 Appalachian faculty member Sally Brocksen voices some of her concerns about potential healthcare reform during a forum in Sept. held in Wilkesboro. Photo by Holt Menzies
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by RACHEL DINKIN
Intern News Reporter
The Student Association for Social Work at Appalachian State University will host a public health care forum Nov. 10 to discuss information related to health care access in the community.
Speakers include Rebecca Moore, executive director of the Community Care Clinic; Cindy Hinshaw, director of the Emergency Department; Jim Atkinson, director of Watauga Department of Social Services; Danny Staley, Appalachian District Health Director; Alice Salthouse, director of Community Outreach and Senator Steve Goss.
“I would like to see more consideration given to the best way for the people in this country to access health care instead of what is best for the health care industry and those who make huge profits,” Moore said. “The Community Care Clinic struggles to provide services to the increasing numbers of people who come to us.”
Each of these
individuals sees firsthand how health care impacts different sectors of
the community and are working together to care for community needs.
“I think
this is an important issue that has been put on the back burner of
American politics for far too long,” Sally Brocksen, assistant social
work professor said. “I would like to see some sort of universal
coverage so that people will not fall through the cracks and everyone
in the United States will have health care coverage.”
Brocksen
said the forum is meant to raise awareness about health care and entice
those who are going to be affected the most by reforms to participate
in the process so they are heard and their needs are met.
In
Watauga County, 18.6 percent of individuals are uninsured, and many
students at Appalachian are at risk of being uninsured once they
graduate.
“Right
now our healthcare system is a business plan,” Tiffany Waters, SASW
president said. “It is ridiculous that the health care system is
denying people insurance due to pre-existing conditions.”
Waters
said insurance companies should be held more accountable and pointed
out many who are independent from their parents do not have health
insurance.
“My best
friend at home’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and her family
had to declare bankruptcy because they don’t have health insurance,”
SASW secretary Kristen Tate said.
Tate said her friend’s family had to give up their home—with six kids in the household.
The U.S.
House and Senate are working to propose a bill that will supposedly
decrease the cost of health insurance and cover 96 percent of Americans
in the first 10 years of its implementation.
The healthcare forum will be held in the Calloway Peak Room of Plemmons Student Union and will begin promptly at 7 p.m.
Photo by Holt Menzies | Chief Photographer
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