Over 60 UW-Madison students lobbied at the State Capitol Thursday to promote affordable health coverage for all Wisconsin residents.
Student involvement in promoting health-care awareness and related legislation is an important part of the legislative process, according to Scott Becher, chief of staff for state Rep. Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton.
""Students provide us with new ideas, a lot of ideas that are being talked about in the classroom,"" Becher said.
Julia Kasprzak, a UW-Madison medical student involved in the campaign, said she agrees that building a relationship with legislators is a key aspect in seeking health-care reform.
""We're looking to serve as advocates for a lot of the patients that we see ... [such as] people with chronic diseases that ... can't afford insurance and are not eligible for government care,"" Kasprzak said. ""We try to share these stories with the legislators to shed light on the situation and what we see everyday.""
Participants in the event made appointments to meet with legislators from all over the state, including Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, and Sen. Fred Riser, D-Madison.
""For the most part, I think the legislators do listen to us,"" Kasprzak said.
Gov. Jim Doyle's BadgerCare Plus plan is a good example of collaboration between students and the Legislature, according to Kasprzak. The plan will cover 98 percent of Wisconsinites, yet Kasprzak said more needs to be done.
Health-care lobbyists are drawing attention toward a plan that would help control costs and take profit margins out of the health-care business.
""You can't put a price on people's health and we don't want to have that happen,"" Kasprzak said.
""Many of us are looking to forward a universal coverage system,"" said Sonali Saluja, a UW-Madison medical student. ""I think it's very convincing when legislators see the future doctors of America supporting plans that want to cover everybody.""
Half a million people in the state were uninsured at some point last year, according to Saluja.
Many of the student participants work in free clinics and see patients who are not getting the care they need, according to Kasprzak. The UW-Madison medical students who participated are seeking affordable, quality healthcare for all patients.
""It's a moral duty for us to help people in need, and it's their right to have that healthcare,"" Kasprzak said.
