JULY 2009

A FAITH-INSPIRED VISION OF HEALTH CARE—ACCESSIBLE

“As people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity. That vision embraces a system of health care that is inclusive…ACCESSIBLE…affordable…and accountable.”

From “A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care,” developed by the members of Faithful Reform in Health Care, a coalition of faith communities and individuals working for compassionate, comprehensive and sustainable health care reform in the U.S.

Last month, we discussed what it means to be inclusive. This month, we turn to the second of the principles embodied in “A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care”—health care accessibility. True accessibility, according to the vision statement, means that “All persons should have access to health services that provide necessary care and contribute to wellness.”

Inaccessibility to health care occurs for a number of reasons. Millions of Americans have no coverage through their employers, and cannot afford to purchase coverage as individuals and families. Many live in areas that are underserved—rural regions and inner-cities. Others are denied coverage because of preexisting conditions that range from diabetes to heart disease.

The Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ Principles for Public Advocacy notes that scripture describes a good society as one where justice is available for all. Justice for all means fair treatment for all. Therefore, as people of faith we are called to act with justice and love, to ensure that all of us have access to the health care we need in order to live out the fullness of our potential both as individuals and as contributing members of our society. Access to basic rights and services should not be limited because of situational factors such as economic disadvantage, distance, or demographic characteristics.

We believe humanity is sacred and that all persons should benefit from those actions which contribute to our health and wholeness.  Failure to provide reasonable accessibility to health care for any reason belies this belief. As people of faith, we must work together to identify and overcome all barriers to and disparities in health care.

In the next two months, future articles will address the remaining two components of a “faith-inspired vision” of health care—affordability and accountability. There is, however, no time to lose. As people of faith, we must share our vision of accessibility in our health care system with our representatives in Congress. You can begin by contacting our senators–Arlen Specter and Robert Casey–to express your vision of an accessible health care system and to share your own experiences. To endorse the faith vision described above and to find an outline for letters to both senators, go to the “Take Action” link at www.pachurchesadvocacy.org and click on the appropriate links.