Film & Discussion: "ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare" on Tuesday 2/12 at 4:30 PM in Rockefeller 003

Having narrowly survived the Supreme Court’s 5-4 split decision, the Affordable Care Act, popularly deemed “Obamacare,” is anxiously awaited – for its benefits and its potential repercussions. This law, through its controversial Individual Mandate, will provide every American citizen with medical coverage. The law largely fails to address the bigger issue, however, which is the astronomically high cost of care in the U.S. as compared to other developed countries.

ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, a powerful documentary by filmmakers Matthew Heineman and Susan Froemke, chronicles the numerous powerful forces stagnating our current system by maintaining the status quo. Our broken system currently aims at quick fixes, rather than prevention—for profit-driven care rather than patient-driven care. America’s healthcare system is a hostage of powerful corporate interests, and the health of the nation is the victim. ESCAPE FIRE is about finding a way out of our current crisis.

The film’s awards include Human Rights Award at Full Frame, the React to Film Social Issue Award at Silverdocs, the Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking at Newport Beach, and finally a Grand Jury Prize nomination at Sundance.

Following the screening, there will be a discussion led by Professors Ellen Meara and Charlie Wheelan ’88. Prof. Meara is an Associate Professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) and an Adjunct Professor at the Rockefeller Center.  Prof. Wheelan is a Senior Lecturer and Policy Fellow at the Rockefeller Center.

Please join us for a film screening of the award-winning documentary, “ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare,” at Rockefeller 003 at 4:30 pm, February 12, 2013. Pizza will be served.