Sep 18, 2007 2:37 am US/Pacific
City Of SF's Universal Health Care Plan Expands
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP) ―
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A sign at a recent health care rally.
A program to provide health care for all uninsured San Franciscans expanded citywide Monday with the opening of 20 more clinics, despite an ongoing legal challenge from the city's restaurant industry.
More than 1,000 people have enrolled in the Healthy San Francisco plan since two Chinatown pilot clinics opened in July. The plan offers free health care to those ages 18 to 64 living below the federal poverty line.
Officials said they hope the new clinics will help them reach a goal of more than 17,000 participants by the end of the year.
"Who they are, are people who are working but don't have access to health care," said Linda Bien, president of North East Medical Services.
Monday's expansion is another step toward eventually offering services to all of the city's estimated 82,000 uninsured residents. The goal for that move is January, said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
"I continue to hope that the state puts us out of business and the federal government does, but in the absence of their leadership we'll move forward to full implementation," Newsom said. "It's exceeded our expectations and by any standard it has more people enrolled and it's been easier than we thought."
Backers of the $196 million program unveiled last year by Newsom and Supervisor Tom Ammiano said funding would come from the city health department's budget and co-payments from participants.
If city officials have their way, starting in January another $28 million will come from city business owners who do not provide insurance for their employees.
The city's Golden Gate Restaurant Association has sued over the measure, saying the employer spending requirement violates federal law.
A ruling on the lawsuit is expected by November.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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