Feedback, please. Flyer to support County Hospital Funding Bill.

Obviously the formatting's not going to come across here but you'll get the idea. The fact that all of these counties SHOULD be helping to pay for this health care for the uninsured, and they are NOT, is pissing me off. So I made this flyer and I'm going to blast it all over the world -- just as soon as you guys let me know what you think!

Thanks,
C
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ARE YOU A DALLAS COUNTY TAXPAYER?
READ THIS!

As you probably know, Parkland hospital could use some financial help.

- Did you also know that Parkland is the only hospital that treats the uninsured and indigent in a seven county area in North Texas?
- Did you know that, by state law, all counties are required to set aside 8% of their budget to spend on health care for the uninsured, but they are not required to spend it?
- Did you know that in order to qualify for help with health care bills in Collin county, the uninsured have to make less than $2,328 a year?

For example: In 2003, Parkland treated 237 Collin County in-patients (for which it received payment for 1) and had 4,575 outpatient visits from Collin residents, leaving Parkland with a $6 million unpaid bill for the care provided to Collin's indigent population. (source: Health Law Prof, 2/9)

- Dallas residents' county tax bill is about double that of Collin County! (source: Health Law Prof, 2/9)
- 40% of Parkland's budget comes from local taxes ¡V YOUR taxes. (source DMN, 2/23/05).

Are you mad yet? YOU SHOULD BE!

Now, here's what to do:

State Senator Royce West has sponsored a bill which would require all counties to spend that 8%. This would mean that the counties would have to either reimburse Parkland or take care of their own residents.

Call your State Senators and State Representatives and tell them you want them to support Senate Bill 230 / House Bill 930. If you don't know who they are, you can look them up here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm

Also call the members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c610/c610.htm
You can also call the members of the House Public Health Committee:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/410.htm

SUPPORT PARKLAND.
COUNTIES WHO USE PARKLAND SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE!

Edited to clean up formatting