3/31 in Fresno: Press Conference Advisory: Local Leaders Support Affordable Health Care

Press Conference Advisory: Local Leaders Support Affordable Health Care for All Patients

3/30/2005 7:34:00 PM

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, 415-497-1710 (cell); Web: http://www.Consumerwatchdog.org

News Advisory:

-- Consumers, Business Owners and Public Health Care System Could Save Billions of Dollars by Eliminating Waste & Inefficiency

WHO:

Kay McVay, President, California Nurses Association

Dr. Dominick Dizon, University Medical Center

Steve Newvine, Fresno Chamber of Commerce

Dr. James Kratzer, Kratzer-Grazes Pediatrics

Rev. Walt Perry, Fresno Metropolitan Ministry

Jerry Flanagan, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights

Local uninsured residents

WHEN: Thursday, March 31 at 11 am

WHERE: Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno CA

Meet on P Street side of City Hall near the fountain. Parking available on Fresno Street.

Citing skyrocketing health care costs and shrinking state health care budgets that threaten the Central Valley economy and quality of life, a broad coalition of doctors, nurses, residents and business owners will announce a new effort to provide affordable health care for all Central Valley patients.

The coalition, and a town hall to be taped tomorrow night and televised locally, is part of a three year consensus building process on health care reform - the most comprehensive in the state's history - including patients, care providers, and small business owners participating in 10 broadcast town halls and dozens of working groups throughout the state.

More than 1000 local and state wide organizations and residents have participated in the events organized by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR), which recently published a report documenting overwhelming support for health care cost controls that could lead to universal access to care. The report, model laws, town hall videos and patient and small business profiles can viewed at: http://www.HealthConsensus.org

Consumer advocates will discuss various proposals for reducing waste and inefficiency in the health care system. Savings generated can be reinvested in the health care system to stabilize hospital and E.R. budgets, provide discounts for employers and consumers, and save taxpayer money by providing preventive care to uninsured consumers.

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The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is the state's leading non-profit and non-partisan consumer watchdog organization. For more information, visit us on the web at: http://www.Consumerwatchdog.org

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