Reform advocates are banding together to create a coalition in the Fox Valley that identifies the community's health needs under the aegis of HealthWatch Wisconsin, which supports an expansion of health care benefits.

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"Where are the gaps? What can we do?" are the questions the group aims to answer, said Connie Raether, head of ESTHER of the Fox Valley's task force on health care.

HealthWatch groups already have formed in Barron, Chippewa, Dane, Milwaukee and Polk counties.

ESTHER, an interfaith group that seeks to expand social safeguard, is reaching out to a cross-section of leaders in Outagamie, Calumet and Winnebago counties, including those in schools, health systems and nonprofits.

"Instead of us all individually going through that same problem and running up (against) the same brick wall, we can come together, talk about it, try to work (out) solutions and advocate on behalf of the clients," said Susan Garcia Franz, a task force member.

ESTHER members have been increasingly vocal in their support for an overhaul of the nation's health care system, including reform that has a public option. They've held marches and candlelight vigils.

Organizers of a town hall meeting today say they hope to bring that message home with keynote speaker Wendell Potter, a former insider-turned-whistleblower of the health care industry.

"If they have questions, hear what he has to say," Raether said.

The goal is to attract people who are skeptical of or even flat-out oppose the reforms Congress is considering.

Potter, who worked in public relations for CIGNA and Humana, is an advocate for a single-payer health care system. He testified this summer before Congress on the ways health insurers deny care to policyholders.

A few locals also have been called on to share their health care stories.

The debate on reform intensified in August with several Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen of Appleton, facing boisterous town halls in their districts.

ESTHER, meanwhile, maintains adequate health care is a moral issue that has not gotten as much attention because of the partisan politics driving the debate.

Raether said at the top of the list as far as needs go in the Fox Valley will be dental and mental health care services and transportation.

Of particular concern are rural communities, where Raether says she has seen cases of people traveling 70 miles for care taken for granted by people in more urban areas.

"We haven't set in stone what this coalition is going to work on, but these are issues that have surfaced," she said.

J.E. Espino: 920-993-1000, ext. 1426, or jespino@postcrescent.com