Advocacy in Action

CommunityHealth Representatives Serve as A Voice for the Uninsured

On May 23, 2007, Executive Director Judith Haasis, Dr. Arnold Widen, president, and Dr. Babs Waldman, medical director, delivered testimony before a subcommittee hearing of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, who met to vote on a resolution that would require that the IRIS referral system be reinstated to community partners. The Cook County IRIS program, which is the mechanism through which patients are referred for specialty services, was suspended to community partners on April 16.

As of June 14, the IRIS program has been reinstated for a period of three months, after which a permanent decision will be made about its future.   

Read Judith Haasis’ testimony to the Cook County Commissioners here.

CommunityHealth Testifies Before State Task Force
Throughout 2005 and 2006, a number of CommunityHealth representatives testified before the Adequate Health Care Task Force. Created by the 2004 Health Care Justice Act, which established access to affordable, quality health care as a state priority, this 29-member task force held public hearings on the status of health care across the state and will present health-reform recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly this October.

Throughout 2005 and 2006, a number of CommunityHealth representatives testified before the Adequate Health Care Task Force. Created by the 2004 Health Care Justice Act, which established access to affordable, quality health care as a state priority, this 29-member task force held public hearings on the status of health care across the state and will present health-reform recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly this October. Board President Arnie Widen, M.D., Medical Director Babs Waldman, M.D., and staff members Judith Haasis and Laura Michalski testified at hearings in Chicago and Springfield. Read Judith Haasis’ testimony on the role of free clinics in Illinois’ health care system.

Learn more about the Health Care Justic Act.