Say Hello to our New Health Care Advocate and Michael Moore!

Hello out there – my name is Stefanie Sidortsova and I’m the new health care advocate at VPIRG. I’m very excited to be part of the group, and pleased to be involved in the Vermont premiere of Michael Moore’s latest film, SiCKO.

In case you haven’t heard, SiCKO is Moore’s take on America’s health care crisis and the current inner workings (for lack of a better term) of our health care industry. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has since played to packed houses at sneak previews across the U.S. Many are saying this is Moore’s best film to date – even Fox News called it “brilliant and uplifting.”

Because we at VPIRG are working to obtain quality, affordable health care for all Vermonters, we’re hoping this film serves as a catalyst to move health care reform back to the top of Vermont’s priority list. We’ve made great strides in the past, but there’s still a long way to go.

So what do we want you to do? First, go see the film. Second, tell all your friends to go see the film. Third, and most importantly, help us reach our goal of providing 1,000 free tickets to un- and underinsured Vermonters. We’ve partnered with Vermont Health Care for All and the Vermont Workers Center to provide up to 1,000 free tickets to matinee showings of SiCKO at the Savoy Theater from June 29th to July 19th. These tickets are available to anyone struggling to pay their health care bills.

To find out how you can help, email me at stefanie@vpirg.org or call 223-8421, ext. 4097. Are you uninsured or underinsured? Please stop by the VPIRG office at 141 Main Street in Montpelier to pick up a ticket. Free tickets are also available at the Montpelier Health Center, the Peoples Clinic in Barre, Cambridge Family Health Center, Plainfield Health Center, the Barre Health Center, and the Central Vermont Community Action Council.

Thanks, and see you at the movies!