First Quarterly Health Care Reform Consumer Forum Event and Community Health Fair

Baltimore HealthCare Access Hosts First Quarterly Health Care Reform Consumer Forum Event and Community Health Fair

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Congressman C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young, City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, M.D. kick off first event to "Get the Facts" on health care reform to Baltimore consumers!

WHO: Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, and other local/state dignitaries

WHAT: Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young, City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, M.D. will join Baltimore Healthcare Access along with other local and state officials to launch the first in a series of events to provide the facts to Baltimore residents about health care reform. The first event, Baltimore Health Care Now and Later, will feature experts discussing health care reform in four consumer oriented forums including information sessions for seniors, small business owners, the uninsured, and underinsured. City residents will have the opportunity to find out about changes that have already taken place and get a glimpse of what to expect in the future.

Baltimore City has over 96,000 uninsured residents many of whom will qualify for new health coverage programs once health care reform is fully implemented. Some city residents already qualify for coverage through existing state programs and Baltimore HealthCare Access will offer on-site health coverage enrollment at the event. The first event, in a series of quarterly forums, will also feature a community health fair where city residents can get help now with their health care questions and see if they might qualify for existing health coverage options. There will be 40+ health vendors, free health screenings including diabetes and blood pressure, free flu shots, depression screenings, on-site health coverage enrollment, and more! Among the vendors will be the Law of Office of Fred S. London, P. C., a major event sponsor, who specializes in Medicaid eligibility, Social Security Disability, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and other health related matters.

WHEN: Saturday, January 15, 2011

1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Harry and Jeanette Weinberg YMCA at 33rd Street

900 East 33rd Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21218

NUMBER THE PUBLIC CAN CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION: 410-649-0500 or www.bhca.org

MORE EVENT DETAILS: Press conference with the Mayor & other local & state representatives begins at 1:00pm. Baltimore HealthCare Access will provide health coverage eligibility & enrollment assistance on site; Baltimore Broncos players & cheerleaders; Kaiser Permanente’s Professor Bodywise's Traveling Menagerie; Healthy kid's activities; Free transportation from select sites for seniors; Wear your purple & watch the Ravens game on a big screen TV too!