Thousands get free medical care at event (Texas)

[Joanne98]

Source: ABC

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's an epidemic here in Texas and Harris County -- people without health insurance. On Saturday, the uninsured lined up to get their needs met.

More than 2,000 people came to Reliant Center to see doctors for free. Many of the people we talked to can't afford health insurance, especially in the rough economy. Some say it shows the need for health care reform.

Doctors, nurses and volunteers arrived at around 7am to see patients in what is believed to be the largest free clinic ever held in the United States. The National Association of Free Clinics said it decided to hold this event in Houston because this is where it felt the need is the greatest.

"My foot was turned upside down," said patient Lillian Beverly.

Beverly has had trouble walking since she took a bad fall three months ago.
"I really don't have the money to keep going to doctors and doctors," she said.

Kevin Braggs is worried about his diabetes.
"I've been without insurance for six months," said Braggs.

And Vicki Robinson wants to keep her son's asthma under control, but she says it's difficult.
"My husband's lost his job. We've gone through our savings," said Robinson.
And nine-year-old Kempton knows it.
"We can't afford medicine," he said.

One out of every three adults in Harris County is now uninsured and Texas ranks the worst among the 50 states in healthcare coverage, according to the U.S. Census. The National Association of Free Clinics decided it was time to hold a massive free clinic at Houston's Reliant Center

"A huge number of volunteers and there was a huge number of patients," said Nicole Lamoureux with the National Association of Free Clinics.

It was record-breaking event with an estimated 2,000 patients registered and 200 doctors, like pediatrician Jason Sanders, seeing them.


Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7034143

[Aragorn]

1. where is TMB? where is TMA?

It is more than a failure to address this. It is an active stance against doctors who help the poor. Texas Medical Board has taken no position or stance to address this problem but does seem to selectively help maintain the status quo in Texas.

http://www.aapsonline.org/txaction.php

This otherwise right-wing group has tried to address this issue. Now it may be that even membership in this group is enough to be a problem. In the eyes of TMB.

Keep in mind that treating people for a lot less money rocks the boat. Do not doubt that income is the driving factor for a whole lot of "medical" providers - doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc.

Ask someone on Medicaid in Texas how hard or easy it is to get in to a doctor. Ask someone with no insurance how hard or easy it is.

The following is not a comment on thew group cited in this post, although it may apply. How many doctors in Texas do charity work on any kind of regular basis? I do not count clinics which pay the doctors full salaries and exclude certain parts of the population from treatment. There are some, and that is not charity. That is a tax status. There is a difference.

Once a year visits may be better than nothing but are not good care for most people. The biggest burden falls on people with chronic illness who need ongoing follow-up.

True, a one-time ER visit is expensive but when it involves a chronic illness that's only the beginning.

This is not just a rant because the solution is simple. Single-payer healthcare. It would solve a whole of of other problems too.

[Bigmack]

2. I wonder if any of them were teabaggers....nt

[JamesDean]

18. Right of Passage

Didn't the tea-partys lead to the forming of our country? An expression of having the right to have a say in what impacts us directly?

Recently, I attended a community meeting here in Texas with many of my democratic friends. We had questions about health care and we all work for a living. Our concern is how much (no one knows for sure) will our taxes increase due to insuring the uninsured. We know in our community, school tax has increased a thousand percent due to the increase in class size. Most of the increase is from non-citizens, or dependents of non-citizens.
I don't understand the hatred here for democrats who just want to know the reality of our situation. After all, we will have to foot the bill. Sorry, I make a lot of money. BUT, that doesn't mean I took on everyone to raise.

If someone is a tea-bagger, does that mean they have their gonads in your face?
Maybe more respect from both sides is in order. Afterall, not everyone at the meetings are republicans.

[tabasco]

22. Ignorant and/or stupid is no way to go through life.

The information you seek is readily available on the internet, from reliable sources. But you prefer to get your info from pill-poppers and corporate stooges and then come trolling on the internet.

Please stop comparing idiot dittoheads to the people who started this country. It makes me puke to think there are people this stupid in this country.

Also, please attempt to master fourth-grade spelling, Mr. Lot Of Money.

[glowing]

23. What would you rather spend tax money on: Healthcare or Military Ind. Complex?

What are we fighting to protect if people are dying in the streets at home? fuck the teaparties.. they ought to be insisting on healthcare. AND they ought to insist that the top 1%, which comprises of over half of this countries wealth start footing the bill.. screw their tax cuts Bush gave them.

[raccoon]

28. Do you have insurance through your employer? If you do, enjoy it while you can.

A great many people don't. I don't. And I work for a living, by the way.

Individual insurance can refuse to insure you for pre-existing conditions or else cover you and refuse to ever pay anything for your pre-existing conditions.

I resent that I have to foot the bill for other people's Medicare, but I'm not covered by Medicare.

[Dappleganger]

29. LIVE ONE

enjoy the pizza!

[TalkingDog]

3. Why isn't somebody doing this on the Mall? Or on the Capital Steps?

Even if it was censored from TV it would still get the politicos attention.

[xxqqqzme]

10. I was wondering the same thing.

The 'Mad As Hell Doctors' Care-a-van will be in DC on Wednesday. Wonder of they plan anything like this?

[Zoeisright]

4. America: the newest third world country.

What an absolute sin.

[martymar64]

5. Texas is now officially a Third World Country

[JamesDean]

19. Maybe

Texas is the only state that was first a country. However, demographics being what they are... I'd say California is leading the way to 3rd World status.

[jwirr]

6. Georgie's legacy from governor on. Way to go Georgie!

:sarcasm:

[Seldona]

7. "My foot was turned upside down," said patient Lillian Beverly.

Republicans are assholes.

[Selatius]

8. I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again: The US is just a glorified banana republic. nt

[bluesmail]

9. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? e o m .

[BREMPRO]

11. Quick! Sweep this under the rug so no one sees it!

this is embarrasing. Why don't all these poor people understand we have the best health care system in the world and they are making us look bad.

:sarcasm:

[rentman]

12. KMom

KMOM in Kansas routinely sees that many or more in a day. It's a free dental clinic. My wife has volunteered for it several times, along with the staff at the Dentist's office she works in. The one held at the Kansas Raceway a couple of years ago practically filled the infield. http://www.ksdentalfoundation.org

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tXr]

14. That was an unkind and unnecessary comment.

[Grassy Knoll]

16. I resemble that remark !

[Rozlee]

15. I'm starting my own secession movement in Texas

I'm voting we secede to Canada where we can at least get good health care. Thanks, W., Rick Perry, and our Republican State Senate. By rearranging and reallocating federal funds to your cronies and pet projects, you've turned Texas into the northern tip of Mexico. Oh, wait. Mexico, provides her people with public healthcare.

[JamesDean]

17. Don't know but from head.

I wish you had the chance to taste Mexican health care. You wouldn't be so snug.

[Rozlee]

20. No, I just know that some guy insulted me by asking me if I wanted bigger boobs

Whenever my friends and I would go across the border, guys would swoop down on us, and they'd insult my overweight friend by telling her that they could get her liposuction with "the best doctor in Mexico". They'd tell our gay friend they could get him a laetrile clinic, don't ask me how they knew he was HIV or even gay. He was healthy looking enough and everyone's gaydar failed with him. And they looked at my chest critically and told me I needed a double D cup! The nerve! But, a lot of women go to Mexico for cosmetic surgery. I agree with you, though. I think I'll pass on the medical tourism for now.

[Javaman]

24. Snug?

have you tried the health care in Mexico? I have, it works just fine.

[LanternWaste]

25. I did when I lived there. Good stuff, inexpensive, professional, follow-ups.

I did when I lived there. Good stuff, inexpensive, professional, follow-ups.

'Snug' as a bug in a rug...

[fascisthunter]

27. It's "smug"... and I have heard pretty good things

about their healthcare. For instance, no one gets denied healthcare.

[grahamhgreen]

21. NO PAY OR PUNISH CRAPSURANCE. No baucus. Medicare for all please dear God in Heaven.

[fascisthunter]

26. this represents America very well