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CCHCC E-Mail Newsletter – August 2009

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CCHCC E-Mail Newsletter – August 2009
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1. Campaign & Program Updates
2. Health Action Network
3. Ask an Advocate
4. Upcoming Meetings & Events
5. Support CCHCC

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Dear Friends,

Welcome! Thank you for reading the first-ever Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) E-mail Newsletter. The goal of the CCHCC E-mail Newsletter is to keep you up-to-date on CCHCC campaigns and activities, and let you know of ways to support health care justice in your very own community.

1. CAMPAIGN & PROGRAM UPDATES

— 5th & Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign:
The 5th & Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign is dedicated to protecting the health of the neighborhood and the rights of the community in relation to the toxic site owned by Ameren, located at 5th and Hill Streets in Champaign. The 5th & Hill Campaign has been working hard to make sure the toxic site is cleaned up properly and that the voices of the residents and former residents are heard. A major focus of the 5th & Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign is an effort to repeal the City of Champaign’s groundwater ordinance that, under IL EPA guidelines, lets Ameren off the hook for cleaning up the toxic contaminated groundwater in the neighborhood. To learn more about the ordinance and to add your name to the petition calling for the repeal of the ordinance, you can go to: http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=700

To read more about the 5th & Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign and how you can help, visit our website:
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=699

From there you can add your name to the mailing list, sign the petition, and make a donation!

— Health Care Access Task Force:
The Health Care Access Task Force has been working on getting access to quality, affordable health care for everyone in our community for over 2 years now. Due in part to our Task Force’s work, the IL Attorney General filed a lawsuit in June 2007 against Champaign-Urbana-based Carle Clinic and Christie Clinic for conspiring to exclude Medicaid patients at the clinics. In December 2008 the IL Attorney General and Carle Clinic reached a settlement, and in April 2009, Christie Clinic settled also. This is great news for our community that will increase new access to care for Medicaid patients in our community. The Health Care Access Task Force will continue to monitor health care access for Medicaid patients, and is also turning its attention to Clinic policies that deny access to uninsured patients, or patients who are “no-serviced” because they owe medical debt. Click here for more details:
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=545

— Medicare Task Force:
The Medicare Task Force is continuing its work to fix the Part D prescription drug program by supporting legislation that would allow a Medicare-administered Part D plan (rather than relying solely on private insurance) that would negotiate for lower drug prices and eliminate the donut hole. The Task Force is also collecting stories of Medicare beneficiaries experiences with Part D for their story bank. Visit the website if you have a story to share about the failures of Part D!
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=670

2. HEALTH ACTION NETWORK – TAKE ACTION TODAY!
CCHCC is organizing the grassroots Campaign for National Health Reform in order to give local consumers a voice in national health reform. Anyone who cares about health reform can join this campaign and become a health reform activist! Visit our website to join the campaign:
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Display-Page&id=702

3. ASK AN ADVOCATE
Question: I’m a low-income person with no health insurance. Where can I go to get free or affordable care?

Answer: There are a few low-cost or no-cost health care options for Champaign County.

The Hope Community Center provides primary medical care to uninsured adults.
Some services offered include screenings for chronic disease, school physicals, general psychiatric care, health education, and medication to treat the flu and colds. Hope Clinic is open Monday and Wednesdays from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. They’re located at 507 S. Second Street in Champaign. Call 217-352-0600 for more information.

The Champaign County Christian health center also provides free primary care to uninsured adults. They have referral slots to other health care facilities to ensure patients receive the follow-up care needed. Some services offered include immunizations, physicals for both adults and children, and screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and cancer. They’re open Tuesdays from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., and Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. They are located at 507 S. Second Street in Champaign. Call 217-398-2914 for more information.

If you have questions about this issue or any other health care problem, call CCHCC’s Consumer Health Hotline at 217-352-6533.

4. UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
— Join CCHCC at the Champaign-Urbana Days annual fair in Douglass Park on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Stop by our booth, take action on important health care issues, and just say hello! Douglass Park is located at 512 E. Grove in Champaign.

— Attend the next Health Care Access Task Force meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church (Green and Goodwin in Urbana). The Health Care Access Task Force meets each month to work on health care access in our community. We’d love to see you there! Call us at(217) 352-6533 with questions or to RSVP.

— Interested in working for a better prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries? Then join the Medicare Task Force on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church (1st and University in Champaign). Call Anne at (217) 352-6533 for more information.

5. SUPPORT CCHCC!
During these tough economic times, Champaign County Health Care Consumers needs your help more than ever! CCHCC is working hard to advocate for consumers and make meaningful reform in the health care system, but we need your support. Please consider making a donation to CCHCC today!
http://www.HealthCareconsumers.org/index.php?action=Donation

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