Affordable healthcare for all proposed
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
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If you're feeling ill about the skyrocketing costs of practically everything, here's an idea that may seem startling: affordable healthcare for every man, woman and child in Hawai'i.
That's the ambitious goal of a group of community organizations that believes the healthcare-for-all notion could actually become a reality in the Islands.
It's urging everyone who likes the idea to come to a free public hearing at the State Capitol auditorium tomorrow morning to hear how it could work, add their own two cents if they want and let Hawai'i lawmakers know how they feel.
The Health Care for All Coalition is backed by a July law mandating a task force to study and present a universal healthcare proposal to legislators by the end of the year.
HCAC has been given $200,000 for consultants and feasibility studies to create the proposal, but it says it needs something more: massive public support.
"A big turnout will make a big difference," announced a coalition flier promoting the event. The stated aim of HCAC is "to assist Hawai'i in the process towards achieving a cost-saving, single-payer healthcare system for all its people."
Those attending the hearing would learn:
Organizations involved in the coalition include the League of Women Voters-Hawai'i, Americans for Democratic Action-Hawai'i, Kokua Council of Senior Citizens and the National Association of Social Workers-Hawai'i.
Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.