Single Payer Advocate
News and informtion on single payer universal health care.
Majority of Doctors favor Medicare for All
“The stock of the private sector has gone down in doctors’ eyes, while the stock of the public sector hasn’t,” Foldy says. “Medicare is not unpopular among doctors. The concept of Medicare for all [which is how a single-payer plan is often described] is making ideological headway. And prior to the Iraq War, the VA system made great strides as a model of quality recognized by many doctors.”
Meanwhile, doctors’ perceptions of the for-profit insurance industry — which ranks about as low as Big Tobacco in the general public’s eyes — have declined as premiums soar, bureaucratic problems multiply, and the ranks of the uninsured grow. “There is much less trust that the private-sector insurance companies will be good partners in health care,” Foldy says. “Doctors are encountering a lot of problems with [insurance companies], in honesty and uprightness around timely and full payment. Doctors are facing a high denial rate when they file claims.”
Notes on a public meeting on health care
For those interested in HR676 activism, I thought I’d pass along some notes I took at a discussion on health insurance/health care sponsored by the League of Women Voters at a nearby community college here in western PA. Seven people affiliated with our local group for single-payer care carpooled to the meeting. We were affluent (well, I’m culturally affluent) professional people; our driver had an Obama sign in his yard, but no horns or tail.
We were able to leave our literature next to the Obama leaflets on a table in the hall. The main event was a panel discussion moderated by a local chiropractor running for the state senate. The audience was between 30 and 40 people, mostly middle-aged to early retirement age.
The panelists were a Pittsburgh pediatrician/long-time single-payer activist; Allen Kukovich, a former state senator now working on Governor Rendell’s plan; and an Obama representative. Everybody who spoke except the Obama person seemed pretty committed to single payer. That’s not Rendell’s plan by a long shot, but that’s because of the political realities in PA, where even his weak plan is four votes short in the state senate, and Kukovich seemed pretty frustrated and pessimistic about it. (He claims he introduced a state-level single-payer plan 25 years ago, and has been fighting like mad for every tiny bit of progress we’ve made here ever since.)
The presentations:
Single-payer: short and sweet. Emphasis on how easy it would be to pay for it by getting the insurance companies’ claws off our money.
Kukovich on Rendell’s plan: says this is the best we can realistically do right now. A confusing presentation, focused on how bad our problems are and the political difficulties of raising the money. The plan itself sounded quite weak. Funding originally included a tax increase; they had to replace that with something else to get it through the state house of reps. The bill would be “a great first step”, and has the support of SEIU. Not too enthralling. Kukovich has obviously fought hard, and sounds rather defensive about the incremental approach. I felt for him.
Obama plan: they didn’t send a policy expert, instead a nice, middle-aged working-class woman who cobbled together some PowerPoint slides from the campaign web materials. Everyone was nice to her, but no one questioned her much since she was obviously just telling us what she had found on the web.
A number of questions and rants were taken from the audience. The most interesting things that came out, for me, were comments by Kukovich. When asked, “what is the positive contribution of insurance companies?” he said, flatly, “Nothing. They are entrenched. The senate Republicans of Pennsylvania are an arm of the insurance industry.”
Someone from the audience brought up a recent Republican proposal in the state senate. Laughably weak, everyone agreed, but perhaps it’s a good sign that they felt the need to say something. Kukovich said it proves “pressure is mounting.” He then spoke some more about the propaganda power of the right wing, and how Grover Norquist used to be considered a nut and now dictates the daily Republican talking points. We need to push back from our side. It’s good to advocate single-payer (he didn’t say “shift the Overton window” but that’s what he meant) and also good to craft “something possible”.
There was a definite feeling in the room that our time is near, maybe not for single-payer, but for something at least as good as Obama’s plan. Some evidence of this is that the single-payer guy said that Ted Kennedy promised that if HR676 gets 100 sponsors in the House (it now has 90), he will introduce a single-payer bill in the Senate.
I asked Kukovich if he believed it would do more harm than good to pass a “universal”, but not single-payer, plan. He said that is certainly a reasonable view. Then I asked him if he thought that having a “Medicare for all” option included in a non-single-payer plan (as Edwards’s and Clinton’s plans seem to do) would provide an avenue to eventual single-payer. He said that is certainly a reasonable view. Perhaps he thinks we’re delusional to imagine we can even get Obama’s plan.
Single payer blogging in the states
Progressive Ohio thinks we all deserve Cheney Care. Ohio Daily Blog alerts us to a conference sponsored by Single-Payer Action Network Ohio. Racy Mind in Texas points to the public health implications of the under insured. Susie thinks we may be ready for single payer. The Pennsylvania Progressive tell us that Chuck Pennacchio spoke out in favor of single payer.
Single payer miscellany
Terry McAuliffe to be Protested June 19th
AHIP, America’s Health Insurance Plans, decided downtown San Francisco would be a good place for the health insurance company lobbyists and executives to hold their convention. Not surprisingly, thousands of people will take to the streets at noon on June 19th at the Moscone center
What if Clinton had prevailed? How could McAuliffe fail to appreciate the inappropriateness of such an appearance.
McAwful Goes to San Francisco to See His Health Insurance Friends
Today's National Day of Action Post: Minnetonka
HealthCare-Now and hundreds of other organizations is holding events nationwide, in as many as 18 cities, both celebrating the official end of slavery and challenging the corporate enslavement of our health care system. HealthCare-Now of other cities, counties, state governments and labor unions have endorsed and support HR 676, a national guaranteed health care system that will cover everybody without co-pays, deductibles, premiums, or denials.
Minnetonka, Stockholders meeting of United Health Care.
Contacts:
Joel Albers joelalbers [@] UHCAN [.] org
Ann Patterson, ann_p11 [@] yahoo [.] com
Joel Clemmer, joel [@] joelclemmer [.] org
Today's single payer post
Death By Lack of Health Insurance: New Families USA reports crunch numbers state-by-state.
Families USA has been crunching numbers compiled by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and the findings are quite eye-opening.
I’m a bit too lazy to add a lot of analysis right now, so here’s the press release:
In 2002, a groundbreaking national study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated the direct link between a lack of health coverage and deaths from health-related causes. Drawing on that study, Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, has today made available reports for all 50 states that show how many people are expected to die in each state each week because they don’t have health coverage. A separate report is also available for the District of Columbia.
This doesn’t even deal with all of us who have health insurance but fear a denial of payment for a needed procedure or test.
Today's single payer post, "medical debt score" edition
Health Reform, Medical Debt, and Hospitals – A Middle Class Issue
Hospitals are becoming more aggressive and sophisticated about collecting on debts. Many hospitals now are routinely checking credit scores of their patients and at least one credit bureau has developed a “medical debt score” that supposedly shows how likely a person is to pay their medical debts. I wonder if that includes an assessment of a patient’s health too? You can just imagine that computer analysis: Patient A has brain cancer = minus 200 points because they probably won’t be able to keep much of a job pretty soon.
Today's single payer post, bonus! Greedy CEO edition
Maryland balks at pay package for former CareFirst CEO
The Maryland Insurance Administration argued Monday that the nearly $18 million CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is prepared to pay William Jews, its former top executive, is too much.
Attorneys with the state agency said the MIA wants to cut the annual and long-term incentives CareFirst, the region’s largest health insurer, plans to pay Jews, who left the nonprofit in November 2006. The insurance administration also argued that the primary focus of a nonprofit is not to generate profits or encourage its top managers with incentives to increase profits.
What could your local public health office buy with $18 million dollars? How much nursing home care? How many immunizations? How many home visits?
This is just one of many abuses of the present health neglect system. I am trying to document as many as I can.
Today's single payer post, Cigna edition
When does 20% of $753.95 equal $641.60? When $753.95 equals $2,808.
Health systems have contracts with insurers about what the insurer will pay for a given procedure. While the specifics are confidential, Cigna’s contract with Sentara allowed for a “case rate” to be applied. In Dockter’s case, that meant the epidural injection she received was part of a group of outpatient surgeries that were all covered at the case rate of $2,808.
Just one of many examples of the sleazy behavior of our health neglect system. I am trying to document as many as I can.
Today's single payer post, imploding business model edition
Major insurance companies drop on sector woes
Although UnitedHealth Group reported a positive fourth quarter—including a 62% increase for its Ingenix database system business—the company’s stocks have since plummeted, partially because of an ongoing investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. On March 12, shares fell to a 52-week low, bottoming out near $36 after seeing prices as high as $60 in December 2007. …
… Shares of Humana Inc. also plummeted this week after the company decreased its earnings forecast for 2008. The company’s shares fell close to $40, a far drop from the $87 price tag the insurers’ stocks saw in mid-January.
“Humana this year miscalculated how many elderly with serious medical conditions would choose its Medicare drug plan, among the cheapest available,” executives told Bloomberg March 12. “The mistake added $160 million to the company’s Medicare drug costs in the first two months of this year.”
WellPoint, the first domino to fall, lowered its forecast on March 10, triggering what Bloomberg called “the worst decline in managed-care stocks in a decade.”
WellPoint’s stock prices tumbled to $46 March 11 and have held since. The company ended 2007 near $90.
Won’t be long before they are begging for a government takeover.
Today's single payer post, Letter to the Editor
The Cumberland Times News gets a letter:
I feel my responsibility is not only to my six children, my parents, and one day my grandkids but also for the millions of patients unfortunately caught in this dysfunctional medical arena.
I support HR 676 and will continue to be an advocate for it. “Affordable” universal healthcare is a contradiction in context. Affordable isn’t universal. Who decides affordability? The government, making well into six figures?
Today's single payer post, splashy's comment
Splashy comments on Harold Pollack’s opinion piece, which disses mandates:
This couldn’t be more wrong:
“The central challenge is to make health insurance affordable and accessible,”The REAL challenge is to make HEALTH CARE affordable and accessible. Single payer would work just fine.
Let’s keep reminding everyone, health insurance is not the same as health care.
Today's single payer post: 10th CD in New York
Matt Stoller tells us that George Soros gave $500 to Kevin Powell who is running in a primary against Ed Towns in New York’s 10th Congressional District (scroll down for map).
Not only is Towns a cosponsor of HR 676, he sits on the critical House Health subcommittee, so his support is crucial for getting this out of committee.
Powell also supports single payer and has a very clever presentation that explains the concept.
I don’t know the issues in this race, I hope that netroots stays out of this and permits Brooklyn Democrats to judge for themselves.
Today's single payer post: 16 subpoenas
N.Y. AG Prescribes Subpoenas to UnitedHealth Group, Others
The nation’s largest health care insurer, four of its subsidiaries and a number of other large insurers are being served subpoenas — 16 in all — in a suit to be brought by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo that charges the companies used “rigged data to manipulate the reimbursement rate to their customers who filed claims.”
At the center of the scheme, according to the attorney general, is Ingenix, Inc., “the nation’s largest provider of health care billing information, which serves as a conduit for rigged data to the largest insurers in the country.”
Cuomo notified Ingenix and its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, of his intent to file suit and subpoenaed 16 other companies, including Aetna, CIGNA, and Empire BlueCross BlueShield. The central allegation is that companies manipulated reimbursement rates. In addition to Ingenix, the suit is also encompassing three other UnitedHealth Group subsidiaries.
Today's single payer post: Adrian Campbell
After starring in “Sicko,” Hartland woman jumps on political stage
Now married and a dedicated public speaker, Adrian Campbell Montgomery, 26, is cancer-free and ready to make her first longshot foray into politics.
She is running as a Democrat for Livingston County commissioner, challenging a Republican who has held the seat for 14 of the last 16 years. The area is considered heavily Republican.
Montgomery, a Hartland High School graduate, says her “Sicko” experience charged her to take action in her hometown. The district covers Hartland and Tyrone townships in northern Livingston County.
“I’m more politically aware now,” she said. “I’m thriving on this. I really want to pursue a career in politics.”
But Adrian isn’t through with the health care issue.
She is the Michigan organizer for a National Day of Health Insurance Protest on Thursday (June 19, 2006) at 3 p.m. outside the Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan Building, 500 E. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit. The goal is to bring attention to legislation for a single payer health care system, HR 676, or Medicare for All.
“It is time to end profits on people’s lives!” Adrian says.
For more information, please contact Adrian via E-mail at adrian4commissioner [@] gmail.com.
Today's single payer post: American Hospital Association
Abbott reflects on tenure, financial woes
Over the past decade, Abbott has become a proponent of a single-payer health care model, and most of his colleagues in health care administration share his views on the subject, he said. Several months ago, he attended an American Hospital Association meeting in Washington, D.C., where administrators from some of the largest hospitals in the country called for adoption of a single-payer approach.
Today's single payer post: AZ Dems for HR 676
Challenger Howard Shanker specifically endorses a single payer system.
Chris Gramazio says we need to take the profit motive out of healthcare, but he does not specifically endorse single payer or HR 676. If you live in Arizona’s 6th CD, you might ask him.
Rep Grijalva co-sponsor of HR 676 has some nice clips of himself, including the congressional debate against the troop “surge.”
Today's single payer post: blowing smoke edition
Death Gap Widens Between Educated and Those Not
WEDNESDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) — Being well-educated can lengthen your life span, according to new study.
The research, published in the May 14 issue ofPLoS ONE, shows that the gap in overall death rates between Americans with less than a high school education and college graduates increased rapidly from 1993 to 2001.
The implication here is that less well educated people don’t know how to take care of themselves. This is part of a larger PR drive for “wellness programs” which our corporate misleadership hope will subsitute for action on healthcare.
Less well educated workers make less money, are less likely to have health insurance, and less likely to have access to health care.
Less educated people are more likely to have 2 or even three jobs. More likely to suffer from sleep deprivation, more likely to work on the feet all day, and in short, more likely to live highly stressed lives, physically and mentally.
Canada and France do not have these kinds of mortality gaps because even though they have poor and less educated people, Canada and France have functioning healthcare systems, we don’t.
Insist on HR 676, know who your friends are.
Today's single payer post: Bonus post, personal health vs. corporate wealth
Rising Hegemon has an excellent post contrasting how ordinary Americans are getting hammered by rising medical costs while health insurance companies rack up the profits.
Today's single payer post: Bonus post: So you think you're insured?
Via Suburban Guerrilla, Health plans say they’ll risk losing members to protect profit margins:
United CEO Stephen Hemsley told investors: “We continue to protect our margins. … We are committed to sustaining a quality business without taking shortsighted pricing positions.”
“We will not sacrifice profitability for membership,” WellPoint President and CEO Angela Braly told analysts during a conference call.
In trying to persuade investors that WellPoint’s problems are “fixable,” CEO Braly emphasized WellPoint’s market power, which she said gives it the ability to lean hard on its network doctors to accept lower reimbursement.
Consolidation over recent years is allowing insurers to raise premiums as well as continue to attack physician reimbursement as a means of attempting to keep profits up, said Susanne Madden, president and CEO of the Verden Group, a health care consulting group in Nyack, N.Y. “With consolidation and there being fewer players comes a certain amount of arrogance,” she said.
Clue, corporations who don’t care about patients don’t care about investors either. You would have to be a fool to think otherwise.
Today's single payer post: Business Coalition
Business Coalition for Single Payer Healthcare
Employers and employees across the nation are hard pressed to continue paying the escalating costs of insurance premiums and healthcare costs. A business coalition has been formed to respond to this critical issue. All business leaders are welcome to join.
Single-payer healthcare is simple. It’s really Medicare-for-all. You get sick, you get care and the caregiver gets paid. Simple works, and simple doesn’t break.
May they find many members!
Today's single payer post: Doctors in Kansas
Roy: Single payer system is path to universal care
At the end of a long presentation outlining new services, new doctors, new facilities and a growth in income this year at a rate greater than the growth of the economy, Dr. Kent Palmberg, the unusually savvy and successful senior vice-president and chief medical officer of Stormont Vail HealthCare, sighed and quietly said, “I’m not sure where all this is going, but we’ll probably end up with something like Medicare for all.”
He added, “I’m not sure that’s all bad. They pay promptly, predictably and adequately, with a minimum of paperwork. That beats costly fighting with scores of insurance companies, plus caring for the many uninsured.”
Palmberg’s audience was about 35 retired physicians, men and women who had provided good medical care for Kansans over some, or all, of the last 50 years, and who participated in the unprecedented growth of our profession.I watched closely. None flinched, none shook his head or raised her hand to register an objection.
Everyone is coming to the obvious conclusion: single payer is the only practical solution.
Today's single payer post: Donna Edwards
Businesses, particularly small businesses, want their employees to have access to health care – but it must be affordable. Through a universal, Canadian-styled, health care system, all Americans would have access to quality, affordable health care. A new system would provide stability and predictability for employers and enable employees to obtain health care coverage no matter their employer or pre-existing conditions. Under this system all Americans would be able to choose their doctor without the uncertainty of rising deductibles and co-payments. There must be shared responsibility from employers and employees to keep our workforce healthy.
Now all we have to do is find 434 more like her. Thank you voters of Maryland and thank you netroots. Because every now and then netroots gets it right.
Today's single payer post: HR 676
This is an incomplete list of all the cosponsors of HR 676. The remainder will be posted when I have a chance. There are 90 cosponsors, so this is clearly a popular approach.
Neil Abercrombie
Joe Baca
Tammy Baldwin
Xavier Becerra
Howard Berman
Sanford Bishop
Bob Brady
Corrine Brown
Michael Capuano
Donna Christensen
Yvette Clarke
Lacy Clay
Emanuel Cleaver
Jim Clyburn
Steve Cohen
Elijah Cummings
Danny Davis
William Delahunt
Michael Doyle
Keith Ellison
Eliot Engel
Sam Farr
Chaka Fattah
Bob Filner
Barney Frank
Al Green
Raul Grijalva
Luis Gutierrez
Phil Hare
Alcee Hastings
Maurice Hinchey
Mazie Hirono
Mike Honda
Jesse Jackson Jr.
Shelia Jackson-Lee
William Jefferson
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Hank Johnson
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Marcy Kaptur
Patrick Kennedy
More when I have a chance.
Today's single payer post: HR 676 reference links
I thought it might be helpful to link to some of the many websites on, and organizations for, HR 676:
The Citizen’s Alliance for National Health Insurance
Physcians for a National Health Program
United for National Health Care
Today's single payer post: HR 676 vs FISA abuse
I was thinking about that article in The Hill, Dems hedge on healthcare:
“We all know there is not enough money to do all this stuff,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), a Finance Committee member and an Obama supporter, referring to the presidential candidates’ healthcare plans. “What they are doing is … laying out their ambitions.” …
… Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), a member of Senate Democratic leadership and a key Hillary Clinton ally who also sits on the Finance Committee, said he is “not sure we have the big plan on healthcare.”
“Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we’re ready for a major national healthcare plan,” Schumer said.
Now as we know, HR 676, Medicare for All, is far less costly then our present system. We will save billions. But ultimately this is a moral question.
Consider how much money we are spending on the destruction of our constitution. The current maladministration is probably spying on 8 million citizens. Now we know that Comcast charges $1,000 set up fee and a monthly charge of $750 to violate your fourth amendment rights. So we can calculate the cost of this part of the destruction of our constitution as (8 million x $1,000) + (8 million x (11 x $750)) = $8 billion. That is $8 billion dollars a year we are borrowing from the Chinese, plus interest, to destroy our constitution. How much nursing home care would $8 billion buy?
The only time the Very Serious
People and the Wise Men on Washington care about fiscal responsibility is when someone suggests that we spend a nickel on ordinary Americans. When it comes to financing their jingoistic fantasies, price is no consideration.
This is a moral test of national priorities.
Today's single payer post: HR 676, Keystone state edition
Bruce Slater is the only Democratic challenger in Pennsylvania who is specifically committed to a single payer system.
Three of Pennsylvania’s Representatives are cosponsors of HR 676:
Robert Brady has been working against the war, for affordable housing, and for expanding access to health care.
“I believe that the richest, most powerful country on Earth ought to be able to figure out how to guarantee all of its citizens affordable, high quality health care. Americans are justifiably proud of the remarkable medical advances our country has made, but we should be ashamed that 45 million Americans are currently uninsured and that many Americans can’t afford to get the care they need.”
Chaka Fattah is working to increase access to healthcare.
Today's single payer post: IL Reps for HR 676
Luis Gutierrez wants to pass HR 676 and impeach Dick Cheney.
Jesse Jackson, Jr. has a long section on health care; but his website is set up in such a way that you can’t link directly to it.
Bobby Rush has an official blog
In addition to supporting HR 676, Janice Schakowsky has been looking into contractor deaths in Iraq and protecting the fourth amendment.
Today's single payer post: Jackie Speier
Via Guaranteed Healthcare we learn that Jackie Speier supports a single payer system:
Speier, a longtime consumer rights advocate, told constituents she was most interested in working to solve the home mortgage crisis and reforming health care into a single payer system.
Speier is supporting a plan that would in part allow judges to help determine loan settlements and grant $15 billion in federal funding to help save people from defaulting on their loans, she said.
A number of residents asked Speier specific questions related to their loan situations. Those residents said they were frustrated by major lenders that would not work with them to re-negotiate loans as they worked to avoid the possibility of foreclosure.
Much of the room applauded Speier’s call for a single-payer health care system.
“We’ve got to get serious about health care in this country. Fifty percent of people who file for bankruptcy do so because of a health situation. Of that, 70 percent have health care,” Speier said.
Today's single payer post: John Yarmuth
John Yarmuth is one of 90 cosponsors of HR 676, or Medicare for all. So what else we know about Yarmuth?
He secured $500,000 to address Louisville heath and dental care shortfalls, and $250,000 for eldercare. He got $452,746 for Louisville’s emergency food and shelter program.
He also has done a bunch of other good stuff not related to healthcare.
Today's single payer post: June 19th: National Day Of Action
Seeking an end to the healthcare crisis that is destroying American lives and families, thousands of healthcare activists will descend on San Francisco and on cities around the country this June 19th as part of an unprecedented national day of protests against health insurance corporations-and in support of guaranteed, single-payer healthcare, the “Medicare for All” system succeeding in nearly every other industrialized democracy. The protests will demand a healthcare system focused on patients, not profits, and are being coordinated by the Leadership Conference on Guaranteed Healthcare, a coalition group representing hundreds of thousands of members. Learn more at http://www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org.
The national day of action is timed in conjunction with the annual convention of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance industry lobbying group dedicated to blocking healthcare reform. Cities that headquarter major health insurance companies will host local actions as part of the national day of protest. Activists are planning events in Chicago, the base of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Philadelphia, base of CIGNA; Hartford, base of AETNA; Louisville, KY, base of Humana; Minnetonka, MN, base of United Health Group, and elsewhere. More information can be found on regional protests at http://www.Healthcare-Now.org.
Today's single payer post: Letters to the Editor
The Wichita Eagle has a letter to the editor about the alleged evils of single payer. If we are to win this fight, we need to write our own letters to the editor. You can tie your letter to a local candidate who supports single payer, or find some other hook.
Letters to the editor are one of the most popular sections of any newspaper. They are closely studied by both politicians and their press secretaries.
Letters to the Editor are a baromator of reader interest, so even if your letter is not printed, there is a good chance of influencing future news coverage.
Today's single payer post: Mass Reps for HR 676
Michael Capuano considers preserving and expanding access to quality health care a top priority.
William Delahunt is leading the fight against torture and the Iraq war as well as co-sponsoring HR 676.
The wit and wisdom of Barney Frank.
Stephen Lynch has been holding a series of forums to inform seniors on Medicare, maybe a year from now he can be holding forums on HR 676.
James McGovern is pushing for foreign aid to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
John Olver concentrates on Pittsfield issues.
John Tierney has always supported universal healthcare.
Today's single payer post: McSame is a crank
John McCain wants to ease up on state regulations that require health insurers to cover specific conditions. So what would happen to kids like Jake Bernard, who gets speech therapy for his cleft lip only because Florida law requires it?
Asked about the contradiction between the family on the stage and the McCain policy, McCain senior policy adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin said that the marketplace will fill the void. If there is a demand for this kind of coverage, he said, some insurance company will offer it.
If More-Wars-Fewer-Jobs McSame gets in office our present health neglect system will get much much worse.
Today's single payer post: MI Reps for HR 676
Sharon Renier is one of two Democratic candidates for Congress from Michigan’s 7th district. I don’t know when the primary takes place. Renier supports a single payer system:
Single-Payer System. Currently, people have a variety of health insurance companies from which to choose. A single-payer system would streamline costs by eliminate much of the waste and redundancy in the commercial insurance industry. Many of the workers in the insurance business could be absorbed into a National or State Plan through an application processs and this would help to save their jobs. Remember, just because an insurance company says it is a non-profit, doesn’t mean that someone isn’t making a chuck of change at the top. I also don’t believe that an insurance company needs private helicopters and limos to run their business. There is a lot of pork in the health care industry.
Quit Giving Patients Medications and Examinations They Don’t Need! Our society is way over medicated. This is one way to eliminate a huge chunk of change in the health care business. Recently, my father was in the hospital. When they found out he had insurance, they tried to give him tests that he didn’t need. They also tried to put him on a blood cleaning machine that he definitely didn’t need. Tell me, have you ever gotten a prescription that you really didn’t need or have a test run that you didn’t need? I have a drawer full of prescriptions that I’ve never filled.
We Already Have Many People in Michigan and the US Who are on Medicade and Medicare. These people are already receiving National Health Care. So, we wouldn’t be adding these folks to the rolls. We would just be adding the people who have no insurance at all, or people who have commercial insurance who will switch over to the single-payer plan.
Carolyn Kilpatrick, in addition to cosponsoring HR 676, has denounced Indiana’s odious voter ID law and is insisting that the new economic stimulus plan include a summer jobs package. Her blog will launch shortly.
Mr. HR 676 himself, John Conyers:
For over thirty-seven years, Rep. John Conyers has been one of the most vocal advocates for universal health care in the United States Congress. He has introduced two critically important pieces of legislation, the “United States National Health Insurance Act,” H.R. 676, which has the support of over 9000 physicians; and H. Con. Res. 99; which calls on Congress to pass universal health legislation by 2005.
Both bills have served as critically important organizing tools for hundreds of organizations across the country who are part of a newly energized national movement for universal health care. Through Rep. Conyers’ leadership, the Congressional Black Caucus has declared universal health care its number one legislative priority of the 108th Congress, and has launched a campaign for universal health care and the elimination of minority health disparities.
Mr. Conyers was also instrumental in shaping the House Democratic alternative Medicare prescription drug proposal that was defeated by the Republican-dominated House. Working through the Congressional Black Caucus and the Progressive Caucus, Mr. Conyers helped to persuade ranking Democratic House leaders to introduce legislation that would provide seniors with an effective prescription drug coverage under the traditional Medicare program that would truly help seniors afford the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs by covering 80% of their prescription drug bills.
Rep. Conyers has helped secure approximately 10 million dollars of federal funds for the Detroit Medical Center over the last three years. These funds went to strengthen health care services at Detroit Medical Center for pregnant women, the disabled, children, veterans, and the uninsured.
Mr. Conyers recently lead efforts to get desperately needed federal funds to keep the Detroit Medical Center from closing their doors. He facilitated several meetings with DMC officials, Secretary of Health & Human Services Tommy Thompson’s office, senior lobbyists of the Bush Administration, Governor Granholm, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and Detroit City Council Members in order to find common ground, federal funding, and a workable long term solution to the Detroit Hospital crisis.
Through these meetings, Rep. Conyers provided the necessary leadership and awareness of the severity of the DMC hospital crisis, that ultimately help pave the way for a short term infusion of federal funds government and Governor Granholm.
Rep. Conyers has been an outspoken supporter of improving the working conditions for nurses. Most nurses are often forced to work unreasonably long hours, and are in charge of too many patients, as cash strapped hospitals claim to be unable to hire more nurses.
Studies by the Institute of Medicine have revealed that unreasonable nursing shortages, mandatory over-time, and low nurse to patient ratios have created a national shortage of nurses because the profession is no longer viewed as an attractive one to go into.
Rep. Conyers has been an original co-sponsor of legislation to improve working conditions for nurses, including the Nursing Reinvestment Act, legislation that would allow those interested in becoming nurses to receive more scholarships and low interest nursing school loans, and legislation introduced by Senator Kennedy that would ban mandatory over time for nurses.
Today's single payer post: Michael Moore
But when Moore returned with his next film in 2007, O’Reilly was still very much on the warpath.
In Sicko, Moore would not exactly depart from his didactic style, but—in highlighting an issue (the need for national health care) without backing a specific policy or politician—the work followed in the tradition of Bowling for Columbine far more than Fahrenheit. The mostly positive critical reaction saw a recent nemesis return, this time with a nod of the cap. Writing in Counterpunch, Ralph Nader, who after the 2004 election wrote a column there asking “Will the Real Michael Moore Ever Re-Emerge,” now viewed Sicko as Moore’s “best move yet.” Nader did express hope that Moore would go beyond his general endorsement of national health care to contribute his resources and influence to the widespread grassroots movement behind HR 676, John Conyers’s legislation calling for a single-payer system. In a memorable showdown with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, in which the activist filmmaker berated the host and his network for their coverage of the war, Moore would in fact express his support for the bill. (On Blitzer’s show, Moore would also speak favorably about the new Al Gore, and not rule out supporting Hillary Clinton.)
Today's single payer post: preexisting conditions
Voices From The Nursing School
ADNA Discrimination Is Illegal!
My nursing colleague, “S,” has a 50/50 chance of inheriting Polycystic Kidney Disease from her father. At the age of 28, through genetic testing, she will find out if she has the gene that will inevitably cause her body to develop cysts in her kidneys, liver and other organs. There is no cure, so why would she get screened? And more immediately, if she has the gene, will she be dropped by her health insurance company for having a pre-existing condition?
S’s situation is relevant to the bill the senate unanimously approved HR 493 last week; a bill entitled the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). As the title suggests anyone who has a genetic test and finds out they carry genes that may cause them to develop a disease later in life, can’t be discriminated against. Your genes are now protected against discrimination in the same way you can’t be discriminated against for your age, gender, race, religion, etc. Neither your employer nor health insurance companies can use your genetic test results against you, for example by firing you or declaring that you have a pre-existing condition and dropping your health coverage. While I find this a step in the right direction for treating long-term health outcomes and protecting patient privacy, I’m left wondering why we are allowed to discriminate against people once they develop a disease. I’m beginning to think that healthcare is a right….
… The solution for our patients, friends, family, colleagues and ourselves is already here, we have a bill, SB 840, in the state of California and HR 676 is a federal bill. As students and American residents we are all in this healthcare system together and as voters and constituents we have the power to change the system into a fair one. Everyone in, nobody out! NS4universalcare.blogspot.com
David Golden also supports HR 676, a Canadian this it is the best proposal for American healthcare.
Today's single payer post: Presbyterian Church USA
Resolution to Endorse Single Payer Universal Healthcare
WHEREAS the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors have through the years called for reform of health delivery systems in the United States to make them accessible to the entire population.
WHEREAS the 1971 General Assembly of the UPCUSA called for a national health insurance “single payer” plan with the following words:
We find that our society is giving highest priority to the production and consumption of goods and to profit-making and the defense of wealth to the neglect of basic human needs including health.
We believe that good health is of the nation’s most valuable resources, important not only to the well-being of individuals but also to the nation….We believe the general public has direct responsibilities in redesigning and developing a comprehensive, publicly-oriented national health policy.
Therefore, the General Assembly recommends: There be developed a national policy leading to a comprehensive system of health care which shall:
* Be accountable to the general public.
* Make all services and benefits available to all persons in the United States.
* Be administered by a single national health agency with power to enforce standards to provide the highest quality health care possible.The Delivery of Health Services
* We believe that the value of persons requires that each person have full access to essential services without regard to ability to pay and on terms that enhance the dignity of the individuals….
* We find our medical system to be preoccupied with disease and crisis care, which is costly in lives, social relationships, and money…
* Therefore, the 183rd General Assembly (1971) recommends that:
Comprehensive health care for all persons include at least these elements: growth and development, nutrition, prevention of illness, periodic diagnostic evaluation, treatment of disease, extended and home nursing care, rehabilitation, long term care for chronic disorders, and the appropriate social and economic provisions to make these feasible in the life of a person and his/her household.WHEREAS the negative conditions that resulted in the 1971 and subsequent General Assembly pronouncements have multiplied in recent years so that now almost 50 million persons are uninsured, another 50 million are underinsured, and still another 50 million are at risk to be uninsured because of the gradual collapse of employment-based insurance plans; while per capita annual health costs are higher than in any other country and yet the U.S. ranks only 13th amongst industrialized countries in quality of health care; while administrative costs are many times higher under managed care systems that in single payer systems such as the Medicare and Veterans Administration systems, while for the current per capita expenditure, the entire populace could be covered through a single payer system, including mental health and dental care without co-pays and deductibles.
WHEREAS we have had before the 109th U.S. Congress a bill – HR 676 – that calls for single payer national health insurance and that embraces many of the principles set forth in our General Assembly pronouncements.
WHEREAS health care for the general population and for specific groups within the population has always been a concern of PHEWA and of all the PHEWA networks.
BE IT RESOLVED that:
PHEWA endorse a single payer, “Medicare for all,” publicly funded, privately administered national health insurance program.
PHEWA work toward endorsement of HR 676, or bills with similar provisions, by the General Assembly of PC(USA).
PHEWA encourage interfaith and ecumenical cooperation with the goal of obtaining passage of HR 676, or bills with similar provisions, by the congress and its signing by the President.
PHEWA send a copy of this resolution to Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.), to the appropriate committee chairs of the U.S. Congress, and to the Stated Clerk, the Executive Director of the General Assembly Council, the Washington and United Nations offices, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns and the Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns.
Resolution proposed by PACT with concurrence of PARO, PHN and PSMIN.
Today's single payer post: presentation in Minneapolis
MUHCC Events - June 26, 2008 at 7 PM
“Affordable Health Care for Everyone: The Single Payer Approach”
Presentation by Dr. James Hart, MD, MBA
School of Public Health, U. of MN
Thursday, June 26, 2008, 7pm-8pm
(Followed by a showing of SICKO)
At Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church
5025 Knox Ave. So., Mpls
Sponsored by MN Universal Health Care Coalition
Anyone in the Might Corrente Building from Minneapolis? Any chance of a first hand account?
Today's single payer post: Rasoul's press conference
Rasoul offers health care reform
FISHERSVILLE — A health care plan in Congress is the right elixir for soaring costs that are stifling business growth and keeping the elderly and uninsured from getting proper care, Sixth District congressional candidate Sam Rasoul said Wednesday.
The Democrat backs HR 676, a proposed single-payer health insurance plan that covers all Americans.
A local business owner illustrated how it is that people are teetering on the edge by sharing his story at Rasoul’s news conference on Wednesday. Terry Holmes is the owner of the successful Mill Street Grill restaurant in Downtown Staunton. He would be even more successful if he didn’t offer his employees basic health-insurance benefits, which have more than quintupled in bottom-line costs since 2001, and are expected to rise sharply again this fall.
“I’m not going to pass all the increases onto them, but I have to pass some of them,” said Holmes, the owner of the popular Mill Street Grill restaurant in Downtown Staunton, talking about insurance costs that have gone from $75 per month per employee in 2001 to nearly $400 a month today, with another $85-a-month increase expected this fall.
The U.S. has great doctors, great technology, great health care - if you have private coverage through employment. For those who don’t have that coverage, a health issue can quickly become a financial crisis leading to bankruptcy. Our failure to provide a national health policy also drains our economy in many ways - small businesses have to devote huge often prohibitive resources, to coverage, big business it put at a disadvantage in a global economy, and hospitals and doctors must write-off or pass on the costs of uninsured patients. H.R. 676 might not fix everything, but it will be a huge step in the right direction. Rasoul should be commended for putting it squarely before 6th District voters.
Today's single payer post: Rep. from WellPoint edition
[Welcome, Avedon readers! — Lambert]
2 Ind. congressmen face tough challenges in Tuesday primary
U.S. Rep. Andre Carson has barely had time to settle into his new office in Washington, but he might not want to get too comfortable.
Eight weeks after winning a special election to fill the remainder of his late grandmother’s term, Indiana’s newest congressman faces a crowded field in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for a full two-year term. The race is hard to predict despite support for Carson from state party officials and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. …
…Carson hopes his brief experience in Washington sets him apart from his seven challengers.
He and two of those challengers _ former state Health Commissioner Woody Myers and state Rep. Carolene Mays _ are black, and some community leaders worry the crowded field will split the black vote. That could give state Rep. David Orentlicher, who is white, an advantage in the district, which is about two-thirds white.
Other Democrats on the ballot are Larry Lamont Ledford, Frances Nelson Williams, Joseph C. “Hippie Joe” Stockett III and Pierre Quincy Pullins. The winner is expected to face Elrod in November, although Cat Ping and Larry Shouse are also seeking the Republican nomination.
Money could make the difference in the race, which will likely attract many first-time voters who are drawn to the polls by the presidential primary between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama but know little about the 7th District candidates.
Myers, former chief medical officer at health insurer WellPoint Inc., has poured more than $1.25 million of his own money into his campaign and ran several TV commercials before Carson aired his first.
“We will see on May 6 how this investment pays off,” Myers said. “I’m willing to do what it takes to get the job done.”
I don’t live in Indiana, so I have no opinion as to who should be nominated, but I know who should not be nominated.
Edit -
This seems to be a very hot race.
Today's single payer post: right wing materialist edition
Via hippachria: 10 Myths About Canadian Health Care, Busted
9. People won’t be responsible for their own health if they’re not being forced to pay for the consequences.
False. The philosophical basis of America’s privatized health care system might best be characterized as medical Calvinism. It’s fascinating to watch well-educated secularists who recoil at the Protestant obsession with personal virtue, prosperity as a cardinal sign of election by God, and total responsibility for one’s own salvation turn into fire-eyed, moralizing True Believers when it comes to the subject of Taking Responsibility For One’s Own Health.
This is this bizarre conservative notion that financial incentives are the only incentives. First of all, lets recognize that for many diseases, hemophlia, epilepsy, etc., have to do with genetic predisposition and environmental influences are poorly understood.
But let’s concede that many diseases are brought on, or aggravated by bad choices, smoking, eating too much, exercising too little. The incentive for making the right choice is good health. Poor health is a huge disincentive, much stronger than money. That people continue to make bad choices should indicate that this is a little more complicated than incentives. We would recognize that if our priority were public health.
Today's single payer post: SEIU vs Carlyle Group
60 SEIU workers protest at meeting where Carlyle head speaks
BALTIMORE - About 60 union workers protested Monday at a conference where the head of a private-equity firm spoke to business editors and reporters.
Workers from Manor Care (nyse: HCR - news - people ) nursing homes around the U.S. protested David Rubenstein’s speech, chanting and passing out flyers, said Julie Eisenhardt, a spokeswoman for the Service Employees International Union.
Nursing Home Caregivers Unite to Hold Carlyle-ManorCare’s Rubenstein Accountable for Broken Promises
Residents and caregivers point to recent care problems and problems at the bargaining table as evidence that Carlyle is not truly committed to its promises. One home in Davenport, IA was cited for more than 30 violations of regulatory standards in a recent inspection. Meanwhile, when caregivers in ManorCare’s Towson, MD facility fought for a fully-funded training program, the company fought back, offering a plan that would require caregivers, already struggling to make ends meet at their low hourly wages, to pay back some of the cost.
The account at The Baltimore Sun truly captures Rubenstein’s hubris:
Rubenstein told reporters and editors that he sees investment opportunities in financial institutions, whose balance sheets include marked-down assets. Moreover, Rubenstein said he believes banks will become more open to selling debt, including those of Carlyle companies, at a discount.
“The most attractive thing right now is buying back my own debt,” he said.
So Carlyle floats bonds, which are subsequently downrated because of Carlyle’s dodgy reputation, which Carlyle buys back at a discounted rate. Imagine if all those hard pressed foreclosed could do the same?
Today's single payer post: Shareholder iniative edition
S.E.C. Backs Health Care Balloting
WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission, shifting its position, has told companies they must allow shareholders to vote on a proposal for universal health insurance coverage.
Shareholders, including religious groups and labor unions, have offered the proposal in an effort to draw the nation’s largest corporations deeper into a debate over the future of health care, fast emerging as one of the most important issue in domestic policy.
The S.E.C. has told Boeing, General Motors, United Technologies, Wendy’s International and Xcel Energy over the last several months that they may not omit the health care proposal from their proxy materials.
This came as a surprise to many executives, who said the agency had allowed companies to exclude similar proposals in the past.
The truth is that a single payer system would lift a huge health care burden from our largest corporations, but our corporate leadersheep is to greedy to see that.
Today's single payer post: Susan Bayh
Sits on Wellpoint’s Board of Directors
Susan Bayh, wife of Senator Evan Bayh, sits on the board of directors of Wellpoint, a huge health insurance company. poputonian has an excellent run down of the history of Wellpoint.
On January 7, 2007, Susan Bayh exercised her options to acquire 3,333 shares of Wellpoint for an estimated cost of $147,000 and sold them the same day for an estimated price of $260,000, netting a tidy sum of $113,000. She repeated the process on May 17, 2007 for a net profit of $136,000. On December 11, 2007 she dumped an additional 1,430 shares of Wellpoint for $123,000. Why not? The entire Wellpoint board of directors was doing the same thing.
Bayh’s total profits from stock dumping were $372,000. How much health care could the state of Indiana purchase for $372,000?
Remember this when anyone tells you that we cannot afford HR 676.
Today's single payer post: Texas Reps for HR 676
Challenger Dr. Ludwig Otto endorses universal healthcare, but does not specifically endorse HR 676 or single payer. If you live in Texas’ sixth CD, you might ask him.
Al Green is committed to fighting for affordable, comprehensive coverage for all Americans.
Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee regards health care as one of the most pressing issues facing this country and the world.
Tom Love calls for universal healthcare, but does not specifically call for HR 676, so if you live in the 24th CD, you might ask for clarification. It may be that he has not heard of HR 676, nor know that four current Texas Representatives are co-sponsors.
Eddie Bernice Johnson is a registered nurse, so I guess it is no surprise that she supports HR 676.
Silvestre Reyes is a co-sponsor of HR 676 and is committed to addressing the peculiar health challenges of the border area.
Today's single payer post: the AARP is not your friend
Just a reminder, we have a rotten Medicare prescription drug program in part because of the AARP.
Public Citizen has the details of some of AARP’s conflict of interest.
AARP Has Financial Conflict of Interest in Medicare Drug Bill
“Taking its business activities into account, AARP would stand to gain tens of millions of dollars each year in new income under the Republican Medicare bill, a finding that presents a significant conflict of interest for an organization trying to represent the best interests of its members,” said Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch.
The The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has a specific take down of the AARP’s deceptive advertising.
The new law also risks weakening Medicare financing by manufacturing an artificial Medicare financing crisis. The legislation creates a presumption that no more than 45 percent of Medicare’s costs should come from general revenues, even though Medicare Part B (which pays for physician and other outpatient services) and the new drug benefit are supposed to be financed through general revenues. The new law calls for the issuance of official government reports every year that identify the year in which the 45-percent threshold will be reached and that indicate the magnitude of the “unfunded liability” of the Medicare program as a whole. The new law mandates that this “unfunded liability” be computed based on the assumption that general revenues cannot defray more than 45 percent of overall Medicare costs. This provision of the new law also requires the consideration of legislation to make changes in Medicare that would keep general revenues from covering more than 45 percent of costs.
Today's single payer post: the coalition
The problem with health insurance
Representative John Conyers has a bill in the House of Representatives to expand the Medicare system to provide affordable, quality coverage for all Americans. H.R. 676 has 86 cosponsors in the House, and has already been endorsed by 30 state labor federations, 94 Central Labor Councils, and 348 union locals and other labor organizations in 48 states.
It is not just labor, dozens of organizations (scroll down) have endorsed HR 676. We can win this one.
Over the fourth of July holiday politicians will be appearing in parades and other events. This is a great time to talk to them about Medicare for All (unless you would rather talk about FISA).
Today's single payer post: the smell of fear
I can also tell it’s an election year because once again because the notion of universal health insurance is in the news – along with the constant drumbeating and cheerleading by the mainstream media in support of it.
Put aside the ridiculous suggestion that our CCCP press has in anyway supported meaningful action, and ask yourself why the article was written at all. Clearly the VRWC is worried that something might happen. They are trying to stop it before it starts.
This is a good sign and we should be pleased. When the TV hairdos start bleating about socialized medicine we will know they are really scared.
Today's single payer post: torture chambers or emergency rooms?
I have been thinking about this old article in The Hill:
Dems hedge on healthcare
…“We all know there is not enough money to do all this stuff,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), a Finance Committee member and an Obama supporter, referring to the presidential candidates’ healthcare plans. “What they are doing is … laying out their ambitions.” …
… Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), a member of Senate Democratic leadership and a key Hillary Clinton ally who also sits on the Finance Committee, said he is “not sure we have the big plan on healthcare.”
“Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we’re ready for a major national healthcare plan,” Schumer said.
Schumer said he would focus “on prevention above all and cost cutting until we can get a national healthcare plan.”
As this video shows, a single payer system would significantly lower costs, so the whole can we pay for this argument is bogus.
But these same Senators have been happy to authorize the Treasury Department to borrow money from China and vote appropriations for the Defense Dept. to build a gulag of secret prisons, complete with torture chambers.
During the Bush years, hundreds of urban and rural emergency rooms have closed down, and at the same time our society has been building torture chambers. Rockefeller and Schumer cannot put all the blame on Bush. They need to take responsibility for their role in that.
The battle for HR 676 is a moral test.
Today's single payer post: Unitarian Universalist
General Assembly delegates endorse single-payer health care
GA delegates passed five Actions of Immediate Witness with little or no discussion in the sixth and final plenary session Sunday afternoon. One AIW, on ending present-day slavery in the fields, had passed at the morning plenary.
According to the UUA bylaws, Actions of Immediate Witness are resolutions “concerned with a significant action, event, or development, the timing or specificity of which makes it inappropriate to be addressed by a UUA Statement of Conscience.” They should be focused and urgent enough to require immediate action. In 2007 the AIWs included: Pass the Employment Non-discrimination Act with Transgender Inclusion and Protection; Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education; Support Immigrant Families; and Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The following AIWs were endorsed at the sixth plenary session:
The first AIW, Single-Payer Health Care, was the only one to engender discussion. H.R. 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act (Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Bill), advocating a single-payer system was submitted to Congress in April. The AIW urges UU congregations to lobby their representatives to co-sponsor and pass HR 676. “It’s time our nation, founded on promoting the common welfare, promoted healthcare for all,” said the Rev. Lucy Hitchcock Seck of Miami, Fla.
Single-payer health care is a system in which doctors, hospitals, and pharmacists are paid out of one pot of money, usually provided by the government.
Opponents said that single payer health care was not the same as universal health care. “The bill narrows down the possibilities for universal health care coverage,” said John Harky of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville. “Single-payer peels away a lot of the support for universal coverage.”
Despite objections, the AIW passed with a majority.
The following AIWs passed with no discussion: Oppose a U.S. Attack on Iran; Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $10 in 2010; Extend the Tax Credit for Wind and Solar Power; and Oppose the Florida and California Marriage Protection Initiatives.
Today's single payer post: UnitedHealth Group's legal troubles
UnitedHealth’s Ingenix faces mounting legal troubles
Now, a consumer is raising the stakes a bit by attempting to get class action status for a suit against Ingenix itself. In the suit, which was filed in Connecticut, plaintiff Jeffrey Weintraub contends that he was defrauded by a conspiracy in which health plans calculate lowball, out-of-network rates using bogus Ingenix data. Weintraub also names UHG, Oxford health Plans, Aetna, Cigna and other insurers in the suit.
Meanwhile, the industry is still waiting for Cuomo to drop the other shoe. While New York’s AG has promised to sue Ingenix, he hasn’t done so yet. Cuomo has said that he is investigating an “industry-wide scheme perpetrated by some of the nation’s largest health insurance companies to defraud consumers.”
Between the criminal investigation and the civil law suit, we should be able to learn a great deal about the inner workings on the health insurance industry. Yum.
Today's single payer post: WI Reps for HR 676
Paulette Garin is a challenger for the first congressional district. I don’t know when the primary is, or if it has even been held all ready; but Garin specifically endorses a single payer system.
In addition to co-sponsoring HR 676, Tammy Baldwin has sponsored legislation to protect cranes.
Gwen Moore is a co-sponsor of HR 676, sponsor of legislation to address health disparities of minority populations, supported the creation of creation of SeniorCare, a prescription drug benefit for Wisconsin seniors.
Today's single payer post; Capitol Hill Sell out edition
Congressional Democrats are backing away from healthcare reform promises made by their two presidential candidates, saying that even if their party controls the White House and Congress, sweeping change will be difficult.
It is still seven months before Election Day, but already senior Democrats are maneuvering to lower public expectations on the key policy issue. …
…“We all know there is not enough money to do all this stuff,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), a Finance Committee member and an Obama supporter, referring to the presidential candidates’ healthcare plans. “What they are doing is … laying out their ambitions.” …
We have enough money to kill people in Iraq, but not enough money to save people in America? What kind of perverted priorities is that?
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), a member of Senate Democratic leadership and a key Hillary Clinton ally who also sits on the Finance Committee, said he is “not sure we have the big plan on healthcare.”
“Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we’re ready for a major national healthcare plan,” Schumer said.
Do you live in their states? Is there any way of telling them that this election is about more than who gets the best parking spaces on Capitol Hill?
Today's single payer post; Charlie Crystle explains why we shouldn't settle for less
Single-payer is good for business
My growing software company’s health-insurance premiums have more than doubled over the past four years. This is not sustainable and the governor’s bill would do nothing to change it; rather, it would preserve the status quo of the failed “market” system, which actually provides more of a monopoly than a competitive market. SB 300, in contrast, would ensure full coverage for all Pennsylvania residents, regardless of their employment or social status.
Say it with me, health insurance is not healthcare.
Today’s single payer post, California dreaming
Californians can be real proud so have elected so many sponsors of HR 676.
I have reintroduced H.R. 3080, the United States Universal Health Service Act. This bill will specifically make high-quality preventive, acute and long term care available to everyone regardless of demographics, employment status, or previous health status. This health care service creates an entitlement to high-quality health care and supplemental services without charge and without discrimination based on race, sex, age, religion, language, income, employment status, sexual orientation, or previous health status. It also stresses prevention and wellness.
In addition to supporting HR 676 George Miller also stands up for abused teenagers.
Grace Napolitano is working to expand access to mental health care.
Laura Richardson writes a letter to the President:
Dear Mr. President,
Our healthcare system is in crisis and you have done NOTHING to fix the problem. In fact, your policies consistently favor health insurance companies and big drug companies, at the expense of average Americans. I believe that access to high-quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege. That’s why, as the new Congressmember from the 37th District of California, I’ll fight for universal, affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for all.1. Universal Health Insurance for ALL Americans
2. Start by Insuring Every Child
3. Invest in prevention
4. Modernize Patient Records Management
5. Respect the Elderly
6. End Racial and Ethnic Disparities
7. Advocate for Public’s Health
8. Train More Healthcare Professionals
9. Decrease the Cost of Prescription Drugs
10. Improve Trauma and Emergency Care
Lucille Roybal-Allard has been working hard to stop underage drinking and end domestic violence.
Linda Sanchez names access to healthcare as the top of her issues.
Loretta Sanchez opposed the hideous medcaire part D.
Maxine Waters wants a national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS.
Diane Watson is working hard to address community health disparities.
Lynn Woolsey was the first member of congress to call for us to get out of Iraq. I guess she would rather build emergency rooms in her district than kill people in Iraq. Radical.
Xavier Becerra supports stem cell research.
Howard Berman points out that we spend more per capita than anyone else and millions do not have access to health care.
Sam Farr is working to protect the ocean as well as expand access to health care.
Bob Filner thinks patients and doctors should make decisions, not insurance companies. What a concept.
Michael Honda wants to pass a real patient’s bill of rights.
Today’s single payer post: Andrea Miller
Andrea Miller is the Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s fourth congressional district.
UPDATE! Down with Tyranny says it is time to take a look at Miller’s race.
Miller’s views on healthcare:
Universal Single Payer Healthcare
When an injustice burns in your chest, you feel compelled to work passionately for change. Such is the case for me when it comes to fixing America’s growing healthcare crisis. Ensuring access to quality health care for all Americans is one of my priorities as your Representative. Across America, the reality is the working poor, the middle class, children, and the elderly are falling through the cracks of the current system by the millions. There is no reason why the wealthiest nation in the world – a nation that spends more per capita on healthcare than any other – should be the only industrialized democracy without a universal healthcare program for all its citizens.* There are over 47 million people in our nation without health care, including 11 million children.
* Administrative costs in private insurance run between 20-30%, while administrative costs in Medicaid amount to only 2-3%.
* Prescription drugs are unaffordable for a growing number of Americans, the uninsured, and those with inadequate insurance.
* Both large and small businesses are increasingly unable to offer coverage to their employees or even afford good coverage for themselves.
* Americans spend more than twice as much on healthcare as any other nation, yet we rank 37th in overall health and well-being.
* Three quarters of the uninsured are in families headed by a full-time worker.
* Medical bills are the biggest cause of personal bankruptcies.
* Health insurance premiums have risen 4 times faster than wages over the past 6 years.Too little is spent on prevention and public health: The nation faces epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases as well as new threats of pandemic flu and bioterrorism. Yet despite all of this less than 4 cents of every health care dollar is spent on prevention and public health. Individual states are taking initiative, but America needs reform at the national level. Too many hopes, futures, and lives hang in the balance.
In a just and fair society, quality healthcare is essential for human life and dignity, for a strong economy, and for healthy American families and communities. Quality healthcare must be available to all Americans as a simple matter of justice and human rights. Healthcare should not be a commodity of privilege that is rationed according to an individual’s ability to pay or because of place of employment. Americans need a healthcare system that is accessible, adequate, and affordable for all. Adequate healthcare should be every American’s birthright. The kind of system I will work for would include the following services and priorities:
* Incentives to help Americans choose healthier lifestyles
* Quality primary care, which is the least expensive and most cost effective initial point of care, and helps build a long-term patient-provider relationship
* Prescription drugs available to all Americans and not rationed only to those who can afford them
* Mental health and substance abuse care as part of the total healthcare program
* Dental and vision coverage
* Alternative medical care services, including acupuncture, chiropractic care, and midwifery
* Hospice and long-term medical assistance for the elderly and those with terminal conditions Healthcare decisions need to be made by patients and their doctors, not by clerical employees working for insurance companies. Between 20-30% of the premiums we pay goes to support an unproductive insurance bureaucracyHealthcare professionals in growing numbers are supporting single payer health care where we use a system similar to Medicare to pay bills, and focus our efforts on improving the efficiency of care, especially treatment of chronic diseases.
Americans value choice, and every American should be free to choose a Medicare-style option if they like. Yet individuals and employers would be free to purchase coverage beyond, or outside, the federally funded system. A good analogy is our school system: everyone has access to the public schools. If, for whatever reason, they choose to pay to send their children to private schools, they are free to do so, but they must still pay the taxes that support the public school system.
I will work to assure good access for all Americans based on need, not income. Americans must have the freedom to choose their physicians and hospitals. Approved medical and healthcare providers should be independent members of the public or private sector. Efforts must be made to find ways to balance cost efficiency with compassionate and effective treatments. I will work for a system where all children have health care coverage. Obama will expand the number of options for young adults to get coverage, including allowing young people up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parents’ plans.
Over 133 million Americans have at least one chronic disease and these chronic conditions cost a staggering $1.7 trillion yearly. I will support implementation of programs and encourage team care that will improve coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions. I will strengthen antitrust laws to prevent insurers from overcharging physicians for their malpractice insurance and will promote new models for addressing errors that improve patient safety, strengthen the doctor-patient relationship and reduce the need for malpractice suits. Mental illness affects approximately one in five American families. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that untreated mental illnesses cost the U.S. more than $100 billion per year. I will support mental health parity so that coverage for serious mental illnesses are provided on the same terms and conditions as other illnesses and diseases.
Swing State Project tells us that Virginia’s fourth congressional district has one of the highest concentrations of African American voters in among seats currently held by Republican incumbents, so who knows, maybe we will get lucky.
Today’s single payer post: corporate news edition
UnitedHealth CEO paid $13.1M in 2007
UnitedHealth Group Inc. CEO Stephen Hemsley received compensation valued at $13.1 million in 2007, down from the $15.5 million he got in 2006.
According to documents filed with the SEC, Hemsley received a base salary of $1.3 million in 2007, up from $1 million in 2006. He also got stock options awards valued at $8.1 million in 2007, less than the $11.3 million he got in 2006.
His compensation also included $3.6 million in cash incentives, up from $2.8 in the previous year.
Yes, that is the same UnitedHealth that is being investigated by NY AG Cuomo.
Cigna wants Doctor’s to adopt an email culture.
WellPoint Profit Falls 25% on Claims for the Elderly
April 23 (Bloomberg) — WellPoint Inc., the U.S. health insurer with the most customers, said profit plummeted 25 percent, the first quarterly decline in three years, on higher- than-expected claims in Medicare-backed plans for the elderly.
Net income in the first quarter dropped to $588.1 million, or $1.07 a share, the Indianapolis-based company said today in a statement. Profit fell short of analyst expectations, and WellPoint reduced its earnings goal for the second time in six weeks. The company initially fell in New York trading, then increased the most in almost 3 1/2 years after executives told investors they are moving “aggressively” to make changes.
It won’t be long before they are begging for a government takeover.
Today’s single payer post: House Health Subcommittee
HR 676, Medicare for All, is currently before the House Health Subcommittee. Of the 33 members of the Health Subcommittee, 6 are cosponsors of HR 676: Edolphus Towns (NY-10), Eliot L. Engel (NY-17), Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) (one of the favorites to succeed Obama as senator from IL, should he prevail in his presidential campaign), Hilda L. Solis (CA-32), Anthony D. Weiner (NY-9), and Tammy Baldwin (WI-2).
The remaining Democrats are Chairman Frank Pallone, Henry Waxman (CA-30), Bart Gordon (TN-6), Anna Eschoo (CA-14), Gene Green (TX-29), Diana DeGette (CO-1), Lois Capps (CA-23), Tom Allen, candidate for Senator from Maine, Mike Ross (AR-4) Darlene Hooley (OR-5), Jim Matheson (UT-2), and John D. Dingell (Ex Officio, in his capacity as Chair of the House Energy & Commerce committee)
The Republicans are Nathan Deal (challenged by Jeff Scott), Ralph Hall (challenged by Glenn Melançon), Barbara Cubin (from Wyoming, apparently has no challenger), Heather Wilson, who is running for Senate, ( Martin Heinrich is the Democratic candidate for her seat), John B. Shadegg (challenged by Bob Lord), Steve Buyer (challenged by Nels Ackerson), Joseph R. Pitts (challenged by Bruce Slater, the only Democratic challenger in Pennsylvania to specifically endorse HR 676! This is a pivotal race!), Mike Ferguson (challenged by Linda Stender), Mike Rogers (challenged by Bob Alexander), Sue Wilkins Myrick (challenged by Harry Taylor), John Sullivan (not clear who the Democratic challenger is), Tim Murphy (challenged by Steve O’Donnell), Michael C. Burgess (challenged by Ken Leach), Marsha Blackburn (not clear who the Democratic challenger is) and Joe Barton, TX (Ex Officio, in his capacity of ranking member of the Energy and Commerce committee) challenged by Dr. Ludwig Otto.
This is what lobbyists do, they zero in on the relevant committees, learn about every member and their districts. We can use the internet, blogs, and distributed research to do the same thing. Those who created the 2008 race tracker have handed us a fabulous resource. We can use it to zero in on members of relevant committees and learn the districts and the challengers.
My hope is that some of our readers will take the information in this post, and take it to the next step and start tracking these races and posting about them, either at the Mighty Corrente Building or their local blog.
Today’s single payer post: HR 676 videos
These videos were taken at the hearing for HRH 676. See our friends in action.
HR 676 - The Single Payer Solution, Part 1 of 4
HR 676 - The Single Payer Solution, Part 2 of 4
Today’s single payer post: Indiana and Kentucky
Elizabeth in KY interviews Democratic Representative David Watkins:
Rep Watkins had a different view of National Healthcare than Rep DeWeese did; he thought that it would be a good thing because it would eliminate the insurance companies who take 20-25% of the money for healthcare. Right now he said that Medicaid only receives 3-4% of the money and creating a single-payer system would allow more money to help with Medicaid. The KHA is supportive of National healthcare because to them there wouldn’t be much difference because 50-70% of people who attend the hospital are already on Medicaid or Medicare therefore there would not be that great of a change. The only thing that they are not supportive of is government control of hospitals under a National Healthcare system.
The Kentucky Law Review tells us that a Louisville-based healthcare company will pay more than $3 million in fines as part of a penalty for submitting false statements to Medicare.
The Bridge reports that the AFL CIO has a survey showing broad concern about health security, even among those who have insurance.
The Hillbilly Checks Out Free Market Cure Healthcare Scare Tactics. Youtube Video.
South Shore Progressive reports about a candidates rally around health care at union rally
South Shore Progressive has a sad statistic
Today’s single payer post: Indiana edition
Democracy for Monroe County says that Monroe County Commissioner Mark Stoops has a local single payer plan. The Bilerico Project asks us to contact Speaker Pelosi and demand action on Medicaid. Blue Indiana says there will be no hearing on a proposed single payer commission.
Clearly there is a great deal of popular support for a single payer system. If we work together we can win.
Health insurance is not heathcare!
Today’s single payer post: living with our health neglect system
MS blogger talks about syringes.
When Marines Become UNCitizens: A Story of Misdiagnosis, Malpractice and Outrage
American Patients for Universal Health care
Ave Cassandra tells us about a health care rally in Denver last March.
Single payer snippets has a nice run down of events around the country.
North Carolinians Are Dying For Lack Of Health Insurance
I am planning a post listing all candidates for the House of Representatives who support a single payer system, so far I have Jackie Spier, John Conyers, and Dennis Kucinch. I am sure there must be more. If you know of any, please put their names and links to there website in the comments.
Today’s single payer post: NY bloggers not happy with Schumer
Rochester Turning says this kind of corporations-over-people is unbelievable coming from a Democrat. The Albany Project wants to know what Schumer meant by that remark.
Today’s single payer post: NY Reps for HR 676
Start spreading the news, be a part of it! NYNY!
Yvette Clarke thinks that health care is the right of every American.
Eliot Engel has a solid record on consumer protection and health care.
Maurice Hinchey comes from FDR’s district.
In addition to supporting HR 676 Carolyn Maloney wants to something about predatory lending.
In addition to supporting HR 676, Michael McNulty is sponsoring legislation to prevent identity theft.
Gregory Meeks is sponsoring a host of initiatives that will improve health care.
Jerrold Nadler supports HR is fighting with other NY Reps. to get health care for 9/11 victims.
Jose Serrano is protecting the Bill of Rights along with health care.
Edolphus Towns wants additional funding to stabilize trama centers.
Anthony Weiner, is fighting for the middle class and trying to do something about the increasing rates in HIV/AIDS in New York.
New Yorkers can be very proud of their Represenatatives.
Today’s single payer post: Ohio Reps for HR 676
Mike Carroll is the only Ohio challenger who has specifically endorsed HR 676.
Stephanie Tubbs Jones says that we must make health care affordable by offering a guaranteed benefit.
Marcy Kaptur says that by reforming health care so that it serves people instead of special interests, every American can have access to affordable, high-quality health care.
I wish Dennis Kucinich would take a leaf out of Bernie Sander’s and stick to his knitting. If Kucinich would concentrate on his legislative agenda the way Sanders does, he could be very effective.
Today’s single payer post: Virginia Democrats for HR 676
Two of Virginia’s Democratic Representatives, Bobby Scott and Jim Moran, are supporters of HR 676.
Bobby Scott sponsored the All Healthy Children Act. He also sponsored H.AMDT.568, an amendment to prohibit use of funds for the Random Student Drug Testing Program.
You can see a video here of his exchange with Monica Goodling.
Congressman Jim Moran is a strong advocate for expanding health care to the country’s uninsured and underinsured residents. He believes that, at a minimum, health insurance should be available to every child in the United States, and that catastrophic coverage should be available to every adult. He supports the statewide insurance program recently adopted by Massachusetts which requires all families and individuals residing in the state to obtain health insurance, provides insurance coverages that will be reduced in scope and in cost, and subsidizes those who are unable to pay the full premium cost.
The Congressman is a firm supporter of federal embryonic stem cell research, and opposes the President’s decision to withhold federal support for research on additional stem cell lines. He believes that stem cell research will lead to significant breakthroughs in treatment for many debilitating diseases, such as Parkinson’s, cancer and diabetes, and that the federal government must become a major player in stem cell research. The Congressman was an original cosponsor of the Stem-Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would have enabled the government to play such a role.
On the local level, the Congressman has helped expand the availability of medical care to Northern Virginia’s uninsured resident by obtaining federal funds for community-based health delivery programs, including the Arlington Free Clinic and the Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services program. He also has been instrumental in obtaining assistance for Children’s Hospice International, a new model of treating children with life-threatening conditions, which is based on the delivery of a continuum of care to both children and their families, from the time of diagnosis through bereavement in cases where a cure is not achieved.
More politicians would take the right stand if they saw that they would be rewarded for it. It is important to recognize and thank your friends.