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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director, 608-256-0827, kaminski (at) lwvwi.org
              Melanie Ramey, President, 608-233-7166, melr217 (at) aol.com

29 June 2007

League Supports Senate Comprehensive Healthcare Reform

There can be no dispute that reform is needed to bring quality health care to every citizen of our nation. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is hopeful that our state can lead the country in developing policy reforms that will bring a new high standard of health care to Wisconsin residents.

We believe that no family should have to choose between medical and financial health when faced with injury or illness. While our state boasts some of the best health care practitioners and facilities in the world, Wisconsin still needs a plan for health care reform that puts basic health care well within the financial reach of every family.

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin endorses the Healthy Wisconsin comprehensive healthcare reform plan passed by the Senate this week because the plan:

• Guarantees full health care coverage to virtually every Wisconsin resident;
• Provides coverage for preventive education and care as well as early detection of illness, both of which can lead to cost savings for the state as well as a healthier population;
• Includes provisions to give patients choice in where and from whom to seek care;
• Addresses the need for access to mental health and dental health services;
• Provides government funding to ensure the above requirements are met.

“The state has a responsibility to its citizens to ensure that they receive quality health care at a reasonable cost. This plan will save more than $1 billion currently being lost in the administration of our inadequate healthcare system,” said Melanie Ramey, president of the Wisconsin League of Women Voters.

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