Colorado Nurses for Access to Health Care for All (CNAHCA).

On January 15th CNAHCA partnered with DNA 16 in offering an evening program with two excellent speakers at Exempla St. Joseph's Hospital's Rainer Auditorium. Dr. Vince Markovchick, Director of Emergency Services at Denver Health, gave an overview of the current crisis in health care delivery in the U.S. Dr. Sara Jarrett followed with an update of where we stand in Colorado and how we, as health care professionals, can influence health care legislation both locally and nationally. There was a lively discussion. The issue of increasing access to health care has far reaching implications for all of us both personally and professionally. We were gratified as we read the evaluations from the approximately 150 nurses and student nurses in attendance. Comments like, "This gave me a new perspective and I plan to become more involved." The very positive feedback let us know we achieved our program goals. Kudos to DNA 16 Including Chris Schmidt, Mary Lambert, Mary Kershner, and Carlyce Fisher for organizing this exceptional event.

Our hope is to take what we have learned so far and offer to provide information to DNA's across the state. The Colorado Progressive Coalition (www.Progressivecoalition.org) has produced an 18 minute video based on the stories of four Colorado families struggling with securing health care. This, and other information, can be made available to you for District meetings or other programs. Please contact me for more information: Carol Farina at [e-mail].

Governor Ritter recently announced his first "Building Blocks to Health Care Reform." One important aspect of this package is the increase of Child Health Plan Plus and Medicaid by more than 55,000 Colorado children over the next three years. Our committee will continue to work with other community groups such as Health Care for All Colorado (HCAC) to study health care related bills coming before our Legislators. This is a critical period in our country and if you have any interest in these matters we welcome you to any of our meetings at 6PM on the first Tuesday of every month.

Respectfully submitted, Carol Farina, (Co-Chair with Judith Burke)