Staff Writer
With all the negative attention given to the current health care reform bill, some local citizens said they wanted to highlight the positives of the legislation.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/Staff
Dr. Charles J. Smith, president of the Augusta NAACP, speaks in support of health care reform during a forum that was held Thursday evening at the Henry H. Brigham Community Center.
The Augusta branch of the NAACP sponsored a Health Care Roundtable Discussion on Thursday for people to do just that.
"I have trouble understanding why those of us who are insured, and who can vote, refuse to insure those who don't and provide health care for them," said gastroenterologist Ronald Brown said.
Dr. Brown was one of the supporters on the panel who spoke about the benefits of health care reform and why it is necessary at the Henry Brigham Center.
Dr. Brown said he has had many patients cancel critical medical procedures over the years simply because they could not afford the hospital costs.
Shavon Arline, the national health chairwoman of the NAACP, spoke at the meeting through a teleconference call.
Ms. Arline credited the involvement of local grassroots organizations throughout the country as an important factor in the recent passage of the health care reform bill.
Much of the discussion at the meeting focused on what local citizens could do to help ensure passage in the Senate.
"Regardless of your political philosophy, we must address the issues of health care reform from a patient-centered perspective," Ms. Tyra Newton, a registered nurse said at the forum.
Dr. Charles Smith, president of the local NAACP branch, said he is hopeful about the overall prospects of health care reform.
"There will, in our opinion, be a compromise of some sort so this bill can pass," Dr. Smith said.
"America's ready, and it's time, and I think we are going to continue to move forward with our movement here in the community, we are going to continue to network with the community, we are going to continue to try to talk to our congressmen to make sure that they do the right thing."
Reach Jonathan Overstreet at (706) 823-3708 and jonathan.overstreet@augustachronicle.com.
