Fifteen days of blogging for health care reform: Unfunded mandates

“You know about EMTALA, right?”  Read more 

Why Uncle Sam is Dr No of healthcare

US health costs are at least twice as high as in countries like France, Britain and Germany with better systems. (Many Americans have an unshakeable belief that these systems are inferior, but no data on longevity or success in handling major diseases supports that prejudice.).

The massive cost disadvantage is a major drag on economic competitiveness.  Read more 

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

On waking from an opium-induced sleep, so the story goes, Coleridge hurried to capture on paper the fantastical world he had dreamed [or hallucinated, depending on who you ask]. He was rudely interrupted while at this task, and when he returned to it, all was gone but the fragment we have today.  Read more 

Via Dizzy Queen at MyDD
McCain’s no care health care

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.  Read more 

Geneva hearing tackles universal health care

GENEVA — Tears and cheers rose from the Kane County Government Center Thursday night as citizens and Illinois state representatives gathered to discuss the controversial topic of universal health care.

State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, led a citizen hearing to clarify issues surrounding Illinois House Bill 311 and problems with the current health-care system in Illinois.

“We are not for sale,” Flowers said of raising health insurance premiums. “This is about our lives.”  Read more 

Americans need publicly financed, privately delivered health care

‘Healthcare Not Warfare’ at Denver DNC!

Nation needs single-payer health care

Letter: Backs ‘healthy’ candidates  Read more 

And use me as your surrogate! What could be better?  Read more 

Guest post by Skylanda: Fifteen days of blogging for health care reform  Read more 

Letter to the Ithaca Journal

The authors say that under our for-profit private health insurance arrangements, access to care for people in this situation often “seems to be unobtainable.” As a result, their treatable conditions go untreated and “many may face early disability and death as a result.”

These findings dovetail with an Institute of Medicine study that estimates 18,000 Americans die each year because they lack health insurance.

$1.5 billion per year

The extensive study of Colorado’s health care system for the legislature’s 208 Commission found that a single-payer system would save Coloradans $1.5 billion per year while covering everyone. America’s unique market-based system (with 47 million uninsured) leaves us paying almost twice as much per capita for our health care as other industrialized nations.
Further, it is patently ridiculous to suggest that with a single-payer system, where coverage is guaranteed, people would still avoid needed health care because of fear of costs.  Read more 

The Observer: American health-care system is ripe for reform

Interestingly, America’s primary health insurer is the federal government. By some estimates, one out of every three Americans (as many as 100 million people) already obtain their health insurance from the federal government. Many of these (e.g., military service personnel and veterans) have a form of universal-single-payer insurance, but most of the rest of us shop in the “free market” for health care.  Read more 

The Grand Junction Free Press publishers an Open Letter to Rep. Udall  Read more 

Let’s talk about a fall back position. Let’s say the climate in the US will not support an all-at-once single payer system. OK. What would work?

Chuck Pennacchio argues for a state by state approach. If we can pass single payer systems in a few states, people will see its superiority. It seems that is how it was adopted in Canada, first Saskatchewan passed a single payer, then the Saskatchewan Premiere (or whatever they are called, I’m just an amateur blogger) got elected PM of Canada and passed a national system. So a states first approach does make sense.

There is single payer legislation pending in California, Ohio, and other states. We just need it to pass in one state for it’s virtues to be obvious.  Read more 

In his latest column Paul Krugman makes clear, once again, that he does not know the difference between health insurance and health care.

Once again, all together now, WE NEED HEALTHCARE, NOT HEALTH INSURANCE!

Krugman

There’s every reason to believe that a program that extends universal coverage to the nonelderly would soon become equally popular. Consider the case of Massachusetts, which passed a state-level plan for universal coverage two years ago.  Read more 

Salazar talks rural health care in Valley

ALAMOSA — “I’ll be the first to admit I have a lot more to learn,” said U.S. Senator Ken Salazar about health care in Creede yesterday. He discussed health care with a vocal community at the Creede Ambulance Barn, one of 32 stops he will make statewide to thrash out the issue.

This is a good sign. This is how politicians talk when they are preparing to shift positions.  Read more 

Guaranteed health care key plank in Dems’ platform

Advisers to Obama and Clinton both told the party’s platform meeting they were happy with the compromise, adopted without opposition or without explanation as to how health care would be guaranteed.

In return for the guarantee, activists dropped a tougher platform amendment seeking a government-run, single-payer system and another amendment explicitly holding out Clinton’s plan as the one to follow.

The party now declares itself “united behind a commitment that every American man, woman and child be guaranteed to have affordable, comprehensive health care.”  Read more 

The Democratic Convention Platform Must Include Guaranteed Health Care for All

Meanwhile, nationwide efforts are underway to bring grassroots views on health care into the 2008 Democratic Party Platform that will be adopted in late August at the national convention. In the mix is a “Statement in Support of Guaranteed Health Care for All.”

Since it was launched by Progressive Democrats of America last week, the statement has already gained signers among convention delegates from more than 30 states. If you’d like to be part of this effort to move the national discourse on health care policy in a more progressive direction:  Read more 

Senator Jim Webb in Harrisonburg
Thursday, August 7
Blue Nile
181 N. Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA
4:00 to 5:00 pm

If you live in the area, this is a good time to ask him about supporting single payer. The local Democratic Congressional challenger, Sam Rasoul has endorsed HR 676.

You could also ask Webb about his for for FISA abuse and his vote Peru Free Trade Agreement, off shore oil drilling, or anything else that is on your mind.

If you get to Harrisburg, please post about it.

Get involved in bringing single-payer health care to the state of Ohio

Bob and others have been collecting petition signatures for SPAN for nearly five years, in order to get it on the Ohio ballot so citizens can put it to a vote. SPAN doesn’t have the PR budget that big business has, but what it does have in its favor is the support of people who take the time to learn about it.  Read more 

SEIU Launches Nationwide Actions To Question Health Insurance Industry Tactics

Last month, SEIU and its allies in HCAN (Health Care for American Now) held a massive demonstration outside of the launch of the insurance industry’s sham health care “listening tour.” Along with the upcoming events beginning Tuesday, SEIU will have helped stage more than a dozen actions nationwide to highlight insurance industry tactics that prioritize profits over people.

DETAILS ON TUESDAY’S EVENTS FOLLOW:

Des Moines, Iowa

Nolan Plaza

12:00 p.m. CT

Manchester, New Hampshire

City Hall Plaza

10:00 a.m. ET

Salem, Oregon

State Capitol press conference room

10:30 a.m. PT  Read more 

America needs and deserves single payer health care system

As our present health care system stands, ranked No. 37 in the world, 47 million citizens are not covered, and another 50 million are often denied care by their insurance companies. Meanwhile, executives in the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries are earning millions of dollars because of huge profits in these areas.  Read more 

Constituents denied entry to Congressman’s Office following Medicare Birthday Party :

Following the celebration, Rosemary Prostko, a senior citizen and volunteer with the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare, headed south to the Mt. Lebanon district office of her U.S. Representative, Tim Murphy, where she was joined by three other supporters. Their goal: to deliver an enormous “Happy Birthday Medicare/Support Improved Medicare for All” cookie, visible through hard plastic, along with single-payer information and an over-sized Medicare Birthday card containing hundreds of signatures in support of single-payer legislation.

What follows is Rosemary Prostko’s account:  Read more 

Medicare anniversary brings calls for health care reform

“This country spends 16 percent of its total income on health care and we leave millions uninsured,” said Dr. David Zehring, of La Veta. “Our European allies spend about 11 percent of their income on health care and cover everyone, while Canada spends about 9 percent for universal coverage. I’m confident we will get universal coverage here some day.”  Read more 

Health Care Reform Panel Discussion at Netroots Nation  Read more