Kansas City to hold national free health clinic for the uninsured Dec. 9-10 ... the biggest one yet ... why KC was chosen

We have breaking news, if by "breaking news" we mean stuff that happened while I was out last week ...

As you may know, a series of mass free health clinics are being held across the country to call attention to the number of uninsured Americans and the strain that their untreated illnesses put on the nation's health care system. The timing of these clinics is obvious - free clinics are part of our health care system and they believe passionately that everyone deserves good medical care - an objective that dovetails with the current drive in Washington for universal health care.

This is perilous territory for physicians to tread. Taking a stand on such an incendiary political issue is not for the weak of stomach. But then, most doctors and nurses have tummies of steel. Besides, even the most feckless politician would agree that providing quality health care for all at the lowest possible cost is a worthy cause -- and it doesn't get much lower-cost than free.

It all started when celebrity physician Mehmet Oz, who has a new syndicated TV show, led a widely publicized free health clinic in Houston last month, at which nearly 1,800 patients were seen in one day. Many had symptoms that should've been taken care of long ago. One of the most extreme cases was Steven Cantrell, a working man with a blister on his lower lip that developed into a huge, ugly, life-threatening lesion. (Click here if you have a strong stomach.)

A producer on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," Rich Stockwell, suggested to his boss that he use his pulpit to raise money for more such clinics ... and to hold them in key states where Democratic senators were wavering on a public option in the upcoming legislation on health care reform. Just like that, $1.2 million was raised and a clinic was announced in the home state of Arkansas senator Blanche Lincoln. Then a second, in the state represented by Sen. Mary Landrieux.

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Well, on Wednesday's "Countdown" last week, the National Association of Free Clinics announced a third mass clinic for the uninsured, right here in Kansas City. It will be the first 2-day-long clinic (Dec. 9-10) and according to Nicole Lamoureux, executive director of the association, it is designed as "a national version" of the Houston and Little Rock clinics. So it's not aimed at Sen. Claire McCaskill per se, but rather to make "a huge statement" about the crisis of Americans postponing vital, relatively low-cost medical care because they don't have insurance.

Kansas City was chosen, Lamoureaux told Keith Olbermann, because it has a "robust" free health clinic network, unlike other parts of the country; and, of course, it helps that we are in the middle of the country. Volunteers are always needed for free health clinics coming up, but in particular the big one coming up in Kansas City, so check out the freeclinics.us web site for more info.

For a related story on Dr. Oz, I spoke recently to Sheri Wood, who heads the Kansas City Free Clinic and is the president of the national association that Lamoureux serves. That story is appearing tomorrow in the Kansas City Star. Here's a quote from it. I asked Wood if holding these big free clinics at this time wasn't politically provocative:

“We are trying to stay out of the politics,” says Wood. “There are already clinics in those states. You can turn anything political that you want to. We’re not pushing the public option. The free health clinic movement believes that health care is truly a right, not a privilege, and the more people are insured, the less it will cost the system, because caring for the uninsured is expensive.”

Comments

[Fee]

Here's an idea...instead of giving those "less fortunate" a high-cost health insurance plan and expecting the responsible, working members of society to foot the bill, how about regulating the cost of the actual medical care and perscription drugs so that insurance companies aren't shelling out $2000 for an in-grown toenail? Then, insurance premiums would be cheaper and more affordable and there would be no excuse for not having coverage.
And by "less fortunate" I'm referring to those souls who have to have designer clothes, nice vehicles, meals outside of the home, cell phones for their kids, fancy consumer electronics, etc. on their $8/hr retail job where they act like THEY are the ones doing a favor for the CUSTOMER?
Finally, since I have a job that pays for my health insurance, I want an option that will allow me to decline the public option and use the allotted amount to provide me with home and auto insurance. I mean, those are required by law.

[Note: According to the "Dr. Oz" broadcast, 85 percent of the 1,784 people seen at the Houston free health clinic were working Americans. --AB]

[Steve Dzama]

The United States spends more than any nation on earth on weapons. According to a UN report, more than $390 Billion
in 2003. (and it has been increasing ANNUALLY)!
http://www.dawn.com/2004/08/22/int11.htm

However, Japan spent about $44 billion and China spent
$26 billion. In addition, the US sells weapons to other nations,somewhat offseting the expenditures. We spend HUGE amounts to kill and destroy, and enable others to so, too. If we could cut back on our deathwish spending by even 25%, we could provide FREE healthcare to everybody for life. Those who say it's unfair for the wealthy to subsidize it remain puzzlingly SILENT about the use of taxpayer money to bring death and destruction to the world. Hypocritical? You bet.

I am not anti-military, nor am I pro-military. Like a two-edged sword, it can be used for good or for evil. Like
many people I do not understand or appreciate what we were doing in Iraq and Afghanistan--what is our mission?
We were lied to by our leaders to get us into Iraq, and I suspect that is going on again. Recall that from history the
real purpose of the Vietnam war was to enrich the oil and
weapons and military suppliers--we never won it because we weren't supposed to. (In any war, as in any crime, follow the
money and see who benefits.) (In Vietnam the money made Bell Helicopter the richest benefactor.)

I submit to you that the most logical and humane thing is to provide FREE quality healthcare to everyone. But people probably are too greedy and selfish to ever let such a thing
happen. It proves we have lost our humanity and compassion,
and suggests a very bleak future. You reap what you sow.

[Mike LeMay]

Not too sure about that "robustness". I went to a free clinic here a few months ago for one of the most common health problems around, waited about six hours, and then had to settle for medications that did not help me because they are not allowed to prescribe the one medication that has a proven track record, both generally and with myself, to cure my condition. Moreover, it's the most-prescribed medication in America.

This like going to a car dealership and being told they can't do oil changes, but they can put molasses in there, and let's see how that works out :P