What is Right Care Action Week?

For one week in October — Right Care Action Week — people around the country join together and take action to show what our health care system should look like.

No matter your role in the health care system, be it a nurse, family member, public health student, physician, patient, community member, or something else, you can get involved and lead activities during Right Care Action Week.

RCAW 2018 – The High Cost of Health Care

Every year, more than 500,000 Americans go bankrupt because they cannot afford their medical bills. Even those with insurance report having to cut back on food, clothing, and other necessities to pay for health care. From surprise out-of-network costs to prescription drugs, Americans are paying out the nose for medical care – and we cannot afford it.

This year for Right Care Action Week, from October 14-20, we are uniting our communities to expose and protest the reasons behind high health care costs.

The Right Care Alliance is organizing this fall around drug prices – specifically the costs of insulin. Insulin is a necessary daily medication for over 7 million Americans, and the price has skyrocketed in recent years. Right Care Action Week is the time to stand up for affordable insulin, access to all medications, and the health care system we need that values patients over profits.

Events

Hundreds of Right Care Alliance members across the country will be planning events to share their experiences with high health care costs, find other people who care, and identify solutions that we can do individually and collectively.

Rally for Affordable Insulin. Since affordable insulin is our campaign goal for 2018, many Right Care Alliance members will be planning rallies against pharmaceutical companies for setting prices at unreasonable levels. You can set up a demonstration with many people or a few passionate activists to make a statement in your city that insulin must be affordable and accessible!

Since affordable insulin is our campaign goal for 2018, many Right Care Alliance members will be planning rallies against pharmaceutical companies for setting prices at unreasonable levels. You can set up a demonstration with many people or a few passionate activists to make a statement in your city that insulin must be affordable and accessible! What Worries You? Pass out “What Worries You” cards in your hospital, classroom, community center, etc., that ask people to identify their biggest worries around health care costs. You can also set up a table at a hospital, fair, farmer’s market or anywhere in the community to talk with people about their experiences with health care costs.

Resources

Materials for Insulin Rally

Materials for Listening Booth/What Worries You

Social media

Using social media is a great way to stay updated on RCAW events and get others involved! Here are some tools to help you be a RCAW social media wizard:

Twitter – Use the hashtag #RCAW18 and follow @RightCareNow to see what other members are doing and to join in the conversation. Other hashtags you can use include #RightCare and #PatientsOverProfits.

and follow to see what other members are doing and to join in the conversation. Other hashtags you can use include #RightCare and #PatientsOverProfits. Facebook – Follow the Right Care Alliance on Facebook to see longer posts and threads.

Blog – Share our blog posts with friends and colleagues to get them excited about RCAW! We have a blog series featuring RCAW events and another exploring the drivers of high health care costs.

Images – You can download these images and share them on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media to quickly and powerfully convey why we need to take action on high health care costs:

If you would like to be a Right Care Action Week partner, email rcaw@lowninstitute.org.

Questions? Contact us at rcaw@lowninstitute.org.