Leticia Rodriquez, a nutrition assistant with the Watts Health Care Corporation and SEIU 721 member with her three children.
South Los Angeles residents gathered for a community health forum on Saturday, March 27, held at the Bethune Park, to hear Rep. Laura Richardson speak about the impact of President Obama’s health care overhaul on community clinics and hospitals.
“The bill is not perfect, but it’s a good start,” said Richardson, who just flew back from Washington D.C., after last weeks final vote on the bill. “From here we can begin to make improvements.”
Under the congresswoman’s 37th district, which includes Watts, Willbrook, Compton, Carson, Long Beach and Signal Hill, the bill will fund $11 million towards clinics, improve coverage for 299,000 residents and will extend coverage to 92,500 uninsured people.
“In America you have the right to life. You can’t have a life if you don’t have a healthy life,” said Richardson.
The bill will also begin to close the Medicare Part D drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole” for 63,000 senior citizens, said Richardson.
Under the “donut hole” system, Medicare beneficiaries were required to pay 25 percent of their medication after paying deductibles and premiums. Once the plan exceeded the $2,830 limit, they had to pay the full cost of their medication. After they finished spending more than $3,000, they qualified to only pay 5 percent of their costs.
“Senior citizens shouldn’t have to choose between food or medication,” said Richardson.
The congresswoman also endorsed the involvement of the health care workers union, SEIU 721, in negotiating contracts and organizing possible strikes.
“It’s so important that SEIU be at the bargaining table,” said Richardson after giving an anecdotal speech on her mother’s days as a Teamster labor unionist. “With the 30 million people that will be receiving health care, a lot of money is going to be made, and health care workers should receive reasonable wages and pensions.”
Following Richardson’s applauded speech, a nutrition councilor from SEIU 721, told the audience the union is fighting to save the Watts Health Care Corporation, an urgent health care center that extended its service hours after the closing of the King Drew Medical Center emergency room in 2007.
“The clinic may have to shut down its extended services and cut staff, which will increase lines and wait time,” said Luz Leon who has worked for the Watts Health Care Corporation for more than 18 years.
After the emergency room was shut down, the Watts Health Care Corporation, located less than two miles away from the King-Drew hospital, was allocated money from the Los Angeles Medical Preservation Fund. The bill provided $100 million a year to help neighboring clinics and hospitals expand their services. This permitted the Watts Health Care Corporation to extend its work hours and remain open on Saturdays.
The bill, however, did not contemplate funding past 2009-2010. The MLK-Drew “replacement hospital” will not open until December 2012 at the earliest, and this is projected to be a partial opening.
SEIU 721 is now trying to gain support for the SB 1409 bill that would prolong the additional funding.
Managers of the Watts Health Care Corporation are also in negotiations with SEIU 721, to bargain their employees’ contracts that expired in January. The managers wants to raise their employees’ monthly premiums for families of two or more, from $20 to more than $500, said Leticia Rodriquez, a nutrition assistant at the clinic.
“It’s scary. If they raise the premium, we are going to have to go without health insurance,” said Rodriquez, a mother of three children. “Our income is over the guideline for Medical.”
The problem with health care access in South Los Angeles, Rodriquez said, “is that people who have no income qualify for public services, but small businesses and companies can’t do that.”
SEIU is planning to hold another community forum April 6 to further discuss the needs of community clinics in South Los Angeles.
“Count me in the fight,” Richardson said.
Managers of the Watts Health Care Corporation are also in negotiations with SEIU 721, to bargain their employees’ contracts that expired in January. The managers wants to raise their employees’ monthly premiums for families of two or more, from $20 to more than $500, said Leticia Rodriquez, a nutrition assistant at the clinic.
This is been the issues on the Employees for getting the salary and other benefits work for them.Problem is that people who have no income qualify for public services but small businesses and companies cannot able to do this for the public.
It’s scary. If they raise the premium, we are going to have to go without health insurance,” said Rodriquez, a mother of three children. “Our income is over the guideline for Medical.”
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The directors of the Watts Health Corporation is also in negotiations with SEIU 721, to negotiate employee contracts, which expired in January. Administrators want to increase employee contributions per month for families with two or more.
The problem with health care access in South Los Angeles, Rodriquez said, “is that people who have no income qualify for public services, but small businesses and companies can’t do that.” This is just the problem.
I totally agree with your points. Thanks for your sharing.
They told the audience the union is fighting to save the Watts Health Care Corporation, an urgent health care center that extended its service hours after the closing of the King Drew Medical Center emergency room.
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Emergency room was closed, Watts Healthcare Ltd, located less than two miles from King-Drew hospital has received money for the preservation of Los Angeles Medical Fund.
“It’s scary. If they raise the premium, we are going to have to go without health insurance,” – at a time when many are facing money problems this is yet another financial worry for those who work hard to make ends meet.
He Watts Healthcare Corporation, located less than two miles from King-Drew hospital, received money from Los Angeles Medical Preservation Trust.
They told the viewers the union is hostility to save the Watts Health Care Corporation, an urgent health care center that extensive its service hours after the closing of the King Drew Medical Center emergency room.
Well, There is a difference between health care and health insurance. With the patients bill of rights we already had guarunteed health care for those that could not readily afford their hospital bills.
“In America you have the right to life. You can’t have a life if you don’t have a healthy life,”
When will more people get this and stop opposing health care reforms? Only in America.
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I think in today’s world health should be given first preference as it is the most important part which needs a lot of attention.
Health care reform remains a hot topic of debate. Plenty of specialists say it is partially because so plenty of people don’t comprehend it, & don’t comprehend all the hype surrounding it.
The directors of the Watts Health Corporation is also in negotiations with SEIU which asleep in January. This is been the issues on the Employees for accepting the salary and added allowances plan for them. Administrators wish to access agent contributions per ages for families with two or more.
This is good as people are getting aware of the things about the health.The best thing is the general awareness.So all the thing make the good impact on the health awareness is well.
I agree that the cost of insurance is another topic for entrepreneurs starting to consider. And the cost is certain to follow. There is no way to make that expenses and taxes will remain the same …
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