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Health care coverage still a major concern

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By Caroline Vernon, Davenport | Saturday, August 13, 2005 12:31 AM CDT | () comments

At a time when health care costs are soaring and more Americans find themselves uninsured, state and U.S. legislators should be addressing ways to provide affordable quality healthcare coverage for every American.

We are seeing a growing trend where only the wealthiest Americans can afford to pay for quality health care. Our government is more concerned with providing wartime tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans while slashing programs for low-income families and

children.

States are systematically disenrolling some of the neediest recipients from their Medicaid programs. Many local citizens and organizations such as Iowa for Healthcare, Progressive Action for the Common Good's Health Care forum, and Iowa Citizen's Action Network are concerned about potential ramifications that the $10 billion in federal cuts will have on Iowa's Medicaid program.

In an effort to speak to Sen. Grassley about this issue while he's at home, his aide has relayed his current schedule doesn't allow for an opportunity to meet with us. What will it take?

According to the National Institute of Medicine, 18,000 Americans die unnecessarily every year due to lack of affordable healthcare. This is a crime against humanity. It is completely disingenuous to speak of moral values on any level if "quality of life" is ignored by those who profess to represent the

people.