FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rich Watters 650-856-7430

PUBLIC MEETING ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

On Sunday afternoon, December 17th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, a public meeting and community conversation about health care and health care reform will be held at the Boys and Girls Club, 2031 Pulgas Avenue in East Palo Alto.

The meeting will feature a presentation of the documentary "The Health Care Solution: California OneCare" and a round-table discussion of health care needs in our communities. There will be opportunities to voice concerns about health care and health insurance coverage, to share personal health care stories, and to learn about proposed health care reform.

The documentary "The Health Care Solution: California OneCare" explains how the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA) will establish universal health care in California by creating the California Health Insurance System, a single payer for all health care in the state. CHIRA is designed to provide affordable health insurance coverage with an extensive benefits package, while controlling health care costs and improving health care outcomes. Recent studies have shown that a single-payer system like that proposed in CHIRA can provide health care coverage for all state residents and still save money on overall health care expenditures. CHIRA was introduced as Senate Bill 840 during the last legislative session and passed both houses of the legislature, but was vetoed by the governor. It will be re-introduced next year.

The meeting is sponsored by Health Care for All-California. Admission is free.

For additional information, call Rich Watters at 650-856-7430.