CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell is scheduled to be the keynote speaker Friday night during the West Virginians for Affordable Health Care’s 10-year anniversary fundraiser at the University of Charleston.
“(She’ll be) talking about how West Virginians and the West Virginia health care community is so effective and strong because we work in partnership,” said WVAHC Executive Director Terri Giles. “She knows the work that we’ve done on Medicaid expansion as well as, from day one, being supportive of the ACA (Affordable Care Act).”
According to a news release, WVAHC was founded by a group of individuals concerned about the rising cost of health care and health insurance. The group seeks input from citizens about the issue and works to ensure that consumers get quality care at an affordable price.
“Even President Obama said the other day when he was here the Affordable Care Act allows you to go to rehab, but how can you go to rehab if we don’t have any? If we don’t have any beds to put people in rehab?” asked Giles. “There’s so many gaps, that even in the affordable health care, it’s not a done deal.”
Giles said she’s known Sec. Burwell for quite some time since they are both West Virginia natives, specifically from Hinton.
“We both want to do things — public service is in our blood — and who better to serve than the people that you love of your state who you understand?” she said.
Over the years and with the passage of the ACA, Giles said they have also enrolled record numbers of West Virginians in health insurance plans. She said their success stems from a general passion to serve the public.
“We actually listen to people — What’s going on? How is this working for you? How is this not working for you? What would you do if you were in a position? We use our ability to be at the table and ask consumers what’s working for you,” she said. “And I don’t want to say consumers. We ask West Virginians.”
The event is open to the public and will take place at 6 p.m. in the University of Charleston’s ballroom. Tickets are available at the WVAHC website.