Cedillo

Sen. Gil Cedillo faced an all too common problem, a major battle with an insurance company. The hospital wanted to move his elderly mother to a new hospital due to their battle with her insurance company, but her heart was too weak. The issues was only resolved when a former Assemblyman heard about his plight and personally rectified the situation. It prompts the question: what about the rest of us without friends in high places? SacBee:

"When legislators and other people of power have trouble getting health care, what hope do the rest of us have if we don't make some changes?" asked Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access, which advocates for consumers.

There are millions of Californians who don't have someone powerful call up and say: I hear you have a problem, how can I help. Cedillo spent hours on the phone fighting with the hospital and insurance company. It was resolved in less than 30 minutes, when former Assemblyman Richman, who is in charge of the medical group Cedillo was battling with, called offering his assistance. It turns out that this was not the firs time legislators have turned to Richman for help.

Richman said when he served in the Assembly from 2001 to 2007, legislators "from both sides regularly came up to me and asked for help."

When he told Cedillo his mother was not going to be moved from her hospital bed, Richman said the senator exclaimed, "Thank you, God," and "Thank you, brother."

It should never ever have to get to this point. The Republicans in the legislature's refusal to admit our health system is in crisis baffles me. If they had to go up to Richman to seek out assistance, what do they think their constituents do? Band-Aids will not cut it. We need more fundamental reform.

(see also Brian's post at Calitics on the same article)