Who We Are
Here is the CodeBlueNow! Story.
CodeBlueNow! is a national, nonpartisan grassroots, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to giving the public a voice in shaping a new health care system. We were formed in October 2003 from the ideas emerging from a national contest to Build an American Health System and is actively working to build consensus on key principles and core elements for a new system.
The CodeBlueNow! Story
The Contest
Kathleen, a 30-plus-year veteran health care journalist, industry analyst and consumer advocate, was so serious about the idea
“Kathleen, why don’t you do a contest like the engineers do to build a better robot?”
that she put up a $10,000 cash award for the First Place winner in the “Build an American Health
System” contest. Her colleague, Bill Baldwin (Baldwin Resource Group), contributed $5,000 for Second Place. An Associated Press reporter heard Kathleen interviewed about the contest and ran a story that was picked up across the U.S. At one point, she faced over 1,000 unread e-mails on her computer.
The Contest Proposals Arrive
More than 100 proposals were received and reviewed by nine independent judges. Winners were awarded the cash prizes and CodeBlueNow! was born the next day, with a core group of 30 every day Americans.
CodeBlueNow! has thousands of supporters nationwide.
A Movement Is Born
CodeBlueNow! is a movement involving everyday Americans who have a big, bold vision. We believe that U.S. health care policy is being held hostage by special interests and partisan politics. We also believe that when it comes to health care, the American public is vastly smarter than they are given credit for – and they deserve a voice in shaping a new health care system.
We Know Change Is Possible
CodeBlueNow! is committed to taking health care out of the clutches of Congress, the White House, and partisan politics. We must reclaim health care so we can have a sustainable and equitable system that works for the American public. We can build a system that is accountable, affordable, effective, efficient, safe and fair.
We further believe that by using a process that respects the opinions of the American people, we will get the best from them. We can build a functional system by working together, just as our Founding Fathers did in creating this great country. We, the people, must change the health care system so it works for us, not against us. Join with us today. Your health depends on it.
