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Health Care Battle Spills into Streets
Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2009 ; 05:39 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Tuesday, October 6, 2009; 07:12 PM


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March highlights need for reform

Story by Sarah Lieu
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Sarah Lieu

CHARLESTON -- Health care reform efforts spilled into the streets of Charleston as the debate heats up on Capitol Hill.

A group marched for several blocks to illustrate the plight of people who don't have health insurance.

"I was in a car accident about a year ago. I mean, I have three skull fractures, broke my back and my jaws." says Crystal Tawney of Roane County.

And it put the mother of three in debt. She racked up about $10,000 in medical bills that she is paying out of her own pocket.

And nurses who are on the front lines say reform is desperately needed.

"I see every day tests that are requested by nurse practitioners and physicians and care not covered by health care for one reason or another." says Beth Baldwin, President of the West Virginia Nurses Association.

The group ended its march across from CAMC -- pulling out crime scene tape and drawing chalk outlines.

"This mock crime scene is made to represent that every day in this nation the big insurance companies comes between the doctor and the patient." says Gary Zuckett with West Virgnia Citizen Action Group.

During the demonstration, one woman confronted the group saying she has state insurance and has no problem getting care at CAMC.

"Quality of care? We got treated just like everybody else in there!" says the woman. "We're not saying this place doesn't provide. We know they're providing quality care." responded someone from the group.

"It's about health care reform -- trying to make sure all the people out here get the same coverage and treatment that you get!" says another in the group.

The confrontation lasted for only a few minutes, but illustrates the confusion surrounding who pays for your health care needs.

Before the march, the group applauded West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller for carrying the torch for health care reform following the death of Senator Ted Kennedy.

Five bills are being considered in both the House and Senate.

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