Article Contributed on: 8/10/2009 2:31:05 PM
By: Dr. Larry Wolk
Founder and Executive Director of The Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics
There is one subject that is taking center stage these days. In the news, online, everywhere you turn, people are talking about health care reform. And everyone has an opinion about it.
Is Obama's health care plan good or is it bad? That is the question of the day. I don't know the answer and I am not sure anyone does. But I do know what matters to me. In this debate about health care reform, the most important issue is the health of our children. Our children are our future and they must come first.
One way to judge the strength of a nation is how it cares for its children. This is a defining moment for us and our country. It is time to come together and take action - to speak out and to be heard. This is not about democrats and republicans, but about giving children a good start in life when it comes to their health care. This is our chance to do what is right and guarantee that all children in America - including the more than 150,000 uninsured children in Colorado - have access to the health care services they need and deserve.
I am taking action and I want to encourage you to do the same.
There are many things we can all do to make a difference and ensure the health of our children. As a pediatrician in Colorado for nearly 20 years, our team at The Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics (The RMYC) strives to make a difference everyday by providing health care services to Colorado children and adolescents, regardless of their insurance status or a family's ability to pay.
In partnership with the All Kids Covered initiative, The RMYC has also joined with more than 30 organizations to help make it easier for eligible children to enroll in public health insurance programs, improve the quality of services received and expand public programs to serve more children. In this time of budget cuts, now is not the time to reduce coverage for children.
While we are not alone in our mission, we also need your support and voice. Call your legislator today and let him or her know that now, more than ever, we need to get all Colorado children covered. Together we can make a difference and put the health of our children first.