Why we risked arrest for single-payer health care. **.....

[snowdays]

The WH/Congress is shameful for deliberately omitting this group.

And Baucus lies.



Why we risked arrest for single-payer health care.



http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/may/why_we_risked_arrest.php


By Margaret Flowers, M.D.
May 8, 2009

On May 5, eight health care advocates, including myself and two other physicians, stood up to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the Senate Finance Committee during a “public roundtable discussion” with a simple question: Will you allow an advocate for a single-payer national health plan to have a seat at the table?

The answer was a loud, “Get more police!” And we were arrested and hauled off to jail.

The fact that a national health insurance program is supported by the majority of the public, doctors and nurses apparently means nothing to Sen. Baucus. The fact that thousands of people in America are dying every year because they can’t get health care means nothing. The fact that over 1 million Americans go into bankruptcy every year due to medical debt — even though most of them had insurance when they got sick — means nothing.

And so, as the May 5 meeting approached, we prepared for another one of the highly scripted, well-protected events that are supposed to make up the “health care debate” using standard tools of advocacy. We organized call-in days and faxes to the members of the committee requesting the presence of one single-payer advocate at the table of 15. Despite thousands of calls and faxes, the only reply — received on the day before the event — was, “Sorry, but no more invitations will be issued.”

We knew that this couldn’t be correct. We had heard Sen. Baucus say on that very same day that “all options were on the table.” And so, the next day, we donned our suits and traveled to Washington. We had many knowledgeable single-payer advocates in our group. And as the meeting started, one of us, Mr. Russell Mokhiber, stood up to say that we were here and we were ready to take a seat. And he was promptly removed from the room.

In that moment, it all became so clear.
.................

The senators understand that most people want a national health system and that an improved Medicare for All would include everybody and provide better health care at a lower cost. These facts mean nothing to most of them because they respond to only one standard tool of advocacy: money, and lots of it..............

[snowdays]

1. BRIEF SUMMARY"H.R. 676"The U.S. National Health Insurance Act.....

http://www.healthcare-now.org/

BRIEF SUMMARY"H.R. 676"The U.S. National Health Insurance Act


Introduced by John Conyers, Jr., (D-Michigan) with 75 co-sponsors (as of 8/11/06)

� Establishes an American-styled national health insurance program that would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it for all U.S. residents. This legislation is an example of a "single-payer" system, referring to the government, instead of multiple insurance companies and you, paying the health care bills. The providers remain private and we choose who to go to.


� With close to 46 million uninsured and more than that underinsured, it is time to change our inefficient, costly, and fragmented health care system. An increasing number of Americans are paying more out-of-pocket or neglecting their health.


� According to Dean Baker of the Center for Economic Research and Policy, using 2005 figures, HR 676 would save $56 billion in overall health care spending while covering all of the uninsured. Administrative costs would be reduced from 20-30% under the current insurance company system, to 3%, under Medicare. The profit margin in paying for health care costs would be eliminated. The government would negotiate for lower drug prices from the pharmaceutical companies, further lowering costs.

[snowdays]

2. Most M.D.'s, citizens favor single-payer system.....

Another simple and too the point-corrections of myths and lies.


Posted on May 8, 2009

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/may/most_mds_citizen.php
Most M.D.'s, citizens favor single-payer system



Richard Curtin, M.D.
Guest Opinion
Fort Meyers News-Press
May 7, 2009

This is in response to recent letters to the editor, which contain a number of points of misinformation regarding Medicare.

Medicare is not an example of socialized medicine, since the providers of care are not employed by the government.

The businesses are already shedding their health care insurance for employees as fast as they can and as the unemployed numbers increase, the numbers of people with health insurance will increase dramatically, already over 48 million.

The primary reason emergency rooms are filled with people is because of the people without health insurance usually cannot get care anywhere else.

Studies have shown that very little of the increase is caused by illegal immigrants since they avoid going there if at all possible.

Texas introduced caps on malpractice awards and it did little to change the rates of malpractice insurance premiums.

Total costs for medical care are approximately $8,000 per person in this country. Countries with single payer insurance usually pay about half of that. Our total costs are the highest in the industrialized the world.

By objective measurements of health care, we do not have the best care in the world. Yes, we have some of the best care but we rank about 37th in infant mortality, maternal mortality and have a lower longevity than many............

[LWolf]

3. K & R nt

[lunatica]

4. K&R

[nxylas]

5. K&R

[TacticalPeek]

6. K & R

:kick: