for lack of support for health care in proposed budget.

(Salem) Leaders of Oregon’s business, union, consumer, health, community and faith organizations joined together to launch Cover the Uninsured Week 2007 (April 23-29).

Cover the Uninsured week comes at an opportune time in Oregon. The Healthy Kids Plan appears to be headed for a vote in the Oregon House, which would make health care coverage available for the state's uninsured kids. At the same time, current budget proposals threaten to roll back vital health services.

“This week, Oregon lawmakers have an opportunity to influence the health of a generation of Oregon children,” said Maribeth Healey of Oregonians for Health Security. “We urge them to put children at the front of the line.”

According to the 2006 Oregon Population survey, 15.6% of Oregonians (576,000) are uninsured, including 117,000 children.

For families without insurance, a single step can throw them into a financial tailspin, a fact Ellen Hudson of Colton knows all too well. Ellen fell and broke her ankle while uninsured. “One wrong step on my lawn and I’m left with $28,000 in medical bills my family can’t afford,” says Ellen Hudson.

In 2002, over 100,000 Oregonians were enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan-Standard. Now enrollment is just under 20,000. Funding for the program is solely from hospital and managed care company provider assessments, set to sunset this year.

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“With OHP-Standard closed, thousands of low-income, uninsured Oregonians are forced to seek care in the emergency room,” said Kelly Taylor, RN. “As a nurse, I urge lawmakers to help Oregonians access the vital health care services we need. Morally and economically it’s the right thing to do.”

“The proposed co-chairs budget rolls back the State’s commitment to health care for the most vulnerable Oregonians,” said Ellen Pinney, with Oregon Health Action Campaign. “The lack of support for health care across the board—from community mental health and substance abuse treatment programs to public health and the Oregon Health Plan—is unacceptable.”

Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Cover the Uninsured campaign is the largest mobilization in history to shine a national spotlight on the need to secure health coverage for all Americans.

Now in its fifth year, Cover the Uninsured Week (April 23-29) is organizing events nationwide, including press conferences, health and enrollment fairs, business events, campus outreach and interfaith activities. For more information on campaign activities, go to www.CoverTheUninsured.org.

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