Politics: Ray LaHood endorses Joan Krupa for 92nd District state rep
(press release)
CALLING HER A PIONEER IN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS, CONGRESSMAN RAY LAHOOD ENDORSES JOAN KRUPA FOR 92ND DISTRICT STATE REP AT A NEWS CONFERENCE SATURDAY
Congressman LaHood detailed his working relationship with Krupa as CEO of Heartland Community Health Care Clinic and their collaboration of efforts to expand the clinic to six sites now serving 18,000 patients
(PEORIA) Congressman Ray LaHood spelled out his reasons for endorsing Joan Krupa for State Representative in the 92nd District at a news conference in front of the Heartland Community Health Care Clinic on Peoria’s East Bluff, a project they worked on together to create.
LaHood lauded Krupa’s passion for providing health care to the area’s uninsured and under-insured people who otherwise would not have received needed health care.
LaHood noted that when Krupa became CEO of the Heartland Community Health Care Clinic it served 850 patients at one clinic. Krupa expanded that to six sites on Peoria’s Southside and East Bluff which now serves 18,000 patients.
LaHood said the Illinois Legislature needs an expert in health care delivery to disadvantaged people and that Krupa fits the bill because she has been a pioneer in expanding health care to thousands of needy area residents.
LaHood also said Krupa was successful in vastly expanding health care access because of her foresight to change the business model of the Heartland Clinic to a federally approved community healthcare center.
“Joan Krupa was relentless in her efforts to improve and expand the Heartland Health Care Clinic and that was fueled by her passion for providing health care to people without the insurance they need,†said LaHood.
LaHood also stressed that Krupa is the right type of person to represent the 92nd District because she has demonstrated how well she has worked in a bi-partisan way to accomplish something great for people in need.
Krupa said Ray LaHood is a role model for her as a public servant because he has demonstrated time and again how well he works across the aisle to get things done.
Krupa noted that in addition to Congressman LaHood, she worked with Senator Dick Durbin, former State Senator George Shadid, State Senator Dave Koehler, and State Representatives David Leitch and Aaron Schock to expand the Heartland Clinic. Krupa said the success in expanding the Heartland Clinic was because of bi-partisan collaboration and would not have been possible without it, an attitude she intends to take to Springfield to reform the broken system in Illinois government.
Krupa said as a State Representative that she intended to be a force to protect the State funding portion that allows community health care clinics to operate.
“As your representative I will implore my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect funding for community health care clinics so this vital funding doesn’t go the way of funding for state parks due to the dysfunction in Springfield,†said Krupa. “I will bring patients from the Heartland Clinic down to Springfield if need be to testify to my colleagues to prevent any loss of funding for these crucial clinics that are the only way thousands of people are kept from falling through the cracks in our society.â€
September 7th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Jeez, what a suprise! Running a community health clinic is a great qualification for State Representative. A very nice lady she is, but come on! What a great choice Mr. Schock has given us in this contest.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:03 am
One of the largest issues in the state and the country is Health Care. She helped design a working business plan that has increased the availability of health care to some of the neediest in our area. Addtionally Heartland in opening a dental clinic. Try to get dental care in the area w/o health insurance. I’t’s impossible as the public aid reimbursement rates are less that the cost of the materials used. The Health Dept is an avenue for children, but with limited services. Heartland clinic has saved untold dollars by providing an avenue for good healthcare vs. the emergency room uses done by those without health insurance. It is a partnership of private, state and federal sources with support from all the local hospitals. When have OSF and Methodist agreed on anything, much less Proctor. This also required working with several state and federal legislators, both republicans and democrats to get things done. It the climate in Springfield, that skill is essential.
Heartland clinic takes patients from all walks of life, private insurance, cash, and medicaid and medicare. This is the cross section of our current community in the district, those with and without resources receiving the same excellent health care alike.
She would like to replicate this model in other communities. She would like to reduce the red tape for reimbursement from the state to hospitals, pharmacies, etc. I believe we have a over 1 billion dollars in old debt for medical expenses that the current powers that be ignore.
Additionally she has direct education experience in teaching out at the county jail and with our youth. Education is another huge issue in the state. She has lived in China for a number of years. This had defianately given her a wider view on issues.
I think that experience is highly revelant and think that in this race a side by side comparasion is essential to chose the best candidate. Please attend functions and events and learn what you can about both candidates and make an informed choice.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Paul, you do a very good job of stating her case for her. Her Website, doesn’t quite live up to that task: http://joankrupa.com
I would advise her to fix it soon, as just two months remain.
I was impressed with Jehan Gordon when i met her. But the many problems with her education and criminal record are strikes against her in some Democrat’s eyes.
Krupa may have a shot.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I told the Krupa campaign that same thing a few weeks ago.. that they needed to keep their website up-to-date. Also offered to update her blog for her but so far no response. I believe Joan has outstanding leadership qualities and qualifications and I support her candidacy 100% – but they are very much missing the boat on their website!
September 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Honestly, do they not have a biography of her somewhere they can copy and paste on her site’s about page? All it is is a simple WordPress blog.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Joan Krupa will bring so much to the 92nd . district. If it wasn’t for her hard work strong leadership a lot of people would be dead , due to no health care . But with her strong leadership, real relusts a lot of people have hope . So when you here the change , she has already led the way , as far as crossing parties lines to get the job done . I support her all the … As a democrat . I would honered to have Joan Krupa taking care of my district……..
September 7th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I will ask questions about the website. I haven’t looked at it in a while and it was still under construction when it did.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Shearer is her campaign manager, so that explains the “as little you know about the candidate and their positions the better” strategy.
And this is a genuine question not a slight at all, but hasn’t the expansion of those clinics been largely through congressional earmarks? I know that there was one just recently. Anyone have any information on how she has been able to grow that organization?
September 7th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Again, there is investment and support from all three local hospitals. There have been grants written, private donations and funding, business partnerships, etc. , and yes state and federal fundings. I guess I look at it this way. I pay local, state, and federal taxes. I expect to get some return on my dollar. If providing health care for needy individuals in our community is “pork” then I guess I’m a pig..”oink oink”. I think it is a good use of public and private monies, especially when so many uninsured and underinsured use the emergency rooms for primary care physicial responsibilities. The taxpayers also foot that bill, but at much higher prices. It’s a good mixture of funds. While attending the Regional Neighborhood Network Conferences in a variety of cities, I have observed muncipalities form partnerships with the corporate world on projects which have been successful and wish the city of Peoria would also look at these models.
I personally don’t believe that we can afford national health care with simply the federal government footing the bill. I do think that community partnership models like Heartland Clinic will go much further towards that goal of providing health care to both insured and uninsured alike. I’m not a patient personally, My insurance is pretty good through our PPO, but I do know patients, my mom included who recieve excellent care at these clinics. They essentially have family physicians in a clinic setting.
Bravo, I would recommend you call Joan Krupa herself for the specific details of the funding and the growth of Heartland. Additionally, regarding the campaign strategy comment, pretty much all the election campaigns are just starting to get into full swing on both sides of the isle.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Jehan might has well be the Invisible Woman for as much as she is seen in my neck of the woods
September 7th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
That is what i like about Paul, he get the facts before he speaks on a issue . When you do know what your talking about and understands it uo close , like his Mother’s great health care . Its means a lot to see it thru his eyes .. You rock Paul
September 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Joan Krupa has many other qualifications besides her role in establishing the Heartland Clinic. She actually has quite an impressive resume. I probably would have given Gordon more serious consideration against some other candidate. However, having known Joan for over twenty years, I have personally concluded that she will represent us well at the state level and is indeed capable of “reaching across the aisle.”
September 7th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I spoke with Joan Krupa this evening. They are aware of their website problems and have been experiencing vendor issues. It appears that the problems have been resolved and the website will be up-to-snuff in short order!