High Desert Health Care for All Town Hall on SB 562 Planned July 20 in Apple Valley

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The California Nurses Association issued the following news release:

The campaign for the Healthy California Act is inviting area residents to a community town hall meeting in Apple Valley to learn about SB 562, a bill introduced in the California Senate in February that would guarantee health care to all Californians by establishing a Medicare-for-all type system.

"Far too many residents in this region are uninsured or underinsured. Far too many lack dental care and the GOP are determined to undermine even further the healthcare crisis," said Resa Barillas, Chair of the High Desert Young Democrats. "We are excited to host this informative town hall about the positive impact single-payer care can have on the High Desert, the future of SB 562, and what we as a community can do to protect and improve our region's health care and move California forward," said Barillas who is an Assembly District Delegate to the California Democratic Party.

The forum is hosted by the High Desert Young Democrats and will feature presentations by Sen. Ricardo Lara, SB 562 co-author, Ipyani Lockert, organizer for California Partnership, Mari Lopez, organizer for the Healthy California campaign. The forum is co-sponsored by Dr. Rita Ramirez, Ron Cohen, Scott Markovich, Tri-Communities Democratic Club, Mountain Bears Democrats, Adelanto-Victorville Democratic Club, and Victor Valley Democratic Club.

What: Town Hall Meeting on SB 562, the Healthy California Act

When: Thursday, July 20th 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Where: Apple Valley Inn, 20601 CA-18, Apple Valley

"This town hall is very timely considering the still looming threat of the ACA being repealed as well as the access and affordability issues that persist pertaining to the ACA," said Ipyani Lockert, an organizer for California Partnership and a presenter at the town hall. "SB 562 will provide quality healthcare to all Californians regardless of one's immigration status and remove the deductibles, premiums, and copays that act as barriers for many. I look forward to discussing how we here in California can lead our nation in the right direction upon this path of universal healthcare for all."

The Healthy California Act, SB 562 passed the full Senate last month and was set for consideration in the Assembly in late June when Speaker Anthony Rendon abruptly refused to let it out of the Rules Committee. Since then supporters have redoubled their efforts organizing support for the bill on the grassroots level, conducting door-to-door canvassing in various Assembly districts, including the 63rd, which Rendon is supposed to represent, and holding several lively protests at the state capitol building in Sacramento.

The California Nurses Association sponsored a recent study by expert economists at University of Massachusetts Amherst on how to pay for SB 562--revealing that enacting the bill would save Californians $37 billion off our current cost for healthcare.