CAMDEN, N.J. -
Local health care activists are cheering the Supreme court's 5-4 ruling upholding the major elements of President Obama's health care legislation.
"Reform is here! Reform is here!" was the chant from about a dozen men and women on a Camden street corner Thursday morning.
"We strongly urge each state in the nation to now move ahead with establishing health care exchanges," said Rev. Heyward Wiggins of Camden Churches Organized for People, "where people and businesses can comparison shop for health care plans and find out which tax credit they can use to help pay for a plan of their choice."
Dr. Jeff Brenner, the director of the Institute of Urban Health at Cooper Hospital, added, "Today is a victory for 15,000 Camden residents and 50 million people all over the country who don't have healthcare coverage."
At the CAMCare facility a few blocks away, they offer primary care for nearly 20,000 patients each year- nearly 30% of whom are uninsured.
Their bills are picked up by state and federal taxpayers.
Still, the idea of forcing folks to buy insurance does not sit well with everyone.
"I disagree- they force it on you," said Chuck Whicker of south Philadelphia. "I disagree with the mandate."
But supporters insist that increasing the ranks of the insured will mean better care, earlier-- instead of allowing the uninsured to use hospital ERs for their primary care.
"We just let people get sicker and sicker in this country, to a point where they need emergency care or be hospitalized," said CAMCare president and CEO Mark Bryant. "If we can catch them early- get them into our facilities and treat them while they're well- for diabetes, hypertension, things like that- they don't end up with heart attacks or amputations and things like that- things that cost a lot of money."
Whether the mandate ultimatley saves- or costs- money, remains to be seen. The mandate does not take effect until 2014.
