On March 12, 2009, home care employer Lori Michael appeared before the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee on behalf of Health Care for Health Care Workers. Michael’s agency, Lori’s Angels, provides home care to Schuylkill County’s acutely or chronically ill and disabled population.
Michael testified in favor of House Bill 746 (pdf), legislation that would expand access to health care. According to studies, a lack of health care causes recruitment and retention within the direct care industry to suffer. Consequently, in sharp contrast to its growing populations of seniors people with disabilities, Pennsylvania is facing a shortage of direct care workers. Continue reading ‘LTC Employer Voices Support for Health Reform to PA Legislators’
Cindy Ramer
Last week, Newsweek highlighted the story of Cindy Ramer, a direct-care worker from Iowa, in an article about the high number of American workers who lack health insurance.
Cindy, a long-time certified nursing asssistant (and an active member of the Iowa Caregivers Association and the HCHCW campaign), is currently uninsured after her employer canceled the company’s health insurance plan several years ago.
Instead of seeing a doctor, Cindy now goes to free screenings and health fairs in order to find care. Cindy, like a lot of uninsured American workers, is willing to pay for health coverage but is unable to find a plan that is affordable and comprehensive. Continue reading ‘Newsweek Profiles Direct Care Worker in Story on Uninsured’
White House Regional Forum on Health Reform in Iowa
On March 23rd, Des Moines, Iowa hosted the third in a series of Regional White House Forums on Health Reform taking place across the country. The Forum was led by Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Governor Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office on Health Reform, and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. All offered brief comments and responded to questions from the approximately 500 people in attendance. Continue reading ‘DCW Issues Raised at White House Forum in Iowa’
Direct-care worker Brenda Nachtway with Rep. Todd Eachus who was presented with an award
Health activists, providers and consumers gathered in Harrisburg March 8-9 for “Getting Everyone Covered: A Conference on Health Care Reform”. Among the 200 participants were long term care employers and direct care workers who attended the workshops and plenary session that were highlighted by a variety of health reform leaders and policy makers. Continue reading ‘Long-Term Care Stakeholders Attend Health Reform Conference’
Representative Dan Frankel with Susan, a direct-care worker
Last week State Representative Dan Frankel participated in the second HCHCW Come Care With Me Day in Pennsylvania. As part of the event, Rep. Frankel visited the Essex House, a naturally occurring retirement community, in Pittsburgh, to shadow an in-home care professional and host a community forum with residents and other direct care workers to discuss long term care issues.
As the Vice Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, Rep. Frankel is all too familiar with the situation in which uninsured Pennsylvanians find themselves. “Last year, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that would have helped hundreds of thousands of working Pennsylvanians like these direct-care workers gain access to health insurance, and it would have helped to rein in the cost of health care for everyone. Unfortunately, the state Senate failed to act on that bill, but House Democrats and Governor Rendell will continue working to improve health care in Pennsylvania,” Rep. Frankel said. Continue reading ‘HCHCW Holds Second Come Care with Me Day’
On March 12, 2009, home care employer Lori Michael appeared before the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee on behalf of Health Care for Health Care Workers. Michael’s agency, Lori’s Angels, provides home care to Schuylkill County’s acutely or chronically ill and disabled population.
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