Denver, CO - As the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Reform prepares to submit its final recommendations to the state legislature and governor, a statewide non-profit organization, the Colorado Progressive Coalition (CPC), today premiered a powerful documentary regarding the broken health care system in Colorado.
In culmination of over 43 CPC community forums held across the state that have drawn more than 1,000 Coloradans to share their health care experiences, the short film features real stories of people dealing with dramatic challenges to accessing and maintaining quality health care. A diverse representation of Coloradans from the Denver metro area, Brush, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins are prominently featured in the film. The filmmaker says that their stories provide a call to action for politicians and the public to make significant changes to the current system now, not later.
Leah Bry, Lead Health Justice Organizer for the Colorado Progressive Coalition and the documentarian who made the film, said: ""Sick and Tired" (the film's name) gives a human face and voice to the health care crisis in our state while allowing those most impacted by the broken system to share their vision for change." She added: "The powerful stories shared by the film's participants will make you cry and make you wonder why in the wealthiest nation on Earth we have so many who struggle to afford staying healthy, active, and alive." Several of the film's subjects were present for the premier.
In an effort to counterbalance the power of the health industry lobby, CPC will provide DVD copies of the film for each legislator and Governor Bill Ritter so that they'll remember the human side of this big money, high stakes debate when the legislature convenes in January.
CPC representatives noted that when dozens of corporate health industry lobbyists show up at the State Capitol, the overwhelming support for health care for all among Coloradans may be forgotten by state legislators.
"You can't watch our fellow Coloradans, our neighbors, talk about their health care struggles and not feel compelled to be visionary in reforming the health care system. That's what we want state legislators and the governor to remember: real people, not health industry lobbyists, must guide health care reform in our state" added Bry.
The organization plans to screen the film across the state to get more people active in the fight for what it calls "real" health care reform that will lead to high quality, affordable, and culturally competent health care for everyone in Colorado.
Colorado Progressive Coalition is a nonpartisan grassroots organization with over 5,500 members across Colorado and is nationally known for its work to advance civil rights, economic justice, health care access, and a democracy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy or the well-connected.
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