Activists get the nitty-gritty on care needs from residents

Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 13, 2007 at midnight

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State activists preparing for a series of hearings on health care reform held their 31st forum Wednesday at an Aurora Catholic church, where they heard from a small group of citizens who have limited medical coverage or none at all.

The Colorado Progressive Coalition's Health Justice Program has been holding meetings throughout Colorado to reach residents who have been providing recommendations on health care reform in the state. The coalition is collecting information so it can, in turn, provide it to the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform.

Program members plan to hold seven public hearings in October in the state's congressional districts and will submit its findings to the commission on behalf of the residents they have met with. Leah Bry, the coalition's health justice organizer, also said that daytime meetings held by the commission can rarely be attended by the underserved residents who usually are working.

"We feel this is a process that is largely inaccessible to the public," Bry said.

The Rev. Bert Chilson, the pastor for St. Therese Catholic Church in Aurora Heights, said the coalition contacted his church to organize Wednesday's forum.

Chilson said parishioners at St. Therese and neighbors in Aurora Heights either lack health care insurance or have limited health care coverage. Some complain that their insurance plans are too expensive.

In the past year, parishioners at St. Therese and Queen of Peace Catholic Churches discussed with church officials their immediate concerns in the community, Chilson said.

"Interestingly enough, out of dozens of concerns, both parishes came up with health care as the No. 1 issue for now, and that got us thinking about that whole need," Chilson said.

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