Is it possible to take away more money and still deliver services to the unemployed, elderly, students and others who use the services from the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics (COCCC)? Will people who don't have private insurance be able to access health care in Orange County, one of the largest counties in the United States that doesn't have a county hospital? Can the proposed health insurance reforms being voted on in Congress help save safety net health care in Orange County? On March 17, 2010, COCCC members talked about these issues and then asked the public to help them by calling Congress and the California Legislature.
Isabel Becerra, CEO of the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics, opened the forum by saying, "As the California Legislature considers deeper state budget cuts to health care and the US Congress decides the fate of health insurance during 'Cover the Uninsured Week, March 14-20, 2010', it is important they know that we stand firmly in favor of health reform and coverage for the uninsured. The proposed state budget cuts, especially the elimination of Health Families, adult day care, FamilyPACT, expanded access to primary care and the remaining Medi-Cal benefits are a 'perfect storm' that will break the Orange County healthcare safety net. They do not help solve the problems in our health care system that reform seeks to fix."
Rep. Loretta Sanchez , who was in Washington waiting for a vote on the health care reform bill, had staff member Javiera Cartegna deliver her statement. "From my first days in Congress, it was clear to me that the status quo with our health care system is unacceptable and we must act on it immediately. That is why I have been a proud supporter of health care reform."
Mari Lopez, Health Policy Specialist for California's Partnership, a local affiliate of Health Care for America Now (HCAN) said, "Our current health care system is unaffordable for many families and businesses, and entirely beyond reach for some. We need a long-term solution like federal health reform, to secure the health of our families and economy. All of us, individuals, providers, employers and community leaders have a shared responsibility to realize comprehensive reforms in our health care system."
Speakers at the event included Craig Myers, CEO of Coastal Communities Hospital, Dr. Hector Llenderrozos a physician at UCI Family Health Center, and Monique Davis from El Sol Academy talking about school health centers. After the press event, Sang Trieu managed a phone bank where attendees called members of Congress and the California Legislature and asked them to take steps to protect the health care delivered by community clinics.
The Coalition is a network of 21 non-profit community clinics and health centers, 5 school-based health centers and over 20 mental health clinics throughout Orange County which provides care to residents who need affordable medical, dental, family planning, adult day care and other services. The funding comes from Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Medicare, Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP), Expanded Access to Primary Care (EAPC), California Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (FamilyPACT), and County Medical Services Programs (CMSP).
Members of Health Care for America NOW (HCAN) staged a rally outside the UCI Family Health Center which drew the attention of people traveling down Main Street in Santa Ana. California School Health Centers Association, CSUF Asian American Studies Department/National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), Orange County Health Care Council, Planned Parenthood, Phoenix House, Orange County Re-Entry Partnership, Orange County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition and members of the Task Force on Access, Affordability and Advocacy worked together on the press conference.
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