Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today announced that he will serve as an honorary host fora Congressional briefingSept. 23 on the importance of strengthening Medicare and maintaining health care for retirees, especially in the current economic downturn. The hearing will bring several health economists and policy experts to discuss the consequences of reducing or eliminating Medicare coverage, and to suggest policy options for improving the program.

“Lawmakers, just as much as anyone else in this country, need to understand the facts about how health care is provided and paid for,” Grijalva said. “There are more than 50 million uninsured Americans. 45,000 people die in this country every year due to lack of health insurance. 62 percent of personal bankruptcies are linked to medical debt. Medicare and other public health programs serve a vital function, and improving them will have both economic and health benefits for the entire country.”

When

Thursday, Sept. 23

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where

Longworth House Office Building, Room 1334

Washington, D.C.

Who

Tsung-Mei Cheng, Princeton University – Health economist and expert on comparative health systems

Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., Physicians for a National Health Program – Nationally recognized authority on health disparities, minority health, health services research, health policy, access to care and national health insurance, PNHP board member

Michele Evermore, National Nurses United – Legislative advocate

The Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva (Honorary Host), Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair

The Hon. Lynn Woolsey (Honorary Host), Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair

The briefing is sponsored by Physicians for a National Health Program, National Nurses United, Healthcare-Now, Progressive Democrats of America, All Unions Committee for Single Payer, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, RESULTS, Prosperity Agenda, Code Pink, Gray Panthers, Social Security Works and Economic Experts of Color.