2600 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-235-9000 (Phone) 410-235-8963 (Fax)

Email: demarco@mdinitiative.org

October 4, 1999 Vincent DeMarco—Executive Director Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative

The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative Education Fund, Inc. today, launched a statewide campaign to get 2,000 organizations to sign a Declaration of Health Care Independence by December 31, 2000. The Declaration, which was unveiled at a press conference at the

Episcopal Diocesan Center in Baltimore, calls for comprehensive quality health care for all Marylanders. Today’s kick-off was attended by prominent community, religious, labor and medical organizations, representing thousands of Marylanders from across the state.

Maryland is the first State to launch a grassroots movement for universal health coverage since the failed Clinton Health Plan. This system, Health Care For All, would be administered by and financed through an independent agency governed by health professionals and consumers, and will guarantee the following for all Marylanders:

• Access to affordable, quality health care without regard to income, employment, or health status.
• Freedom to choose their doctors and other health professionals.
• A comprehensive, age-specific, quality health benefits package.
• Providers who practice according to professional standards, without undue interference from third party decision-makers.

"The people of Maryland demand affordable, quality health care for all," said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Baltimore City Health Commissioner and President of the Initiative. "They know that tinkering with the current system won’t accomplish this. By signing the Declaration of Health Care Independence, these grassroots organizations have committed themselves to making this goal a reality in our State. Because of this broad community support, we believe that universal health care will be one of the top issues in the 2002 state elections."

Among the original signers of the Declaration were Visions for Health, the Shepherd's Clinic, the Professional Staff Nurses Association of Maryland, the North Baltimore Mennonite Church, the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers, Maryland Public Interest Research Group (MaryPIRG), Maryland Public Health Association, Maryland Patient Advocacy Group, Local 1199E-DC of the Service Employees International Union, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Health Care for the Homeless, the Gray Panthers, the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, el Centro de la Communidad, the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council, the Center for Poverty Solutions, the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the Baltimore City Health Department.

Sign their resolution.