San Luis Obispo -- California nurses are touring the state calling for a change in healthcare, not only in California but across the country.
At a town hall meeting tonight nurses explained why they support universal healthcare and say the Obama Administration's Affordable Care Act does not go far enough.
The California Nurses Association and National Nurses United offered free medical screenings and held a town hall meeting tonight where they outlined their plan that would provide Medicare for all.
Donna Smith appeared in Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko" supports medicare for all. She travels with the nurses as a spokesperson. Smith says, "This is a tragedy happening all over California and all over the country, the nurses believe it is avoidable and it's avoidable by passing the right kind of healthcare reform legislation."
The nurses are pushing for reform, they want a universal state-supported medical care for every Californian.
The union says the Affordable Care Act, that just won a US Supreme Court decision does not do enough. Smith says, "There are some provisions like the end of pre-existing conditions clauses, people being able to stay on their parents' insurance until 26, no lifetime caps, those are significant but that doesn't go far enough."
The association estimates the plan many call "Obamacare" will leave 27-million Americans without coverage. Instead they want to see Medicare extended to everyone, regardless of age. The nurses say the only way to ensure an equal, affordable standard of care is to make healthcare public and remove private insurance companies from the system.
The group is backing Senator Mark Leno's Bill SB 810, which will be reintroduced in the state legislature. It failed in January. The bill would create a universal health care system covering every Californian for life, from cradle to grave.
