Blue Ribbon Commission issues recommendations, group presents Governor and legislators with challenge: “Real people, not health industry lobbyists, must guide health care reform in Colorado.”
Powerful new documentary shows Coloradans struggling with broken health system. Copies to be delivered to Gov. Ritter & every legislator, Thursday, 1:30pm, Old Supreme Court Chambers, State Capitol |
Denver, CO - As the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Reform presents its final recommendations to Governor Bill Ritter and the state legislature today, the Colorado Progressive Coalition (CPC), a 5,500 member statewide advocacy organization, issued elected leaders a challenge saying that real people, not health industry lobbyists, must guide health care reform in Colorado.
Today (Thursday) at 1:30 P.M. at the Old Supreme Court Chambers of the State Capitol, the coalition will distribute copies of its powerful new documentary – Sick and Tired – spotlighting voices of Coloradans who, it says, should not be overlooked in policy debates. To counter the health industry lobby’s power, CPC provided copies of Sick and Tired to Governor Ritter and every legislator to emphasize the human side of this big money, high stakes debate. CPC leaders say that they’re issuing a call to action to the governor and legislators to act courageously in 2008 for comprehensive, not incremental, health care coverage.
Working parallel to – but not coordinated with – the Blue Ribbon Commission, CPC drew inspiration for the film from hosting 44 community forums all across Colorado where 1,200 Coloradans were inspired to share their health care experiences. A diverse mix of Coloradans from the Denver area, Brush, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins is featured, each person sharing dramatic challenges to accessing and maintaining quality health care.
Regina Hathorne, a CPC leader from Boulder and stage four cancer survivor and patient, is featured in the film. Hathorne said: “I chose to participate in Sick and Tired because I feel strongly that it’s the responsibility of each of us as Coloradans to make our voices heard on the most important challenge to quality of life in this state—health care reform. I encourage legislators to use forward-thinking vision to help all of us in Colorado who are looking to them for solutions. We have an opportunity to effect positive change for the rest of the country and I have faith that the legislators are up to the task.”
Pam Jones, of Colorado Springs, is also featured in the film. Denied insurance coverage for her left breast because she had a benign lump removed from it 14 years ago, Jones urged legislators to act quickly: "I understand that health care reform is a huge issue, but don't be immobilized by the size of the problem. We're calling for you to take action as soon as possible." Jones continued, "My own situation made me realize the scope of the problem. I participated in the film because I didn't want to complain about something I wasn't willing to do anything about.”
Leah Bry, Colorado Progressive Coalition’s Lead Health Justice Organizer and the film’s documentarian, said: "Sick and Tired gives a human face and voice to Colorado’s health care crisis while allowing those most impacted by the broken system to share their vision for change. Every time a legislator gets hounded by a health industry lobbyist, I hope that they’ll remember the stories of their Colorado neighbors in this film.”
Bry added: "You can't watch our Colorado neighbors talk about their health struggles and not be inspired to be visionary in reforming the health care system. That's what we want Governor Ritter and state legislators to remember: real people, not health industry lobbyists, must guide health care reform in Colorado."
Colorado Progressive Coalition (www.progressivecoalition.org) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization with 5,500 members across Colorado and offices in Denver, Greeley, and Pueblo. CPC led the successful fight to raise Colorado’s minimum wage in 2006 and is nationally recognized for its work for civil rights, economic justice, health access, and a democracy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy or the well-connected.
### |
