Protesters: Health care ailing

Published: July 17, 2009
Norristown Times-Herald
By BETHANY MARZEWSKI

NORRISTOWN — “Some days I cry. I cry not seeing a light ahead. I cry now as I attempt my story. I just cry.” Amanda Patterson, 17, performed a monologue derived from true stories of those who lacked proper health insurance.

Patterson, a summer intern at the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, was one of 25 protesters and community members who convened outside Montgomery Hospital to voice concerns about inadequate health care coverage in the United States.

The protesters met in response to a July report released by Heath Care for America Now, which determined that communities of color are among those most lacking in health care nationwide.

The report compiled data from the Kaiser Family Foundation to conclude that in 2007, 1,206,115 people were uninsured in Pennsylvania. Of those, 17 percent were Latino and 18 percent African-American, compared to only 10 percent Caucasian.

“Right now in this country, we’re facing a huge health care crisis,” said Antoinette Kraus, the event’s organizer. “Norristown has some of the highest uninsured rates in Montgomery County.”

Kraus, the Pennsylvania Eastern Organizer of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, said they have already collected more than 300 letters addressing health care concerns and delivered them to Sen. Arlen Specter.

“It’s really just helped to get the word out about the health care crisis,” Kraus said.

Many of the Norristown residents in attendance could personally relate to the lack of health care, displaying signs indicating “No health care makes me sick,” and “Health care should be affordable.”

One by one, residents and local spokespersons supporting health care reform stepped up to the megaphone to share their stories.

Terravia Green, 42, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and told the crowd she has found herself homeless or living in various shelters because of her inability to afford health care. Although she is currently receiving treatment, she worries about the future.

“When it comes to the list of all the problems, health care is on the top,” Green said. “If I ever get sick, if I ever get worse, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Several participants, including Kelbin Carolina, 55, of Lower Providence, said having the option of a public health care plan is the most viable way to help this crisis.

“There’s a need to have health insurance for everybody,” said Carolina, who has seen friends with inadequate coverage pass away. “Contact all elected officials because they do respond to the sentiments of the public.”

Among other concerns addressed by residents: Montgomery Hospital, located in the heart of Norristown, will be moving and expanding in 2012 to a new location on Germantown Pike in East Norriton.

“A hospital moving from a community is detrimental to any community in which it happens,” said Councilman Bill Caldwell, of the 2nd District. “We need to act and make sure our legislators act.”

Despite the hospital’s expansion project, Laura McFarland, director of marketing and communications, said they are striving to make it as accessible as possible for Norristown residents.

“The New Regional Medical Center is going to be a state-of-the-art medical campus,” McFarland said. “Residents in the area will have access to a wealth of health care services that we can’t currently provide.”

To accommodate Norristown residents, McFarland said they are considering bus routes to facilitate transportation to the new medical center, as well as establishing the current Montgomery Hospital as a center for outpatient services.

“Both Einstein Healthcare Network and Montgomery Hospital have been very concerned with meeting the needs of Norristown residents.”