The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) urged residents across the country to contact their legislators and demand solutions to the problem of the nation's uninsured during "Cover the Uninsured Week," April 27-May 3, 2008.

APTA is a supporting organization of the observance, designed to raise awareness of the plight of more than 47 million uninsured Americans - and the effect it is having on the country's health care system.

"As physical therapists, we hear firsthand the many challenges our patients face in obtaining health care," says APTA President R Scott Ward, PT, PhD. "This important week is an opportunity for our country to join together and become more aware of the struggles uninsured Americans face, the impact this national problem has on all of our lives, and how health care professionals and others can help."

For online resources and more information on how you can join this effort, visit http://covertheuninsured.org/about.