Health Care Advocates Call For Reform This Year

On Thursday, Missouri was one of 43 states that hosted a call to action on health care reform. Health Care for America Now is the largest health care campaign in the nation, and their rally drew a crowd here in the Ozarks. KSMU’s Benjamin Fry reports.

“The crowds are filing in here at the teamster’s union in Springfield. They’ve gathered to share their concerns about the health care system, and talk about the path to reform in this economy”“Our nation’s going to enact a guarantee this year of quality affordable health care for all”Moderator Joan Suarez was optimistic as she introduced a variety of panelists to address the crowd of about a hundred. They included Janie Vestal who is a member of the Greene County Medical Association. She says an emphasis on preventative care will be a key in turning the healthcare system in the right direction.Vestal explained why she’s taking a public stand on healthcare reform.“I think that solving the health care crisis is a fundamental part of solving the economic crisis and I think it’s also a moral issue in our country to provide care that is based on need rather than based on ability to pay,” Vestal said.The Health Care For America Now events were timed to coincide with the Congressional recess.Advocates say they hope legislators will address the issue when they return to Washington.For KSMU News, I’m Benjamin Fry.