Today, 46.6 million Americans (15.9 percent of the population) do not have health insurance coverage. To put this into perspective 46.6 million is greater than the populations of the 24 smallest states combined. This number highlights a five year rise in the numbers of uninsured - from 41.2 million in 2001.
Public health care programs ensure that low-income families and the elderly have access to comprehensive medical treatment and care.
Consumer drug costs continue to rise largely due to an increase in prescriptions per patient, a shift toward more expensive drugs and price increases of individual drugs.
Organ donation is a matter of life and death for 70,000 Americans waiting to receive transplants. Sadly, there is a significant lack of organs available, making the policy regulating their allocation and the prioritization of those who are the most sick critical in maximizing the number saved.
Our tradition teaches us that human life is of infinite value and that the preservation of life supersedes almost all other considerations.
Press Releases relating to health care
More than 40 national faith organizations have come together to plan the largest faith-inspired mobilization to ever happen around health care reform. Thousands will gather for an Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer for Health Care for All on June 24th, 2009 in Washington DC, and echo events will be held across the country.
In emails, faxes, and phone calls, please contact the Administration and Congress, and urge them to pass health care reform this year.
