The Importance of Health Care Reform

In this TIME video, Denise was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 27 and was diagnosed after losing health insurance. Fortunately, for several years she was able to get coverage under her husband’s policy. But, given the tumultuous economy, her husband was laid off recently, and they have been forced to cover her medical bills themselves. She has even been rationing medication to save on costs.

The video also states that a recent Kaiser Foundation Study estimates that in this year alone, more that 5 million people are likely to lose their health care benefits, adding the already staggering 45 million people without health insurance in America and 25 million underinsured.

Watching stories like this reminds me how fortunate I am to be the voice of these people who need quality and affordable health care. To learn more about what we’re doing in Washington, D.C. to ensure that people like Denise and her husband don’t have to struggle, please watch the video below.

We need a doctor

DJ Rekha: Give Me Health Care.

DJ Rekha, a hip-hop DJ with Reggaeton and Bollywood influences, has a good point. I can ask for affordable health care until I’m blue in the face (and in need of an oxygen mask at the rate of hundreds of dollars), but until a solution is presented that’s both affordable to everyone and profitable to the medical system, there’s likely to not be a whole lot of movement.

Trying to pass legislation that such as universal health care, or even trying to just keep health care the way it is, isn’t going to fly anymore. Compromises need to be made, the good of everyone involved needs to be recognized and kept in mind, and solutions need to find a common ground where everyone will benefit.

One way to ensure success is to let go of outcomes. If you’re so focused on a single outcome, you often will lose touch with the other’s views and you’ll end up just preaching to the choir.

With health care, it’s just as important to focus on business sustainability and profits, as it is to focus on providing affordable solutions to appeal to all those that are concerned with the issue. Letting go of specific outcomes (such as health care for everyone) and working towards common goals (such as affordable, yet competitive  health care) will only aid in uniting and conquering.

Selected for President Obama’s Health Care Reform group

Yesterday, I was selected to participate in President Obama's Health Care Reform group. I'm really excited to bring my ideas to the table and to work with progressives and republicans across the country to bring reform to our country's health care system. Below is the press release...

Sinema selected for President Obama’s Health Care Reform group 

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX - Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema has been selected as one of 32 state legislators nationwide to help President Obama reform health care.

 

In a conference call today, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, told Sinema — the only state lawmaker chosen from Arizona — that real health care reform will come from Democrats and Republicans alike from across the country.

 

As a former state legislator himself, the President of the United States appreciates legislators’ unique perspectives on this issue, Jarrett said.

 

Sinema will work with other state legislators in the President’s health care reform group to share best practices and lessons learned from their respective states, which will help shape national health care reform. They will also work to create a dialogue between state leaders and the U.S. Congressional delegation and have weekly conference calls with the White House until the reform is implemented.

 

“I’m so grateful and honored for this amazing opportunity to truly reform our nation’s health care,” Sinema said. “Our health care system is broken and families and businesses are being crushed by high health care costs. The American people, including right here in Arizona, deserve better.”

 

Obama’s plan does three things:

 

• Reduces costs to make health care affordable
• Protects a patient’s choice of doctors, hospitals and insurance plans
• Assures quality affordable health care for all Americans

 

Health care reform is one of Obama’s top priorities and he is committed to enacting health care reform this year, Jarrett said. 

 

State legislators are able to see firsthand in their states and communities how rapidly escalating health care costs are hurting family, business, and government budgets, which is why President Obama is looking forward to working with the group, Jarrett said.

For more information, please visit www.healthreform.gov.