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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
STATEMENT by Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge regarding AB6, AB7, and AB11 (Patient Protection Commission bills):
AB6 (Addressing health care cost growth in Nevada) -
The Culinary Union supports Assembly Bill 6. The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest health care consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
Through vigorous engagement of members, the Culinary Union has maintained one of the strongest health care plans in the nation, with 0 monthly premiums, $0 deductible for covered services, and free generic prescription drugs at multiple Culinary FREE Pharmacies across Southern Nevada.
As health care prices continue to grow faster than wages and the cost of housing increases, it is more important than ever that the State of Nevada analyze the rate of this growth and set a standard for health care cost growth.
Passing this bill will not just benefit Culinary Union members, but all Nevadans, and our union is proud of its decades-long history of advocating for and winning health care legislation that is not narrowly targeted at Culinary Union members, but in fact benefits the entire state and all Nevadans.
The Culinary Union supports Assembly Bill 6 and encourages the Nevada Legislature to support and pass the bill.
AB7 (Ensuring patient access to their electronic health data) -
The Culinary Union supports Assembly Bill 7. The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest health care consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
Nevadans should be able to quickly and easily access their health information electronically and have the freedom to do what they want with their personal medical information. Culinary Union members come from 178 countries and speak 40 different languages. The most health-impacted populations have the most difficulty navigating the healthcare system - and all people should have easy access to their own records.
All Nevadans, not just Culinary Union members, will be healthier as a result of a free flow of medical data in this state. Our union understands that there are ongoing conversations around an amendment and we will engage in those discussions, which we view as necessary. Even so, the Culinary Union supports Assembly Bill 7 and encourages the Nevada Legislature to support and pass the bill.
AB11 (Guaranteeing independence for doctors) -
The Culinary Union supports Assembly Bill 11. The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest health care consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
Nevada is experiencing a severe physician shortage. Even though Culinary Union members have one of the best health care plans in the nation, when the providers are not present, Culinary Union members cannot receive the care they deserve and need.
Assembly Bill 11 will ensure that doctors have the freedom to see patients at whichever hospital they choose and guarantees that doctors are able to make medical decisions free from the profit motive of corporate hospitals.
Guaranteeing doctor independence from out-of-state hospital corporations will benefit all Nevadans, not just Culinary Union members. The Culinary Union supports Assembly Bill 11 and encourages the Nevada Legislature to support and pass the bill.
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ABOUT CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 45% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.
Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting and winning for working families in Nevada for 88 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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