Via Avedon Carol, we find that Blue Cross has told regulators one thing and stockholders another. I guess they were too busy dumping stock to get their story straight.

September 17, 2009, New York City

Single-Payer and Healthcare Reform–What’s Happening in Washington

Speakers: STANTON SHEK / ANTHONY ACCURSO / LEONARD RODBERG, PH.D
When: 7:30 PM
Where: Beth Israel Medical Center, Phillips Ambulatory Care Center, 10 Union Square East, Second Floor, Lecture Hall

The article is about a dispute between Jon Cooper and Gillibrand about who is more committed to the public option. Cooper is challenging Gillibrand in the 2010 primary.

Spokesman Matt Canter cited a Gillibrand mailing issued last week stating: "I continue to advocate for a public health care option, like "Medicare for All," that would allow people to buy in at an affordable rate - something like five or six percent of their income.

This is a way of piggy backing off of the popularity of the real Medicare for All without actually doing anything.

Times Union

ALBANY -- The 44th anniversary of Medicare will be celebrated with a rally at 5 p.m. July 30 at 90 State St., corner of State and Pearl streets, in front of the health insurance industry lobby's headquarters.

Groups will rally for National Single Payer Health care. This event is sponsored by the Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare, Hunger Action Network, Single Payer New York, Physicians for a National Health Program, Capital District Area Labor Council, and Troy Area Labor Council.

This diary at MyDD indicates that Schumer is ready to fight for single payer. This is terrific news if true. If you live in New York, please ask Schumer if this is true and thank him for his support.

There will be major demonstrations in New York in support of single payer:
May 27, state capital Albany, NY
May 30, New York City

We need massive turnout for these events.

Healthcare-Now! reports that Albany will hold its its national day of action on May 27, which is a Wednesday.

We will be lobbying to get New York State to pass legislation to establish a single payer program for New York State. Legislation (A2356 / S2370) is pending in both houses. Governor Paterson has been a long time supporter of single payer health care.

We also will be working to pass a State Senate resolution in support of a federal single payer bill. The New York State Assembly passed a resolution last year.

There will be a noon time rally in west Capitol Park. This is part of a national week of action on single payer.

My name is Matt Funiciello. I am the owner of a bread bakery and cafe in Glens Falls, N.Y.

The biggest problem, without any doubt, is health care. In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by the Business Council of NY, health care is the single biggest issue for business owners in New York State. Worker’s comp rates came in a distant second.

Governor Patterson says we “need the courage to balance our budget as well as our priorities.” Well, he is absolutely right and small business has spoken loudly about the priority; it is health care. The question becomes, How do

we balance our budget while insuring the millions of New Yorkers who lack coverage?

Rochester City Newspaper

During his campaign, Massa backed HR676, which would create a single-payer health system. He says that the bill, which stalled in the House health subcommittee, is still the best option. A good place to start, though, is to pass an expanded state children's health care program, he says.

I don't live in NY, so am reluctant to weigh in on the Senate seat, but one of the people interested in the seat, Carolyn Maloney is a cosponsor of HR 676, Medicare for All.

If, and only if, you live in NY, you might contact Gov. Patterson and tell him that you would like a supporter of single payer as your next Senator.

Edit -
If you feel strongly that CK would not be a good candidate, sign this petition

Massa joins Obama’s health-care coalition

Democrat Eric Massa, the apparent winner to represent the 29th Congressional District, joined other newly-elected congressmembers Friday in promoting Health Care for America Now. The national grassroots campaign is focused on guaranteeing quality, affordable health care for every American in 2009.

Letter to the Rome Sentinel

Barber is the choice

And Don Barber knows how to reduce property taxes: He backs publicly-funded, privately-delivered health care for every New York resident. This will take the burden off both county and school taxes, the two major components of the property tax.

NY-29: Wrap-up of first Massa/Kuhl Debate

Kuhl to Massa. You want to repeal tax cuts (Kuhl is talking about the Bush tax cuts) and you want to spend 1 trillion dollars on health care. (HR 676)

Massa deftly turned that around. Roughly paraphrased - “Sure I want to spend 1 trillion dollars on health care because right now we are spending 1.7 trillion dollars so that results in almost a trillion dollars in savings.

Eric Massa on Health Care

‘Sicko' subject to speak on health care reform

ITHACA — Donna Smith, who appeared in “Sicko,” the Michael Moore documentary film on the U.S. health care system, is expected to give a talk in Ithaca next week.

Smith and her husband, Larry, were forced to declare bankruptcy and lost their home because of medical care costs. She is part of the Healthcare Road Show, a traveling group and program calling for creation of a national single-payer health insurance system.

Smith is scheduled to tell her story and discuss the issue three times in two days:

* 7-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8 in Room 103 of Textor Hall at Ithaca College;

Health care options debated at labor picnic

"What that means is you take Medicare and you expand and improve it in order to make it a national system," said Doug Bullock, an Albany County legislator and one of the organizers for the event. "We would keep the same doctors, but we would lose all of the insurance companies who have been wrongly making our medical decisions for us."

Congressional candidate Paul Tonko spent the afternoon with his constituents to show his support for their hard work and for the idea of single-payer health care.

Democrats fund Maffei in race with Sweetland for 25th District

Maffei's strong showing has won support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has pledged to spend $2.7 million on television advertisements in three of the four districts that extend into Monroe County — the 25th, 26th and 29th, all of which are now represented by Republicans. The committee is sending Maffei's campaign money through its Red to Blue program.

August 21, Saratoga Springs: Health care rally for Capital District

Date : 21 August 2008 From : 11:00am To : 12:00pm
Category : Health / Care Location : 12866

Event Description :

A new coalition of groups called Health Care for America Now! (HCAN) is holding a rally outside the Saratoga Springs Hospital.

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, single payer advocates from across New York will meet in Albany to form a new statewide organization.

Our aim: to build an unbeatable movement for a single payer public system that would fully fund comprehensive health care, including prescription drugs, for all. We invite all single-payer supporters to join us!

Single Payer Health Care: Medicare for All

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."

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.

[New Yorkers! If any of you go to this, please tell us about it! And take pictures...]

6/7 SAT: `Healthcare is a Human Right` Outreach Day
That is tomorrow New Yorkers.

Healthcare-NOW! Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 1:16 PM
To: Commission Commission; Join Us; Local 299 Subject: [Fwd: **6/7 - Healthcare is a Human Right Outreach Day

& 6/13 - Next CAP Meeting]

Please help get the word out about the upcoming June 19th Protest!

** Saturday 6/7 - Healthcare is a Human Right Outreach Day

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.” ...

Some NY HMOs Impose Consumer Drug Restrictions To Increase Profits

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.