Legislators to host health care forum in Yuma

As the national debate over health care reform heats up, state legislators will meet with health care professionals and others in a private forum in Yuma Saturday.

State Sen. Amanda Aguirre, D-Yuma, and Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, will co-host the private event Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pivot Point Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Yuma. As of Monday, Aguirre said enough attendees had confirmed attendance to close the event, which is invitation only.

Sinema is one of 32 state legislators who sit on President Barack Obama's White House Health Reform Task Force.

She said as a member of the task force, one of her responsibilities is to listen to Arizonans' thoughts and communicate them back to Congress and the president.

Sinema said she'll do so in the form of a report that she'll prepare in September. The forum Saturday is the third of eight she will co-host around the state in an effort to meet with residents.

Sinema said this process is a historic event.

"We've never seen federal legislation move forward with this much public input," she said.

She called the president's request for public input "incredible."

"It's a big job, but also an amazing opportunity to help shape health reform," Sinema said.

Aguirre said members of the health care community including providers, representatives from the Yuma Regional Medical Center, nurses, members of the business community and others are expected to attend.

State Rep. Lynne Pancrazi, D-Yuma, who will help facilitate the event, said the panel will consist of members from the health care community with a question and answer session.

"It's our way of finding out what our constituents feel about these issues," Aguirre said. "You can call people one on one and talk about issues, but this gives people an opportunity to express concerns or ask questions that they don't understand."

It's a chance to help relay Yuma-specific health concerns to the president through Sinema and her report, Aguirre said.

"We have issues that I don't think have been addressed by any other group," she said. "I think in Yuma, we have a very unique situation."

Aguirre said there are a lot of uninsured children in Yuma as well as some families struggling to afford health care.

She said they'd also like to discuss the option of residents crossing the border to receive health care, which some local businesses already offer to their employees.

"We want them to be aware of our location close to the border and the safety net that we have in Mexico with our families going across the border because they can't afford (health insurance) or they don't have heath insurance," Aguirre said.