New Yorkers celebrate the passage of health care reform at rally in the Community Health Care Network’s Long Island City Health Center.

Last month, we gathered to celebrate the first birthday of the Affordable Care Act. We had cake, speeches, and an awesome crowd!

Check out the official press release, below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2011

Activists Converge on Community Health Center in Queens

To Celebrate and Defend Year-Old Health Care Law

State Officials Urged to Move Forward with Implementation This Spring

Dozens of New York residents including Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer gathered for a “Defend Our New Health Care Law” rally at the Community Health Care Network’s Long Island City Health Center this afternoon.  The event was both a celebration for the first anniversary of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a call to defend efforts to repeal or defund this health care reform law.  The event capped a week of over 200 similar anniversary events from coast to coast.

Since many New Yorkers continue to be confused as to the benefits of the law, the speakers of the event illustrated through personal stories how the law has already benefitted them personally.

“The Affordable Care Act is a truly historic piece of social legislation on par with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act,” said Mark Hannay, Director of the Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign, a citywide coalition of community groups and labor unions.  “Millions of New Yorkers will be helped by this law – thousands already have been.  Our tasks now are to make sure Congress doesn’t renege on its promise for the American people, and to make sure New York’s leaders move forward with their implementation responsibilities.  That’s why we’re all here today.”

“The people who fought so hard for the passage of this law aren’t going anywhere,” said Kelly Cuvar, an activist with the group Greater NYC for Change.  “As long as the combination of illness and the high cost of health care poses a threat to Americans of any age, color, creed, or class, we will work to ensure that no one should ever need to worry about money when their main focus should be on getting better.”

The Affordable Care Act was passed by the 110th Congress and signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010.  It has been under siege since that time, from legal challenges, misinformation campaigns, and attempts by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to outright repeal or incrementally defund the law.

As one example, the House currently proposes to cut back or eliminate the dedicated new funding for community health centers – traditionally a bipartisan budget priority.  As a symbolic gesture, participants at the rally donated loose pennies to the Long Island City Center to show their support for it and illustrate the choice currently facing the nation:  allow the Affordable Care Act to move forward and reap the benefits of new community health centers, or go back to a system where patients in need have to count pennies to afford the care they need.

“The Affordable Care Act is landmark legislation that will change the lives of millions of Americans,” said Catherine M. Abate, president and CEO of Community Healthcare Network, which operates the health center in Queens.  “It provides health coverage and a medical home to individuals and families who often use the emergency room as their family doctor. Investing in community health centers translates into quality, affordable and cost effective primary care in communities where people live.”

“Two years ago I was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia traits, and this community health center treated me so well, I feel like Diana Ross,” said Dorothy Burrows, a 93-year old patient at the health center.

“I am fortunate to work in a state with relatively generous eligibility for Medicaid, and in a community health center that provides low-cost health care to many low-income people who do not have health insurance,” said Dr. Sharon Phillips, Director the National Physicians’ Alliance New York Local Action Network.  “The Affordable Care Act has already led to significant improvements for many of my patients, and as the law is phased in nearly all Americans will finally be able to see the doctor when they need to.”

Among provisions of the new law that are already underway in New York is the “New York Bridge” program for people with pre-existing medical conditions, and a new consumer assistance program known as “Community Health Advocates” operated by a statewide network of community-based non-profit organizations.  One site location in Jackson Heights is at Make the Road New York.

“We were extremely frustrated and confused trying to get the insurance that our son with medical disabilities deserves,” said Luis and Maria Luna, members of Make the Road New York. “With help from Make the Road, we were put on the right track.  It was very important for us to have guidance from a community organization that many in our community already trust.”

Another popular provision of the new law is an option for parents to keep their young adult children on their family’s health insurance policies until age 26, extending coverage to an age group that finds it increasingly difficult to obtain insurance as a benefit of their job.

“For almost 2 years, I worked as a Benefits Administrator at a non-profit social service agency where I sent out COBRA paperwork and witnessed to employees’ reactions when I told them how much premiums cost,” said Anita Rishi, a 24-year old resident of Ditmas Heights in Brooklyn.  “I’ve recently resigned from my position, and know for a fact that I would not be able to afford COBRA.  However, because of the health care reform, I am now be able to get coverage through my mother’s insurance plan.”

The rally was organized by a coalition of community groups and trade unions, many of which we active in the Health Care for America Now! campaign that successfully pushed for enactment of national health care reform legislation.