Congresswoman Barbara Lee To Speak on Health Care Reform

September 16, 2009

At its 35th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 19, Asian Health Services will announce the opening of a new Community Health Center with 10 exam rooms in East Lake Merritt. The event will take place at the Oakland Marriot City Center located at 1001 Broadway in Oakland, CA. 

“As the nation engages in an historic debate about health care reform,” says Sherry Hirota, CEO of Asian Health Services, “AHS is proud to announce the opening of a new community clinic. Together with community clinics across the country, AHS stands ready to serve the 47 million uninsured Americans who have no access to health care.”

Congresswoman Barbara Lee will be a featured speaker at the Gala event.

“For three-and-a-half decades,” says Congresswoman Lee, “AHS has been a major health care institution serving low-income and immigrant families in the East Bay.”

“As a nation, we are currently engaged in an historic effort for health care reform,” says Congresswoman Lee. “Our health care system is broken. Forty seven million Americans are uninsured. Asian Americans are disproportionately overrepresented in this population of Americans who have no access to health care.”

“In order for there to be true health care reform, there must be a public plan option,” says Congresswoman Lee. “A public plan would offer an alternative to those who cannot afford private insurance.”

“With the economy in turmoil, community clinics are experiencing a 50% increase in newly uninsured patients,” says Ms. Hirota, citing data recently released by the California Primary Care Association. “These are patients who have lost their jobs and their private health insurance.”

“AHS is expanding its services to provide access to health care to some of the 47 million Americans who cannot afford private health insurance,” says Ms. Hirota.

The new community clinic is anticipated to open in Spring 2010.

Founded in 1974, AHS serves and advocates for the medically underserved, including the immigrant and refugee Asian community, regarding their health rights, and works to assure equal access to health care services for all regardless of income, insurance status, language, or culture.

For more information on the event contact Clarence Wong at (415) 370-3066.

Written by AsianWeek Staff Report · Filed Under Bay Area, Health