Isle groups join health care drive

Newswatch, Star-Bulletin staff and wire service 

Concerned Hawaii groups have joined a national coalition of organizations launching a $40 million campaign to improve health care for all Americans.
The goal is “basic access to affordable quality health care,” said the Rev. Bob Nakata, a former state legislator representing Faith Action for Community Equity.

His group was one of six or seven at a news conference yesterday to announce local participation in the national coalition of labor unions, community-based membership groups, women’s groups, doctors, nurses, small businesses and activists.

“The problems are huge,” he said, citing the growing number of unemployed and uninsured; inadequate Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance payments; physicians leaving Hawaii; and hospitals fighting financial losses.

Pat Zukemaura, FACE organizer on Oahu, said, “We’re working in terms of making sure hospitals … stay open.”

He said the local groups aim to get 20,000 signatures on a petition by the end of October to persuade isle candidates for office locally and nationally to support their mission.

Nakata said the Hawaii coalition is hoping $40,000 of the national campaign money will be sent here to help organize a network of unions, community groups, government agencies, legislators and others who want to be involved.

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Campaign For New Health Care Plan

Honolulu advocates took part in a $40 million ad campaign Tuesday, for a new health care plan. It’s called, Health Care For America Now. Organizers say the goal is to push for quality, affordable health care for every American. More than 44 cities took part in Tuesdays launch. According to the group, there are more than 50 million people in America who don’t have health care coverage. They say in the richest nation in the world, this should not be the case. Between now and election day the group plans to spend about $25 million campaigning. They have 100 organizers in 45 states.

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Hawaii Joins Campaign Against Rising Health Care Costs

Group Pushes For Universal Health Care

HONOLULU — A coalition of local advocacy groups is behind the Honolulu effort of a national campaign warning of rising heath care costs.

Across the country Health Care for America Now on Tuesday launched a push to draw attention to the growing problem.

The campaign is focused on getting universal access to affordable healthcare regardless of a person’s ability to pay. 

“There are 50 million nationally that are not covered and the situation is getting worse, and here in Hawaii the availability of health care is disappearing,” said the Rev. Bob Nakata of Faith Action for Community Equity.

Nakata said shrinking Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements are prompting some doctors to turn away patients.

Of the major industrialized nations, the group said the U.S. is the only country that does not offer universal care.

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Health Care for America NOW!

11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Hawaii State Capitol Rotunda
   
Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 11 a.m.at the Hawaii State Capitol rotunda to help launch a national campaign to win quality and affordable healthcare for all.  We invite everyone who supports our passion for winning health care justice in America to join us!
 
Governor Linda Lingle’s recent decision not to release all of the funds allocated by Act 284 for fiscal year 2008 was a breaking of a promise she gave to health care service providers and Medicaid and Quest patients.  The State lost $10 million in Federal matching funds.  This will not happen again.  Act 284 was just a temporary measure and much more needs to be done in our State to keep our health care system accessible to all.
 
FACE is organizing locally and nationally to seek relief for financially troubled for-profit and not for-profit hospitals, increase the State % of Medicaid reimbursements for services and increase the federal Medicare reimbursements per medical procedure.  We are conducting a petition drive gathering 20,000 signatures to ask public officials, healthcare stakeholders and others for their support on these issues in the 2009 State Legislature and new Congress.  The petitions will be presented at our Accountability Assembly on October 25.
 
We call on organizations and individuals to join us at our press conference on Tuesday and to sign our health care petition at www.facehawaii.org.
 
For more information, contact the FACE office at 522-1304