Seniors, Advocates, and Labor Unite in San Bernardino to Push for Healthcare Reform

SAN BERNARDINO – As the California Legislature debates major healthcare reform bills, a coalition called “It’s OUR Healthcare!”, which is composed of groups representing 9 million Californians and is dedicated to ensuring that all Californians are heard and that reforms benefit consumers, launched its San Bernardino County campaign.

The campaign is working to ensure that California passes comprehensive healthcare reforms this year and that the reforms provide good quality healthcare that’s affordable and remains affordable, protecting individuals, businesses, and the government from uncontrolled cost increases.

“People throughout the state are having more and more difficulty getting the healthcare they need,” said Monique Ozier, a Licensed Vocational Nurse at Community Hospital of San Bernardino. “Those of us on the frontline see the consequences every day.”

“The issue boils down to cost and affordability,” said Bob Blough, of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association. “Costs are out of control right now, and they’re not getting better. That’s why we are forming a San Bernardino coalition to put pressure on our leaders to pass real healthcare reform into law this year, with strong protections for families and cost control measures to stabilize the system. The status quo is not sustainable.”

“We’re trying to encourage the public and our leaders to open the door for real dialogue. Our message to our elected leaders is: It’s our healthcare, and it should be our decision,” said Michael Morales, of AARP. “But all of us, our neighbors, and our families also have a responsibility: It’s our healthcare, so we have to speak up! Otherwise, we might not like what we end up with.”

“We believe that healthcare is profoundly important and that we must take a compassionate stand and make clear that we as a society need a new social standard that excludes no one from such a basic necessity,” said Father Patricio Guillen, Executive Director of Libreria del Pueblo.

More information is available at the It’s OUR Healthcare website at www.itsourhealthcare.org.

The groups gathered in front of the State Building to focus on how people in San Bernardino need quality, affordable healthcare now. Participants included healthcare advocates, consumer advocates, labor unions, and community members with healthcare stories.

“As a Supervisor, my job is to listen, and I’ve increasingly heard my constituents talk about their problems with healthcare - about families facing financial and medical crisis and about people who have no good choices,” said San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales. “That’s why we’re working to support the It’s Our Healthcare campaign. Our communities have great needs, and those needs have to be considered and addressed.”

The event was organized by It’s OUR Healthcare campaign, which includes groups such as the AARP, ACORN, the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers, and dozens of other groups, together representing more than 9 million Californians.

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