Faces of the Uninsured, a Photo Exhibit by Catholic Health East - New Jersey

When: Wednesday, June 17, 11 a.m.

Where: Room 103, Statehouse, Trenton

A photo exhibit scheduled to be unveiled in the State House Wednesday
highlights the powerful stories of people who have lost their jobs -- and
subsequently their health insurance -- and now face serious illness without
medical coverage in this economic downturn.

The stories from around the state, accompanied by photographs by Pulitzer
Prize-winning photographer Matt Rainey, describe individuals who, in many
cases, worked for decades. Some continue to work but do not make enough money
to pay insurance premiums. The patients talk about their struggles with
diabetes, breast cancer, brain disorders and injury -- all while living
without health insurance.

"Our hospitals are seeing more and more patients who come to us without
insurance," said Alexander J. Hatala, president and CEO of Catholic Health
East -- New Jersey, which operates hospitals in Newark, Camden and Trenton.
"Our mission is to heal, and we will not turn our backs on people because they
have lost their jobs and medical coverage. We hope the state does not turn its
back on them either."

The exhibit opens the day before state legislators are scheduled to vote on
funding for hospitals and for crucial health programs that provide care for
patients without health insurance. Many of the patients in the exhibit are
being helped by hospitals in the state.

Sen. Joseph Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior
Citizens Committee, is the legislative sponsor of the exhibit and will attend.

"I hope my colleagues take note of this photo exhibit, and recognize that as a
State we have a moral obligation to provide a comprehensive health care safety
net for those people who would otherwise fall through the cracks," Vitale
said. "During this time of economic crisis, people are struggling to get by
and unfortunately we've heard story after story about people putting health
care on the back-burner, whether it's the small employer who can't afford to
insure his employees, or the individual with chronic illness who has to ration
prescription drugs. These are compelling stories."

The photo exhibit includes a profile of a botanist who lost her job shortly
before a recurrence of breast cancer; a mainframe computer operator who lost
his job and cannot afford test strips for his diabetes; a psychologist who
could no longer afford insurance and did not know what to do when her
daughter, a talented soccer player, fractured her ankle on the field. Many of
the people fall into the so-called "gap" years -- just a few years too young
for Medicare but not able to find full-time work, despite years in the
workforce.

Also attending will be:
-- Betsy Ryan, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association.
-- Douglas Johnston, AARP -- NJ governmental affairs manager.

-- Representative from the Catholic HealthCare Partnership of New Jersey.

The state's hospitals face critical economic times just as they are needed
most by New Jersey residents. Thirteen hospitals in the state have closed
their doors in the past five years. Several others have declared bankruptcy.

"Hospitals provide a safety net to all, regardless of their ability to pay,
but hospitals' caring missions are compromised by poor reimbursement and the
ongoing effects of the economic downturn," said Ryan. "But through it all,
this issue is about real New Jerseyans, and this event reminds us of that
important fact."

"Our efforts to take care of the poor and uninsured in New Jersey is a
partnership between hospitals and the state of New Jersey," Hatala added. "We
must continue to work together to make sure that everyone in New Jersey who
needs treatment will get it, regardless of their financial circumstances."

Catholic Health East -- New Jersey, the state's largest faith-based hospital
system, operates Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, Saint Francis
Medical Center in Trenton, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden and
Lourdes Medical Center -- Willingboro.

CONTACT: Brendan Middleton, +1-973-596-3804, or Wendy A. Marano,
+1-856-382-1793, both of Catholic Health East -- New Jersey; Carol Ann
Campbell, +1-973-783-2936, for Catholic Health East -- New Jersey

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- June 16/

SOURCE Catholic Health East - New Jersey