California Leaders Help Kick Off U.S. Coalition To Extend Health Care
On Tuesday, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi helped kick off a $40 million nationwide campaign to advocate for expanded health care coverage by 2009, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Newsom appeared at City Hall in San Francisco, and Garamendi appeared at an event in Los Angeles. In total, rallies were held in 52 cities nationwide.
The Health Care for America Now coalition is leading the campaign. The coalition includes labor unions, consumer groups, physicians and liberal activists.
The coalition has proposed a health care system in which:
- All U.S. residents are insured;
- Patients have a choice between private and public coverage;
- Health insurance benefits cover all necessary services and treatments; and
- Access to care is guaranteed.
The coalition plans to campaign in 45 states. It intends to spend $1.5 million on advertising now and another $25 million on a media campaign before the November election (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 7/8). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.