(Salem)- Today health care consumers, providers, business owners, and seniors joined together to tell legislative leaders they will be held accountable for the failure to enact common-sense solutions to reduce skyrocketing health care costs.   They also put candidates for public office on notice that they must have a plan to reduce health care costs and increase access to quality, affordable and secure health care.

“Oregon’s elected leaders were in the position to solve the health care crisis last session, but House leaders blocked needed reforms,” said Maribeth Healey, executive director of Oregonians for Health Security. “Insurance, pharmaceutical and hospital industry profits continue to soar and thousands of Oregonians can’t get the health care that they need. There’s something wrong with this picture.”

   “We can’t continue with leadership beholden to special interests and in the pockets of big drug, insurance and hospital corporations,” said Vern Smith, an uninsured voter from Portland.   “We need to elect leaders who will stand up for us.”

“Businesses do not want to find themselves in the position of choosing between providing health insurance to employees and shutting their doors. But they also need to keep their costs in check to remain competitive - locally, nationally and internationally,” said Lynn Lundquist, President of the Oregon Business Association.   “This crisis is eating a hole in the budgets of businesses, families and the state government.”

Oregonians for Health Security also released the results of a national survey which reveals that health care is an extremely powerful issue for voters and will play a critical role in the 2006 elections. The poll shows one of the most effective ways to move independent women voters is by highlighting the issue of affordable health care.

“We already know from Health Care Voters all across Oregon that they are concerned about the skyrocketing costs of health care,” continued Healey. “The results of this poll also reveal that, for a majority of women, health care is more than just a pocket book issue but one of truly valuing families.”