Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions

II. Participation in Health Care Community Discussions

A. Reasons for Signing Up and Participating

Over 9,000 Americans from every state and the District of Columbia signed up to host a Health Care Community Discussion in areas ranging from small country towns to major American cities (Map 1). Health Care Community Discussion leaders came from every walk of life – patients and their family members, religious leaders, first responders, doctors, nurses, and small business owners. Some people indicated in their sign-up submissions why they were interested in taking the time and energy to host a Health Care Community Discussion. Illustrative examples include:

• Don from Ohio explained, "We can present...an honest appraisal of the health care crisis from [the] 'boots on the ground.' Too often, academics and policy makers do not know how the system really functions. Similar to the military, it often helps to have the generals see the actual conditions on the battlefield to appreciate the difficulty the foot soldiers experience."

• Robert from Indiana highlighted, "Our neighbors include a broad and diverse cross-section of America. Within a few miles we have steel mills, inner cities, suburbs, and arms....We are theologically...and politically diverse....Our event will demonstrate...the level of understanding among Americans regarding the need for access [to health care] by all Americans, and ideas for achieving that goal."

• Elizabeth from South Carolina noted that her community could "show everyone that even the true middle class is really struggling with this issue."

• Carl from New Jersey wrote, "This would be a gathering of ordinary Americans, with an extraordinary passion for seeing their friends and neighbors (and possibly themselves, in some instances) have access to the high-quality health care that American ingenuity has developed, but which American political gridlock has so far prevented from being delivered to all those who need it."

• Donna from Illinois signed up to host "a holiday health care chat...with friends and neighbors." She explained, "We will bring together many members of the community to discuss solutions from their perspectives − not just the problems. We will invite patients, doctors, nurses, students, young and not-so-young people, business folks and friends. This will be a cross-section of our community offering ideas."