The League of Women Voters of Clallam County announces that the public can now view any or all of a series of four Health Care Reform forums that were presented in 2012.

The series was designed to inform the community of growing and unsustainable health care costs that were resulting in more businesses sharing greater costs with employees and more people unable to afford needed medical care.

The first forum presented the data behind growing health care costs and inaccessibility from national and local perspectives.

The second forum and most popular in terms of attendance presented a debate around the ethical and moral question, “Is health care a privilege to be earned or a right regardless of individual responsibility?”

Forum three addressed the debate over a market approach versus a public policy/government approach to the provision of health care. The series concluded with a discussion of strategies for reducing cost and improving access including what communities and individuals can do.

“Our intention then was to inform the community about the imperative to reform our national health care system,” said Bertha Cooper, lead organizer of the forums.

“Our intention now is to continue the dialogue because, despite the Affordable Care Act opening access to some people and reducing some costs, there are pressing needs for ongoing reform especially in the areas of cost reduction, reimbursement and quality of care.”

Cooper added, “Viewing the forums will provide important background to understanding the current difficulties in providing access to quality health care in our community and nation.”

The Access to Health Care Committee of the League is offering to facilitate community discussion groups around these series or health care reform.

Interested groups may contact Bertha Cooper at bdcooper@olypen.com for details. The videos can be viewed on the LWVCLA website at www.lwvcla.org/forums–events.html.