The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Mark McCullough, 202-730-7283

SEIU to Host Screening of Brave New Films' 'Diagnosis: Now!' at Washington HQ, 40+ House Parties Nationwide

Documentary Details How Insurance Industry Puts Profits Before People,

WASHINGTON

On
Wednesday, September 24, SEIU will host a screening of Brave New Films'
documentary titled "Diagnosis: Now!" at the health care union's
headquarters in Washington, D.C., kicking off a series of screenings at
house parties being hosted by SEIU locals across the country. The
events are part of a series of screenings organized by Health Care for
America Now (HCAN), a broad coalition founded by SEIU and other
nonprofit and political organizations to promote quality, affordable
health care for all Americans.

SEIU Locals will
host screenings in California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Indiana,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North
Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode
Island, Texas and Washington State

"Diagnosis: Now!"
uses the stories of everyday Americans to illustrate how the health
care industry continues to put profits before people's health care
needs and highlights the urgent need for quality, affordable health
care for everyone in America.

Some facts about the health care industry:

  • In
    recent years, the country's major insurance companies saw their profits
    grow 300 percent, while the numbers of insured Americans stayed the
    same;
  • Half
    of all bankruptcies are caused by medical bills, and of those, 75
    percent had health insurance at the time they got sick or injured; and
  • Last
    year, about 116 million people in this country struggled to pay medical
    bills while insurance companies made billions.

WHAT: Screening of Brave New Film's "Diagnosis: Now!"

WHEN: Wednesday, September 24, 2008

12:00 P.M. EDT

WHERE: SEIU

1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW (Dupont Circle), Washington, D.C.

Media interested in attending should contact Mark McCullough at 202-730-7283 or mark.mccullough@seiu.org.

With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.