Have you read Team Obama's proposal for health care reform? If you haven't, I suggest you do so immediately. Right on Page 3 of the PDF is what prompted me to write this blog post:

Invest in Community Health Centers. Community health centers play a critical role in providing quality care in underserved areas. About 1,250 centers provide care to 20 million people, with an emphasis on preventive and primary care. The Senate bill increases funding to these centers for services by $7 billion and for construction by $1.5 billion over 5 years. The House bill provides $12 billion over the same 5 years. Bridging the difference, the President’s Proposal invests $11 billion in these centers.

Those who know me personally, know the history of chronic illnesses and allergies that afflict my family. And they know that for a good 5-6 years we had to do without health insurance. Had it not been for Dr. Robert Schiller and the staff at Institute for Family Health (Sydney Hillman Framily Practice), we would have been in deep financial shit.

Our family doctor is not only the head of Family Health at Beth Israel Hospital. He is also a renowned homeopath with a vast knowledge and respect for non-allopathic (aka alternative) medicines. Every single MD in the practice is known for attacking allergies, chronic illnesses, addictions, AIDS & STDs using a mixture of western and alternative medicines. Why? Because it ultimately reduces costs.

And the clinic itself has a mandate of not turning anybody away --they will take all forms of insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. If you have none, as it was our case, then they put you on a sliding scale.

From their mission statement:

The Institute's mission is to improve the quality and availability of family practice services in response to the needs of medically underserved populations. In support of this mission, the Institute:

• Develops and operates health facilities on a family practice model integrating the work of a broad range of health professionals;
• Trains health professionals and other health care workers in the family practice model of care;
• Engages in health services research related to primary health care delivery and primary care education;
• Formulates health policy in support of its direct patient care and educational goals;
• Promotes the diversity of its workforce and provides an environment that encourages personal and professional development for all.

In our rapidly evolving health care system, the Institute’s leadership will help to insure that future generations of needy New Yorkers have an opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.

These are the kinds of clinics my family had at our disposal when I lived in Puerto Rico. It shocks me that they are all but non-existent in a place like New York City.

So if pouring money into the maintenance and creation of more community clinics is a by-product of Obamacare, I'd rather they pass it sooner than later. Of course, am still not happy with the proposal: immigrants are still discriminated, the anti-abortion provisions are still in place and there's absolutely no mention of a public option.

Let's see what this health care summit brings.