Puerto Ricans Demand Healthcare At Orlando Meeting
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ORLANDO (CBSMiami) -- It was a historic gathering Wednesday for members of the Puerto Rican diaspora community, grassroots activists, nonprofit leaders, elected officials and members of both political parties.
The groups met to discuss their demands for government intervention into Puerto Rico's health care crisis affecting the more than 3 million U.S. citizens living on the island.
Despite Puerto Ricans paying the same in healthcare and Social Security taxes as the mainland states do, they receive 70 percent less in Medicaid reimbursement and 40 percent less in Medicare. The decline in funding has set off a wave of doctors leaving the island for more lucrative jobs, and could soon lead to higher co-pays for medication and hospitalization for an already struggling population.
"The Puerto Rican community in the States is putting Washington on notice. It is time to act now to bring healthcare justice for 3.5 million Americans living in Puerto Rico," said Dennis Rivera, president of the Puerto Rican Healthcare Crisis Coalition. "Hardworking Puerto Rican families depend on federal healthcare programs. If no action is taken, Puerto Rico's healthcare system will collapse, endangering the health of 3.5 million American citizens," Rivera continued.
The two-day meeting was held at El Encuentro Nacional de la Diáspora Puertorriqueña in Orlando, home to about a million Puerto Ricans. It ended with a commitment from diaspora leaders to march on Washington, D.C. hoping to push the U.S. government into action. The march, Unidos Por La Salud, will join together local religious leaders, students and faculty from top universities, and members of the PRHCC.
"Today the representation of Puerto Rican activists and local Florida leaders highlights the union of all Boricuas under a hugely consequential issue – saving the Island's healthcare system. As this commitment advances, some of the leaders present here today will join the PRHCC in a march in Puerto Rico on Nov. 5th, Unidos Por La Salud, to send one clear and united message to Washington to act now," said Rivera.