Health Care: Telling the Stories, Day 4

In today's story from the Storytelling Project, volunteer Lucy Ogbu tells of her desire to become a doctor so that she can help others. Lucy, a native of Nigeria, shares:  "I believe that medicine is a way for me to impact people's lives. . . . As long as I'm standing, I'm going to fight for the chance. . . . I know how much there's a need for health care in impoverished communities. . . . The cause is bigger than me."  Click here for Lucy's story.

Health Care: Telling the Stories, Day 3

Today's video from the Storytelling Project of The Waiting Room tells the story of William Morgan, a father of three young boys, who waits for his wife to get the insulin she needs.  Click here to view the video.

Health Care: Telling the Stories, Day 2

As our video storytelling continues, we hear the story of a 7-year-old girl, Nia Walker, who is being treated for asthma at Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA.  Click here for Nia's story. A statistic from the video:  Did you know that African Americans visit the ER for asthma-related symptoms at a rate nearly five times higher than Caucasians?

Health Care: Telling the Stories

The Waiting Room is a documentary by Pete Nicks that tells the story of caregivers and patients at Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA -- a hospital that serves a large population of uninsured patients. The Waiting Room attempts to tell stories of "common humanity instead of politics."  As the debates on health care reform become increasingly divisive, we are reminded that health care is first of all about people and relationships among them.  This week, we will focus on some of the videos from the film's Storytelling Project.  After hearing these stories, let's pledge to remember that everything we say about "health care" is about human beings who are in need of health care.

Today's video, "The Caregiver," comes from the Storytelling Project of The Waiting Room.  Click here to view the video.

Political Activity Guidelines

The USCCB Office of General Counsel reminds organizations that are tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) of what is permitted and what is prohibited on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate, as a condition of maintaining federal tax exemption.  Click here for more information.  Although it cannot anticipate every possible situation, this advice is very comprehensive, including such things as the prohibition against bumper stickers for particular candidates on cars owned by tax exempt organizations.

ATEST Webinar on Supply Chains

The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) held a 30-minute webinar on Tuesday, July 17 entitled, "Slavery in Supply Chains: The Role Businesses and Consumers can Play in Ending Human Trafficking.  Click here to view a replay of the webinar and to get more information about the work of ATEST.

"Opting Out" of Medicaid Expansion

Thanks to Sister Mary Joan for bringing this article -- "Lines are Drawn Over Opting out of Medicaid Plan" --  from the NY Times to our attention.  However we feel about the Accountable Care Act and whatever its moral drawbacks, we must continue to remind ourselves that there are human beings in the United States who are unable, for many reasons, to obtain the health care they need.  As you know, the ethical standards of behavior that guide Catholic health care are driven by the dignity of the human person.  As we engage in dialogue over this Act, let us rememberboth the dignity of the humans who need health care and the dignity of the persons with whom we debate.