Updated Aug 11, 2009 - 6:13 pm
Local public health workers push Congress for health reform
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KIRO Radio
Puget Sound area public health leaders pleaded with Congress on Tuesday to approve health care reform.
King County Health Board chair Julia Patterson joined several local colleagues to speak out in support of universal access.
"Funding of public health has to be a part of any federal health reform proposal." Patterson said,"If you want to call that universal coverage, that's fine, but it makes no sense that some people have health care and others don't. Who can defend that?"
The health care reform package in the Senate includes $10 billion dollars for public health.
Dianne White, with the Snohomish Health District pointed to an elderly woman who showed up close to death at a free clinic in Stanwood. White said the reason the woman had not sought health care earlier is because she was ashamed that she couldn't pay.
"What are we doing to our population?" White asked.
Joining Patterson and White was congressman Jim McDermott and a dozen or so other public health officials.
In a statement the King County Board of Health and the Metropolitan King County Council said they have recently adopted legislation calling on Congress to include a stable and reliable source of funding for public health infrastructure in any health care reform bill. The motions incorporate principles supported by the Boards of Health of the Puget Sound region and Clark County that advocate for health care reform that:
- Provides access to all people to health services that are comprehensive, high-quality, conveniently located, and affordable
- Promotes health and prevents disease
- Encourages diverse communities to be engaged in improving health outcomes
- Reduces disparities based upon race, income, geography or other external factors.
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