Dayton health care advocates not waiting for next president

Although both presidential candidates have been touting their plans to address the number of Americans who lack health insurance coverage, local government officials and activists in the Dayton area say they are not going to wait to see what potential solutions come out of Washington (Source: “Locals try plugging holes in health care safety net,” Dayton Daily News, Aug. 24, 2008).

"It may be that local and state initiatives will be the most fruitful methods for trialing models for expanding health care coverage," said Dr. Ted Wymyslo, co-founder a free clinic in Dayton. “I suspect getting around interest group barriers is more successful when addressed by local citizens who hold each other personally accountable for the decisions they make."

The Dayton Daily News investigated local health care efforts as part of series of stories on health care and the presidential election. The other stories included a comparison of the plans proposed by the two major party presidential candidates (Source: “Can either candidate's plan fix health care woes?” Dayton Daily News, Aug. 24, 2008) ; a reaction to both candidates’ plans from small-business owners (Source: “Small business owner wary of presidential candidates' health care solutions," Dayton Daily News, Aug. 24, 2008) ; and a profile of a single mother who can not afford insurance (Source: “'Our health care system ... is extremely messed up'” Dayton Daily News, Aug. 24, 2008)