S.1218, A bill to provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans
Sponsored by Senator Kennedy, the is the senate companion bill to HR 676.
Kennedy leads renewed effort on universal healthcare
The discussions signal that Kennedy, who instructed aides to begin holding the meetings while he is in Massachusetts undergoing treatment for brain cancer, intends to work vigorously to build bipartisan support for a major healthcare initiative when he returns to Washington in the fall. ...
... Obama's Senate staff has attended the roundtable discussions. If Obama is elected, Kennedy's effort to identify points of agreement among senators could smooth the way for the new administration to press ahead on universal healthcare, which Obama has promised to implement within four years.
It is very important that Kennedy stick to his guns and insist on a single payer, Medicare for All system. So if, and only if you live in Massachusetts, please contact Senator Kennedy and tell him to stick with S. 1218. If you live outside of Massachusetts, please use his political site, don't forget to wish him a speedy recovery!
There is very strong support for HR 676 from Massachusetts. There is very strong grassroots activism.
As Chair of Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Kennedy is the key figure. We urgently need him to stay with single payer. On the left side of the page you can see the committee members. Senator Sherrod Brown was a sponsor of HR 676 when he was in the House, so presumably he would be a vote for single payer in the Senate. Some of the Republican members are up for reelection, and we may be able to replace them. Please see if any committee members are your senator and contact them.
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i'm going to write to both my senators anyway
they're supposed to be representing me. no reason i can't ask them to convey my wishes to their colleagues.
excellent notion
we are going to have to get around to writing them anyway, along with their challengers
that's a handy link. thanks.
neither of my senators is up for re-election this year, but the republican, mel martinez, will be in 2010. various democrats' names [some of whom i even like] are already being floated as possible opponents.
probably can't hurt to write to them either.
I'm a little confused about the bill, though.
THOMAS sez:
Medicare for All Act - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII (Medicare for All) under which: (1) each eligible individual is entitled to benefits which include the full range and scope of benefits available under the original fee-for-service program under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare), with parity in coverage of mental health benefits, subject to appropriate cost sharing; (2) each enrollee is free to choose his or her own doctor and private health plan; and (3) benefits are similar to or no less than the health benefits coverage under FEHBP (Federal Employees Health Benefits Program).
and
RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)
Bill: Relationship:
H.R.2034 Identical bill identified by CRS
I can't tell if it's single payer. What's a "private health plan"?
H.R.2034, sponsored by Dingell, has 19 cosponsors
To contrast, H.R. 676 is described (in part) as:
United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act) - Establishes the United States National Health Insurance (USNHI) Program (the Program) to provide all individuals residing in the United States and in U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, and mental health services.
Prohibits an institution from participating in the Program unless it is a public or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that actually deliver care in their own facilities to participate in the Program.
Gives patients the freedom to choose from participating physicians and institutions.
Prohibits a private health insurer from selling health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act. Allows such insurers to sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits.
Sets forth methods to pay hospitals and health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization.
Good news, though. Go get 'em, Ted.
Policy not party!
oops
I may have gotten this wrong. I am mostly doing copy and paste here.