As Orange County becomes first Florida county to utilize pandemic relief funds to cancel medical debt, community leaders rally to tackle rising costs of healthcare.
ORLANDO, FL – With Orange County taking decisive action to utilize pandemic relief funds for alleviating the burden of medical debt, a pivotal moment emerges for Florida’s healthcare landscape. This Thursday, April 4th, Orange County community leaders kick off the ‘Florida Decides Healthcare’ campaign, signaling a collective push for medicaid expansion. This campaign, born from the pressing need to bridge the Medicaid coverage gap, seeks to address the mounting challenges faced by working-class Floridians in accessing essential healthcare services. Against the backdrop of escalating medical costs and reduced state funding, this initiative underscores the critical role of grassroots advocacy in shaping meaningful policy.
WHAT: “Florida Decides Healthcare” press conference kicking off campaign to close the medicaid coverage gap.
WHEN/WHERE: Thursday, April 4th, 2024 at 4:00pm at the State Regional Service Center at 400 West Robinson Street.
WHO: Orange County elected officials and community leaders:
- Speakers include Senator Victor Torres, Rep. Anna Eskamani, Michael Brian from the office of Senator Geraldine Thompson, along with stories from impacted community leaders and representatives from Florida Voices for Health and Central Florida Jobs with Justice.
At the heart of Thursday’s press conference are the voices of Orange County residents, shedding light on the hurdles they face in accessing and paying for healthcare. Leaders will recount their efforts to influence the County Commission in approving the $4.5 million allocation to cancel medical debt, and legislators such as Sen. Victor Torres and Rep. Anna Eskamani will highlight the healthcare-forward legislation our state truly needs. In closing the event, Central Florida Jobs with Justice plans to underscore the interconnectedness of key issues—medical debt relief, closing the coverage gap, and legislative advocacy—emphasizing the importance of collective action in shaping Florida’s healthcare future. United through shared purpose, these speakers galvanize support for the Florida Decides Healthcare campaign, advocating for a state safety net where no Floridian is left behind.
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Central Florida Jobs with Justice believes that all workers should have collective bargaining rights, employment security, and a decent standard of living within an economy that works for everyone. To fight for justice, we form long-term relationships and formal partnerships between labor unions, people of faith, community organizations, and student activists based on shared values. For more information, please visit cfjwj.org.