CIR Doctors Help Launch Health Care for America NOW! Nationwide

Dr. Brittney DeClerck at the Health Care for America NOW! Kickoff in Los Angeles

On July 8, 2008,  Health Care for America NOW – an unprecedented coalition that unites labor, community organizations, doctors, nurses, women, small businesses, faith-based organizations, people of color, netroots activists, and think tanks – was launched with a Washington, DC press conference and events in 52 other cities across the country.  As important members of this coalition, CIR doctors stepped to the podium at events in California, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York to describe their perspective as frontline providers of care and to passionately advocate for quality, affordable healthcare for all.

"We are a nation with great innovation, research, evidence-based medicine, increased lifespan, and wealth," said Dr. Janetta D. Cureton, CIR's Regional Vice President for Florida, "but many Americans are being forced to make difficult decisions--purchase food or medication, have the money to fill up their gas tanks to get to work or go to the doctor to be treated for chronic medical problems."

Dr. Caitlin Chestnut, a resident at University of New Mexico Medical Center, referenced one of her own patients as emblematic of the millions being left behind by our nation's healthcare system.  "I had a patient who was recently hospitalized because he had a heart attack.  He had not been taking his blood pressure or cholesterol-lowering medications--not because he did not want to take them, but because he could not afford them."

At each event, the coalition outlined its principles for healthcare reform, including:

• Guaranteed coverage and care for everyone in America.
• Affordable coverage and care, with premiums and out-of-pocket costs based on a family’s ability to pay.
• Everyone gets a choice of health insurance plans, including the right to keep your current insurance, choose another private plan or to join a public health insurance plan.
• Standard, comprehensive benefits, with a choice of providers, that meet our families’ health care needs – from preventive care to care for serious illness.
• Equity in health care access, treatment, research and resources to people and communities of color and strengthening health services in low-income communities.
• Coverage that is predictable and affordable for working families, retirees, small businesses, and other employers. 

CIR doctors are committed to using the momentum of the current political climate to achieve quality, affordable healthcare for all.  As Dr. Rachel Kreps-Falk, CIR's Regional Vice President for Northern California, declared outside San Francisco City Hall, "We are here today because our patients need access to healthcare NOW."