Health care forum set for Jan. 14

Topics will include health insurance reform news, county by county data on the uninsured, and discussion about the public option, prescription drugs, cost containment and other reform issues.

According to the United States Census Bureau, an estimated 164,182 uninsured people under the age of 65 reside in Georgia's 7th Congressional district.

"The current legislation in Congress gives people who live in Barrow County - and the residents throughout the region - a chance to join the push for adequate health coverage," said Dwight Acey, spokesperson for the Barrow County Citizens Group which is sponsoring the forum.

According to additional data put forth by the census department, Barrow County has from 11,504 to 13,824 uninsured people, including 1,759 to 3,125 youth and children under the age of nineteen.

An estimated 18 percent of the Barrow County population under 65 years of age and 15 percent of youth and children under 19 did not have any sort of health insurance, according to the Small Area Health Insurance Estimate (SAHIE).

"Our county is desperately in need of affordable and available health care for its poorest residents," said Acey. "Health care should be a right and not a privilege limited to those of means."

Moderator of event is Russell Edwards, a University of Georgia-Athens (UGA) law student and Pull the Plug PAC political organizer.

The forum panel includes Teresa Duncan of Athens, GA, health insurance billing specialist; Dr. Fazal Khan, J.D., M.D., of Athens, GA, health policy analyst and professor at UGA law school; Dr. Neal Priest, M.D., Athens, GA, emergency room physician and others.