Newsom makes appearance before National Press Club touting city's universal health care program

WASHINGTON - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom appeared before the National Press Club Tuesday to tout the growing success of his city's universal health care program.

Newsom announced that the city has enrolled 30,000 residents into the unusual program, dubbed Healthy San Francisco.

Newsom said the enrollment represents about half of the 60,000 estimated uninsured residents living in San Francisco. The announcement comes just 15 months after the initial launch of the program.  As of September 22, 2008, 30,061 residents have enrolled in the program.

"San Francisco is proving that it can be done.  By thinking outside-the-box, we have provided innovative solutions that can help solve our national health crisis rather than passing the buck," Newsom said.  "Healthy San Francisco is a program that can be duplicated across the country if our elected officials are willing to take risks instead of continuing the status quo."

Healthy San Francisco is a public, non-profit effort operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. It provides a "medical home," primary physician and an array of affordable or low-cost medical services to each participant.

Newsom's appearance in Washington is just one in a series of higher profile out-of-city events that he has participated in while he considers whether or not to run to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010.