HEALTH JUSTICE ORGANIZING PROGRAM

Health Care Organizing Program: Established in 2001 to respond to our members struggling with the growing crisis of health care access and affordability, CPC is the lead grassroots organization in Colorado working for affordable prescription drugs for all and to stop health care disparities that exist for people of color, low-income people, immigrants, and non-English speakers in our state. In 2005 – after five years of organizing and advocacy – our prescription drug bulk purchasing law passed through the state legislature. Although vetoed by our governor, we’ll again push this effort this year. Also in 2006, a new, CPC-led coalition to address language as a barrier to quality health care has taken off and is currently surveying Limited English Proficient populations and local hospitals to determine the level of care provided to immigrants and refugees.

More than 700,000 Coloradans, including 200,000 kids, have no health insurance. Many more of us are underinsured or worried about rising health care costs. Since 1999 CPC has led Colorado efforts to lower prescription drug costs and is active in efforts to win affordable health care, hold HMOs accountable, end the nursing shortage, expand health care worker organizing, and end health care disparities that impact people of color, immigrants and low income people in our state. Through our national organization, USAction, we fight to preserve Medicare and Social Security programs that bring social insurance to older Americans.