Portland, OR -- Today, OSPIRG and a group of consumers, health providers and small businesses enlisted the help of a well known health care consumer to bring the health care debate back to the real issues.
Health Care Harry, an eight-foot tall interactive character based on the Operation game’s “Cavity Sam” stood at Waterfront Park as health advocates called for reform. Harry was subject to a number of serious “operations” as Portlanders used giant tweezers to discover what was ailing him – and our whole health care system.
The character was created by OSPIRG to show what’s behind rising health care costs.
“Americans know costs are out of control,” said Laura Etherton, OSPIRG's health policy advocate, "But what’s causing these skyrocketing premiums? Health Care Harry points the way.”
Health Care Harry has a red nose that lights up, and a whole host of maladies, ready for removal:
* Red tape is choking Harry, just like it ties down doctors and forces some to spend as much as 45 minutes on paperwork for every hour with a patient.
* Insurers might pull the rug out from under Harry: if he gets sick, they might decide to drop him to protect their profits.
* Drug companies pull the wool over his eyes, trying to keep doctors from doing research about whether the high-priced pills are really the best treatment.
* An ambulance stands ready to take him to the hospital for another expensive emergency -- but not to get him the preventive care that can keep him well.
* Last but not least, he has an empty wallet from paying for all of the above.
“Health Care Harry may look like a toy, but rising health care costs are no game,” said Etherton, “Without reform, these problems will cause our premiums to double by 2016. We’re urging Oregon's Congressional delegation to come to Harry’s rescue, and do everything they can to win reform this year.”
