2024 Advent Guide: Hope is Near

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

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Churches’ Goals

On Wednesday, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of passing the Affordable Health Care Act. While this legislation is not perfect, it is a crucial step toward improving our current health care system. The N.C. Council of Churches and most mainline denominations have long advocated universal health coverage, where each person receives health, wholeness and human dignity. The health reform act improves many current disparities and when fully implemented will provide 30 million additional people with health care.

Some recent articles have noted problems with our current system:

Two March 5 articles: one on a cancer patient dealing with disagreements between providers and insurers, and one on bills before our General Assembly to provide a health benefits exchange that is consumer-oriented and excludes voting members with conflicts of interests.

Articles on March 13 and 14 showing the need for clinics to address medical needs of those without insurance, and the March 13 Point of View article “Doctors and differences” pointing to expanding insurance coverage to reduce cultural disparities.

May those of us in faith communities use this anniversary as incentive to work for health care for all God’s children and to improve the health care act and implement it fairly.

Sandy Irving

N.C. Council of Churches Volunteer for Health Care Reform

Raleigh

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/03/18/1061247/churches-goals.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1HEokkGOO

About Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Aleta Payne first joined the Council staff in the spring of 2001 as the Communications Associate. She continues to oversee that work along with development, represents the Council in several partnership efforts, and serves in other administrative roles, as well. Aleta is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in government and foreign affairs and spent much of her early career as a journalist. She has three young adult sons who continue to come home to Cary for dinner, or at least groceries, and two young adult terrier-mix dogs who keep the nest from feeling too empty.