women’s Health Webinars. Here’s the schedule:

July 23, 8pm ET
Caitlin Krause MPH, Holly Valentine MPH
Decision aids to help women choose their birth site and pain medication

October 29, 8pm ET

Eleni Tsigas, The Pre-Eclampsia Foundation, Miranda Klassen, Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation
Patient advocacy in birth and best practices for safety

January 2020, TBD
Raul Valdes-Peres, Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science
Transparency in women’s health outcomes, quality, and costs

How to Log in:

BigBlueButton at FNU
Room: Digital summit
Password: [REDACTED]

Pharma Blood-Money Protest for Insulin-Rationing Victims
2019-11-16 10:00 - 13:00 | Galaxy Park, Cambridge, 238 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, United States
Insulin corporations are killing people with diabetes, so for World Diabetes Day, we’re delivering blood-soaked bags of money to Pharma’s front door.
We WON’T let Pharma hide their guilt.
Their predatory pricing led to the insulin-rationing deaths of ten Americans in the last two years. In honor of Jesimya, Jada, Josh, Kayla, Meaghan, Micah, Jesse, Alec, Antavia, and Shane, we must keep the pressure on.
Parents and family of the deceased will be traveling to the event and need your support. Boston physicians will declare a humanitarian crisis. Massachusetts citizens with diabetes will share how they are suffering and scared.
The fight is right here and right now. NO MORE DEATHS.
What you can do:
Attend in-person and make sure to RSVP on Facebook.
Participate by choosing to sponsor a bucket of blood.

Health Care Justice and the 2020 Election: A Public Forum
2020-01-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Cleveland Park Public Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, DC, 20008, United States
Join us in D.C. on Thursday, January 30 for a close look at the Democratic candidates’ proposals for fixing the multiple crises in the U.S. health care system.
At this forum — the first in a series — we’ll examine the major candidates’ ideas for making U.S. health care more universal, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable at the point of care.
Would their plans effectively repair the injustices in our current non-system? What kinds of tradeoffs are involved in their plans? Are there important problems that they’ve completely ignored?
We don’t take corporate money and we aren’t affiliated with any candidates for public office. Everyone is welcome. No expertise required.

Check out new PBS Documentary "Blood Sugar Rising"
2020-04-15 21:00 - 23:00
Check out PBS’ new documentary Blood Sugar Rising: America’s Hidden Diabetes Epidemic, premiering Wed, April 15 at 9m EDT on your local PBS channel or online. This documentary features our very own Dr. Vikas Saini, as well as insulin activists who have been working tirelessly for years. Catch the documentary Wednesday night, and then come to our coffee hour on Friday to discuss.
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Virtual coffee hour with Vikas Saini
2020-04-17 10:00 - 23:00
Join other RCA members for a virtual coffee hour to catch up and connect on Friday April 17, at 10am.
We will also have Vikas Saini, RCA co-chair, at the coffee hour to chat about the new PBS documentary Blood Sugar Rising, that comes out on Wednesday April 15.
For information on how to log in, email organize@rightcarealliance.org.

Manifesto Maestros
2020-08-05 08:00 - 17:00
Weekly meeting for study group facilitators

Elder and Long Term Care Council Meeting
2020-08-05 16:30 - 17:00
A meeting for the Elder and Long Term Care Council

Nashville Campaign Goals Meeting
2020-08-05 17:00 - 18:00

Amal's Goodbye Party
2020-08-06 08:00 - 17:00
Thanks Amal for interning with RCA this summer, best of luck!

Insulin Working Group Call
2020-08-06 16:00 - 17:00

Weekly RCA Communications Team Meeting
2020-08-07 14:30 - 15:30

RCA Boston Meeting
2020-08-08 15:30 - 16:30
RCA Boston meeting to discuss campaign strategies

RCA Interns Check-In
2020-08-10 16:00 - 17:00

RCA Gainesville Journal Club
2020-08-10 17:00 - 18:00

Original Online Study Group
2020-08-10 19:00 - 20:30
