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June 4,
2007 
VOL.
45, NO. 11Oakland,
CA
Oakley parishioners
join CCISCO
in call for affordable health care
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| Advocates for affordable health care coverage hold
post cards showing their support for health care reform that benefits
all children. CCISCO PHOTO |
Nearly 400
people from Contra Costa County crowded into St. Anthony Church in Oakley
last month to tell government officials what their community needs in
the way of improved health care.
Organized by representatives of St. Anthony’s chapter of Contra
Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), the meeting
agenda laid out three objectives:
• That Congress provide full funding for the State Children Health
Insurance Program (S-CHIP) so that all children can have affordable health
insurance by 2012;
• That the state of California enacts health care reform this year,
with coverage of all children as a cornerstone of the plan;
• That Contra Costa County implement reforms to make it easier to
access the Basic Health Care program by extending the enrollment period
to 12 months, by integrating federally qualified health centers into the
plan and by opening clinics in geographically isolated areas such as Oakley.
“We are here tonight to take action to relieve the suffering in
our community,” said CCISO leader Julio Suarez. “We know that
by taking action, we can turn our suffering into joy.”
CCISO leaders presented research findings and recommendations based on
over 100 one-on-one sessions, 500 surveys and 25 research meetings with
key public officials and health care experts.
In surveying local residents, St. Anthony’s leaders learned that
nearly 40 percent of them had no health insurance and 24 percent had been
disgnosed with an illness they couldn’t afford to seek treatments
for.
Leaders also found that the cost of prevention is far cheaper than utilizing
the emergency room, which has become the only option for the uninsured.
They pointed out that the average emergency room visit for an uninsured
child costs $435 as compared to $100 for a family with health care coverage.
Leaders also cited a recent report by the New America Foundation estimating
that a “hidden tax” on California health premiums has driven
prices 10 percent higher to pay for the cost of uninsured individuals.
Community members put faces to these statistics as they told of their
struggles in living without health coverage and affordable access to care.
Public officials responded positively to what they had heard.
Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher pledged to continue working with CCISO leaders
to ensure that Congress finds the funding to re-authorize S-CHIP to ensure
that all kids are covered.
Barbara Kauffman, director of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s San Francisco
office, pledged the governor’s commitment to work for health coverage
for all Californians, especially children; Erin Gable, district representative
for California State Senator Tom Torlakson, promised his support as well.
State Assembly member Guy Houston, Oakley representative, did not attend
the meeting and declined to send a representative. Members of the audience
responded by writing postcards urging him to make health care reform a
priority. Deacon Joe Tovar blessed the postcards with holy water.
“We know that this is an important issue,” said Contra Costa
County Supervisor Federal Glover, “but your stories and research
make it more real and urgent.” He thanked CCISCO leaders for building
partnerships with public and private stakeholders and pledged to help
bring a health clinic to Oakley and to improve access to the Basic Health
Care program.
“Your stories and research really capture what it is like to live
in East Contra Costa County,” said Dr. William Walker, director
of the Contra Costa Health Services Department. Walker announced that
he plans to convene a task force of local hospitals and health care providers
to bring a new clinic to Oakley.
Oakley Vice Mayor Bruce Connelley predicted that based on “the turnout
we have here tonight, I am certain that we will get a new health clinic
and health coverage for everyone.”
