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Last Updated: 11/8/2009

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November 8, 2009 - Sunday 

Category: News and Politics

Kucinich: Why I Voted NO

Washington, Nov 7 -

After voting against H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement: 

“We have been led to believe that we must make our health care choices only within the current structure of a predatory, for-profit insurance system which makes money not providing health care.  We cannot fault the insurance companies for being what they are.  But we can fault legislation in which the government incentivizes the perpetuation, indeed the strengthening, of the for-profit health insurance industry, the very source of the problem. When health insurance companies deny care or raise premiums, co-pays and deductibles they are simply trying to make a profit.  That is our system.

“Clearly, the insurance companies are the problem, not the solution.  They are driving up the cost of health care.  Because their massive bureaucracy avoids paying bills so effectively, they force hospitals and doctors to hire their own bureaucracy to fight the insurance companies to avoid getting stuck with an unfair share of the bills.  The result is that since 1970, the number of physicians has increased by less than 200% while the number of administrators has increased by 3000%.  It is no wonder that 31 cents of every health care dollar goes to administrative costs, not toward providing care.  Even those with insurance are at risk. The single biggest cause of bankruptcies in the U.S. is health insurance policies that do not cover you when you get sick.  

“But instead of working toward the elimination of for-profit insurance, H.R. 3962 would put the government in the role of accelerating the privatization of health care.  In H.R. 3962, the government is requiring at least 21 million Americans to buy private health insurance from the very industry that causes costs to be so high, which will result in at least $70 billion in new annual revenue, much of which is coming from taxpayers.  This inevitably will lead to even more costs, more subsidies, and higher profits for insurance companies — a bailout under a blue cross.  

“By incurring only a new requirement to cover pre-existing conditions, a weakened public option, and a few other important but limited concessions, the health insurance companies are getting quite a deal.  The Center for American Progress’ blog, Think Progress, states “since the President signaled that he is backing away from the public option, health insurance stocks have been on the rise.”  Similarly, healthcare stocks rallied when Senator Max Baucus introduced a bill without a public option. Bloomberg reports that Curtis Lane, a prominent health industry investor, predicted a few weeks ago that “money will start flowing in again” to health insurance stocks after passage of the legislation.  Investors.com last month reported that pharmacy benefit managers share prices are hitting all-time highs, with the only industry worry that the Administration would reverse its decision not to negotiate Medicare Part D drug prices, leaving in place a Bush Administration policy.

“During the debate, when the interests of insurance companies would have been effectively challenged, that challenge was turned back.  The “robust public option” which would have offered a modicum of competition to a monopolistic industry was whittled down from an initial potential enrollment of 129 million Americans to 6 million.  An amendment which would have protected the rights of states to pursue single-payer health care was stripped from the bill at the request of the Administration.  Looking ahead, we cringe at the prospect of even greater favors for insurance companies.

“Recent rises in unemployment indicate a widening separation between the finance economy and the real economy.  The finance economy considers the health of Wall Street, rising corporate profits, and banks’ hoarding of cash, much of it from taxpayers, as sign of an economic recovery. However in the real economy -- in which most Americans live -- the recession is not over.  Rising unemployment, business failures, bankruptcies and foreclosures are still hammering Main Street.   

“This health care bill continues the redistribution of wealth to Wall Street at the expense of America’s manufacturing and service economies which suffer from costs other countries do not have to bear, especially the cost of health care.   America continues to stand out among all industrialized nations for its privatized health care system.  As a result, we are less competitive in steel, automotive, aerospace and shipping while other countries subsidize their exports in these areas through socializing the cost of health care.  

“Notwithstanding the fate of H.R. 3962, America will someday come to recognize the broad social and economic benefits of a not-for-profit, single-payer health care system, which is good for the American people and good for America’s businesses, with of course the notable exceptions being insurance and pharmaceuticals.”

3:41 PM 
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November 7, 2009 - Saturday 

Category: News and Politics

What The Hell!!?!?

After the Friday massacre of single payer, no doubt many of you are wondering the same things I am:  who betrayed me?  what happened?  What next?  Here is my take on the subject.

It started with the failure of Jon Corzine and Creigh Deeds to win the governor elections in New Jersey and Virginia, respectively.

Particularly in New Jersey, Obama put himself into the race in a state that went heavily for him in 2008.  He traveled several times to New Jersey to make stump speeches for Jon Corzine, the incumbent.  Despite his (supposed) personal popularity and his recognized oratorical skills, Obama was unable to push Corzine into the lead.  Instead, a far-right Republican and protege of Bush won the race.  Bad bad news for the Democratic party and for the mid-term Congressional elections.

Next thing we heard, Harry Reid is saying that the health reform bill might not even
come up for a vote in the Senate this year because he can't round up sixty votes to bust a filibuster.  to my mind, the election and the Senate delay are intimately connected.

At that point, Obama has to do something quick to salvage his most difficult political move.  After all, he vowed to be the last president to attempt health reform.  He HAS to get the House bill passed.  If he doesn't get it passed, there will never be a vote on the Senate bill and his credibility will be zilch.  You begin to hear more positive support from the White House for the public option and then you begin to hear specific support for the House version of health reform.

But there is a fly in Obama's ointment:  single payer supporters have made enough noise that Pelosi has to keep her promise to let Weiner have a vote on the floor of the House on single payer.  She can't wiggle out of it, even though she tries.  You hear her say she supports single payer, then you hear that there will be a vote but no debate.  That's not enough.  She still can't budge enough Blue Dogs to get enough votes to pass the House health reform bill.

The Blue Dogs see that they are in command, because they are the only Democrats who has enough balls to draw a line in the sand and say 'Forget it -- we are taking our ball and going home unless you strip out the public option entirely.  Watering it down is not enough.  We want the insurance companies to control the whole shooting match.  We have to kowtow to the tea-baggers and taxnuts who will defeat us in the next election if we even breathe a word about health care being anything other than bought and sold.'

Of course, every other Democrat, progressive or middle-of-the-road, is thinking the same thing:  how do I hold onto this great gig I have?  Some of them, purportedly single payer supporters, beg Pelosi not to bring single payer for a vote because it will be used against them.  Some of them, Eric Massa among them, demand that undocumented aliens be specifically denied health care because their districts are full of rabid bigots.  Some of them, Conyers among them, just keep quiet.  Some of them, Kucinich among them, have a different axe to grind.  And so Pelosi, despite every kind of concession to Blue Dogs, bigots, racists and know-nothings, still is short 25 votes to pass the watered down health reform bill.  So what happens next?  Whose prestige is this all about?  Right. Obama steps in.

Obama personally arm-twists Weiner to drop his amendment vote demand.  Take a look to see what Weiner will get down the road -- a new Brooklyn Bridge?  Brooklyn and Queens being the next site of a giant Army base?? a giant new ship building program at Brooklyn Navy Yard??  Who knows.

Kucinich and Conyers are log-rolled too.  Kucinich (Polish descent) goes down easy -- the President signs papers making Casimir Pulaski, Polish Revolutionary War hero, an American citizen, even though there wasn't any America in Pulaski's lifetime.

Conyers goes down a little harder. Who knows what he got, but note carefully what happens to the prosecution of his wife in Detroit for bribery.

And so it goes.

The latest CBO estimate on the House bill says that there are 50 million Americans without health insurance, which of course translates 'inadequate health care' and 44,000 deaths per year.  How many will be uninsured after the 'buxom public option' is fully implemented in 2019?  54 million.  Gee, what a great step in American health care and promotion of civil rights.  Are you glad you worked so hard to get Obama elected?  Are you glad there is a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress?  Has your hard work paid off?

What next?  I don't know.  Whether or not I personally ask Congresspersons to vote against this bill, sarcastically named the Affordable Health Care for America Act, is really irrelevant.  The game is not being played to the tune that you and I are hearing.  It is being played to the tune of cash registers aka political war-chest contributions.  That has always been true, but there was always hope that our noise made some difference at the margins.  That hope is now gone.

Will our hope ever again have a realistic basis?  Will health care ever be a human right in America, as it assuredly is in the rest of the industrialized world?  Good question.  But it will not ever be a human right under this legislation.  Health care will still be a commodity, to be purchased at the highest price.  Just like politicians.  As you may recall: if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.

Clark Newhall  1payer.net

6:32 PM 
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November 7, 2009 - Saturday 

Category: News and Politics

 

Electric (Car) Shock Treatment for Healthcare Reform

 

I’m a car guy. While sitting here reading the latest and greatest on all the new Hybrid and electric cars, and my wife behind me commenting (again) about the need to expand an improved version of Medicare to all Americans, a light bulb went off in my head.  By reforming health care with a single payer system, we could help save the economy as well as the environment. With the tremendous savings on premiums, families could afford to pay the higher costs related to those new, no emission vehicles soon to be produced. And I would guess the remaining money could go for more of the things families really need as well, be it clothing, furniture, education and the like. Would that not stimulate the economy in a big way?

 

The United States not only spends much more per capita on health care than any other country ($7300 in the U.S. while in Japan and England it is about $2700) but also continues to have one of the fastest growth rates in healthcare spending among developed countries.  

 

Electric cars are going to be hard to move in large numbers due to their expensive price tags. There is already resistance to the more expensive Hybrids which are $30,000 and up. We are talking about real family cars here, not some small commuter car for one person. These new products are exciting, and have all the comfort families are used to. An average 60 month car loan would translate to $250-$350 more per month, for these soon to be produced no emission cars.  Savings in healthcare expenses with a single payer system would allow for this increase in the family budget, along with taking care of mother earth and freeing us from wars in the Middle East - another additional savings.

 

Almost every manufacturer has an electric car of some sort in development (see list below). Some will be available soon to the public. Too bad we are wasting so much money on over-priced health insurance that has sucked the life-blood out of families and our economy for too long. I hope the light bulb goes off in the heads of Congress and we get the health care savings we need to fire up the economy, slow climate change and provide for a healthier nation.

 

Doug Briz has 34+ years in all aspects of the auto and motorcycle business.   His blog on cars can be found at www.myspace.com/cycarconsulting   

 

2009 Subaru R1e 

2009-10 Phoenix SUV and truck

2009-10 Mitsubishi i-MiEV

2010 Saturn Vue plug-in

2010 Chevrolet Volt

2010 Fisker Karma

2010-11 Th!nk Ox

2010 Ford EV van

2010-12 Nissan EV

2010-11 Dodge Circuit

2010-13 Jeep Wrangler EV

2010-13 Jeep Patriot EV

2010-13 Chrysler Town & Country EV

2011 Ford EV car

2011-2012 Tesla Model S

2012 Toyota FT-EV

2012 Ford plug-in vehicle

2010-12 Nissan

2010-13 Jeep Wrangler EV

2010-13 Jeep Patriot EV

TBA Fisker Karma S Sunset

TBA Chrysler 200C EV concept

TBA Cadillac Converj concept

3:53 AM 
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November 7, 2009 - Saturday 

Category: News and Politics

On the eve of what could have been the first vote on single-payer legislation in our nation’s history, because of last minute developments, the vote and debate on Congressman Weiner’s single-payer amendment will not happen. Speaker Pelosi received a statement from Rep. Kucinich and Rep. Conyers, the co-authors of HR 676, that they do not think that this is the right time for a vote on national single-payer legislation. They made this statement despite the extensive mobilization in support of this vote across the country. In addition, Speaker Pelosi felt that offering a single-payer amendment would open the floodgates to amendments proposed to limit abortion funds, restrict immigrant access to health care and other regressive legislation.

Let us remember that the potential vote on Congressman Weiner’s single-payer amendment resulted from holding fast to our principles of universal, comprehensive health care with no financial barriers. Our efforts have brought truth and clarity to a national debate on health care reform that has been polluted by the corporate influence over Congress. While the private insurance industry has sent 3,000 lobbyists to Capitol Hill this year, spending 1.4 million dollars a day to shape reform that protects their profits, our calls, faxes, and demonstrations have created the momentum to bring legislation based on HR 676 to the floor of the House and Senate.

The vote for Congressman Weiner’s single-payer amendment would have allowed advocates to have their representatives on record as single-payer supporters.

But this legislative battle is not yet over. Our focus can now turn to two remaining efforts for single-payer healthcare in this Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce S 703 in coming weeks (http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=14212486), and we understand that he is considering editing it to be more like HR 676. We will have the opportunity again to see the first ever vote on single-payer healthcare in this Congress. In addition, Rep. Kucinich’s amendment to allow states to more easily implement a single-payer system may be reinserted into the bill during the conference committee between the House and Senate.

All of these efforts are crucial to building the movement for the only solution to our health care crisis--single-payer national healthcare.

If this Congress passes inadequate legislation, there will no doubt be emboldened state movements in the coming years. We welcome them. But let us not forget the movement to push our federal legislators to meet the demands of the people, not roll that responsibility onto the states. The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care remains committed to a national, single-payer solution to the health care crisis. Comprehensive, quality health care is a right that should be extended to every U.S. resident.

At this important time, let us not forget how far we have come. Either now or later, a single-payer national health care system must come to the table. We’ll keep building the movement to make that happen.


For health care justice,

Progressive Democrats of America
http://pdamerica.org


3:42 AM 
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November 6, 2009 - Friday 

Category: News and Politics

Comment to following at bottom.

Representative Anthony Weiner

November 6, 2009

Press Release

Rep. Weiner Withdraws Single Payer Amendment from Current Health Care Debate


Today, Representative Anthony Weiner (D - Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, released the following statement on his decision to withdraw his single payer amendment to H.R. 3962, the House health care reform bill:


“I have decided not to offer a single payer alternative to the health reform bill at this time. Given how fluid the negotiations are on the final push to get comprehensive health care reform that covers millions of Americans and contains costs through a public option, I became concerned that my amendment might undermine that important goal.”


“I am going to continue to press the case for health care reform in every venue I can. And I also will continue to press for a smarter, less-expensive, more-comprehensive alternative to the employer-based health insurance system we have today.”


"I've discussed the issue with Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Waxman, and agree with them that the health reform bill is so close it deserves every chance to gain a majority."

http://weiner.house.gov/news_display.aspx?id=1368


And...


Speaker Nancy Pelosi

November 6, 2009

Press Release

Pelosi Statement on Congressman Anthony Weiner’s Single Payer Alternative

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on Congressman Anthony Weiner’s single payer alternative:


“Within the next few days, the House will vote on the most comprehensive health care legislation in our history.  Our bill will provide affordability to the middle class, security to our seniors, and responsibility to our children by not adding a dime to the deficit.  While our bill contains unprecedented reforms, including an end to discrimination for pre-existing conditions and a prohibition on raising rates or dropping coverage if you become ill, our bill cannot include provisions some strongly advocated.  The single payer alternative is one of those provisions that could not be included in H.R. 3962, but which has generated support within the Congress and throughout the country.  


“Congressman Anthony Weiner has been a forceful and articulate advocate for the single payer approach and our legislation.  His decision not to offer a single payer amendment during consideration of H.R. 3962 is a correct one, and helps advance the passage of important health reforms by this Congress.  While single payer, like other popular proposals, is not included in the consensus bill we will vote on this week, Congressman Weiner has been a tireless and effective advocate for progress on health care, and his work has been a vital part of achieving health care reform.”

http://speaker.house.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1438


And...


Committee on Energy and Commerce

Chairman Henry A. Waxman

November 6, 2009

Chairman Waxman's Statement on Rep. Weiner's Single-Payer Amendment

Today Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a statement in response to Rep. Anthony Weiner's decision not to offer a single-payer amendment to the House Democratic health care legislation.


"Rep. Anthony Weiner has been one of the most tireless and effective advocates for health care reform.  His decision not to offer his amendment on the floor was a difficult one for him, and for supporters of the measure.  

I believe Rep. Weiner's choice will be enormously helpful in passing the health care reform package.  His step is a correct and courageous one.  I thank Rep. Weiner for it, and look forward to working with him closely.

Rep. Weiner deserves a great deal of credit for helping to make quality, affordable health care more available to millions of Americans."

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1808:-chairman-waxmans-statement-on-rep-weiners-single-payer-amendment&catid=155:statements&Itemid=55


Comment by Ida Hellander, M.D., Executive Director, Physicians for a National Health Program:


Next steps and interpretation - 

1) The fact that single payer got so far along in the House is a testament to the strength of our single payer movement.  The huge number of calls by single payer advocates in support of single payer and the Weiner amendment in recent days have been noted by several members of Congress.


2) It appears that nobody, particularly the President, expected our single payer option to be alive in the Congress for so long.  As you know, they attempted to keep it "off the table" from the very beginning.


3) The President was directly involved in the decision to not hold a vote on the Weiner single payer amendment, and Weiner will be meeting with him later today. Stay tuned.


4) We need to increase pressure on the Congress and the White House for Medicare for All through lobbying, civil disobedience, media outreach, and grassroots organizing.  Sen. Sanders will call for a vote on single payer in the Senate - this could come up anytime in the next month.  Encourage your Senator to support the Sanders bill and also an amendment he will offer for a state single payer option.  The California Nurses Association/NNOC has already started lobbying visits in the Senate in D.C.


5) We have been asked how to tell members to vote on the House bill.  Our response is that the bill is "like aspirin for breast cancer."

 
 
 
10:15 PM 
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November 6, 2009 - Friday 

Category: News and Politics

Kai Newkirk, 3 others pledge to stay in jail, wait for Lieberman

Kai Newkirk, 29, is an uninsured American who believes that health care is a right. He helped launch the Mobilization for Health Care for All and participated in the first sit-in of the campaign at an Aetna office in New York City on September 29th. He then helped lead over 200 people in 26 cities across the country to risk arrest in other sit-ins to win health care for all.

Today, Kai was arrested at a sit-in in Senator Joe Lieberman's office calling upon him to publicly pledge that he will stop taking any money from insurance companies - money that those companies should be spending to pay for the care they deny to their members every day. Until Senator Lieberman takes this pledge, the American people cannot be certain that he is representing the people of Connecticut who need health care and not Aetna and the insurance companies that want to make huge profits. Kai has committed to remain in jail as long as he can until Senator Lieberman agrees to this pledge.

Support Kai and the three others who are staying in jail:
www.mobilizeforhealthcare.

They need your support. Some of us can give a lot and some can give a little. Please give what you can to support the movement for health care for all!
org

10:13 PM 
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November 5, 2009 - Thursday 

Category: News and Politics

We just got word from Congressman Weiner's office that because of your phone calls, faxes, and demonstrations, Speaker Pelosi is keeping her promise to allow the Weiner single-payer amendment a full debate and vote on the floor of the House.

After nearly being shut out of the discussion completely, single-payer Medicare for All is being heard in the corridors of power as soon as this Friday.

Call now to ask your Rep. to vote yes on Rep. Weiner's single-payer amendment.
This is the one opportunity for your elected officials to go on record as supporting the only universal, comprehensive, cost-effective solution to the health care crisis. There are currently 87 cosponsors of HR 676, but this vote will make it clear to the movement which elected officials are truly with single-payer, Medicare for All.

Ask your Representative to vote his or her conscience. Vote for the plan that most American people, nurses, and physicians want and so desperately need: Medicare for All.

Call now to demand your Rep. vote yes on Rep. Weiner's single-payer amendment.

If you know who your Rep. is, the Congressional Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.  If not, go here--it's easy and toll free.

THANK YOU AND PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS!  TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS!




6:04 PM 
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November 3, 2009 - Tuesday 

Category: News and Politics


What role will insurance companies play in the “public option”?


By Kip Sullivan, JD

Both the Senate and House versions of the proposed “public option” require that corporations with expertise in health insurance “administer” the “option.” This fact received no attention until October 24 when the Washington Post reported that the “option” would “likely” be run by insurance companies. Several bloggers attempted to assure readers that this news was nothing to be concerned about. They asserted that Medicare has always contracted with insurance companies to process claims, and then leaped to the conclusion that the role of insurance companies within the “option” will be no more significant than it is within Medicare.

But this conclusion is clearly wrong if the Senate version of the “option” becomes law, and almost certainly wrong if the House version becomes law. This conclusion rests on the widespread belief that the “option” will “look like Medicare,” which is not accurate. The most important differences between Medicare and the “option” are size and the environment within which the programs will function. While Medicare enrolls 15 percent of the population, the “option” is projected to enroll somewhere between zero and 2 percent. While Medicare is a single-payer system, the “option” will function within a multiple-payer environment.

These two differences, plus provisions in the Democrats’ legislation authorizing the federal government to hire private corporations to administer the “option,” create a high risk that insurance companies and other types of corporations will play a role in the “option” that greatly exceeds the limited role they play in the traditional Medicare program. Private-sector firms will probably play a role within the “option” that closely resembles the role that defense contractors play in the production of weapons for the Pentagon. Just as Northrop Grumman, for example, carries out all tasks necessary to create a fighter plane, so private corporations (not public employees) will carry out all tasks necessary to create the “option” health insurance programs. Carrying out virtually all of the tasks necessary to establish and maintain “option” health insurance plans is obviously very different from, and more significant than, merely processing claims.

To comprehend the more dominant role insurance companies will almost certainly play within the “option” we must first disabuse ourselves of the myth that the “option” will “look like Medicare.” Although leaders of the “option” movement have vigorously promoted that claim, the claim has been demonstrably false since at least June when Democrats introduced legislation that would create tiny “option” programs that would, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates, insure no more than 10 million Americans.

ARTICLE CONTINUES HERE:

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/11/01/what-role-insurance-companie/
5:13 PM 
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November 2, 2009 - Monday 

Category: News and Politics

Help Salvage Health Care Reform
Call Selected Congress Members. Call them now!
Demand a vote on Medicare-for-all
Demand the Kucinich Amendment to allow state single-payer plans
The House unveiled its healthcare reform package. And the news is all bad.
The Weiner Amendment, which would substitute the clean, clear language of HR 676 for the behemoth of a bill introduced, may not be given its vote in the House-in spite of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's promise.
The Kucinich Amendment, which would give the states a clear path for enacting their own single-payer legislation, was stripped from the bill. Since California is within one signature of having a state-wide, single-payer system, the Kucinich amendment is crucial to California.
We have a small window of opportunity to get the Kucinich Amendment back in the bill and to make sure that Speaker Pelosi follows through on her promise to allow a vote on single-payer-the first ever in the House.
Democratic House leaders can insert what is called a "Manager's Amendment" into legislation, even when it is closed to any other amendments. The managers are the majority and minority members who "manage" debate for the bill on each side.
Today, tomorrow, and beyond, call the "managers"listed below. Insist that the Kucinich Amendment is restored into the healthcare bill.  We also need to urge these leaders to exert pressure on Speaker Pelosi-and exert it on her ourselves-to follow through on her promise to put the Weiner Amendment to a vote.
The "gang" that holds our future in their hands includes:
·         Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4965; San Francisco office (415) 556-4862
·         Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4131; Greenbelt office (301) 474-0119; Waldorf office (301) 843-1577
·         Rep. Henry Waxman: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-3976; Los Angeles office (323) 651-1040
·         Rep. Charles Rangel: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4365; New York office (212) 663-3900
·         Rep. George Miller: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-2095; Concord office (925) 602-1880; Richmond office (510) 262-6500; Vallejo office (707) 645-1888
It's crucial for everyone to make these calls, to make them more than once, and to tell others to make these calls. Act NOW!
Directly Below is Original Post from last Friday and it still applies today.

Please call Speaker Pelosi's office
at 202-225-4965 TODAY!

Demand that she live up to her agreement to include the Kucinich Amendment in the final legislation and schedule a vote for the Weiner Amendment. It is urgent that we act quickly on this.

IF YOU AGREE MAKE THIS YOUR, MYSPACE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK MESSAGE FOR TODAY!

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that there's been plenty of time for amendments already, so neither her caucus nor members of the minority party should expect a chance to amend the health care bill when it gets to the House floor.
5:59 PM 
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October 30, 2009 - Friday 

Category: News and Politics

Pelosi's Not-So-Robust Public Option

posted by John Nichols on 10/29/2009 The Nation Blogs

The public option was always a compromise for serious supporters of health-care reform, who -- like Barack Obama when he was running for the Senate in 2003 -- knew that a single-payer "Medicare for All" system was what America needed to provide health care to everyone while controlling costs.

But, in the reform legislation debuted Thursday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the compromise was even more compromised than had been expected.

Pelosi says the legislation is "historic," and celebrates the fact that is does still include a public option -- a component many pundits had said was destined for abandonment.

But, while there is a public option, it is anything but robust.
Progressives believe Pelosi has bent too far to the right.

And The New York Times suggests as much in its analysis, which declares that:
Under pressure from moderate-to-conservative members of the House Democratic caucus, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has decided to propose a government-run insurance plan that would negotiate rates with doctors and hospitals, rather than using prices set by the government...
Ms. Pelosi said the public plan, which she prefers to call a "consumer option," would compete with private insurers. But the speaker was apparently unable to muster the votes needed for the 'robust' liberal version of a public plan, which she has repeatedly said would save more money for consumers and the government.
Translation: The "public option" Pelosi and her team have proposed a plan that would not make payments for care based on Medicare rates, as the Congressional Progressive Caucus and key Senate Democrats have proposed.

Rather, under the Pelosi plan, the rates be tied to those of the big insurance companies. That's a big, big victory for the insurance industry, as it will undermine the ability of the public option to compete -- and to create pressure for reduced costs.

Pelosi's plan also drops a number of provisions that had been advanced at the committee level to promote consideration of "Medicare for All" models and to allow states to experiment with single-payer plans.

That's an especially bitter pill for House progressives, who has won support for state-based experimentation in committee votes.

Groups such as Progressive Democrats of America were quick to raised alarm bells because some of the most innovative responses to the health-care crisis are being forged at the state level. While single-payer proposals are being blocked at the federal level, PDA national director Tim Carpenter says the single-payer fight is ramping up in the states.

"Last week, members of the PDA national team traveled to Pennsylvania for a rally at the capital rotunda in Harrisburg, in support of Healthcare for All Pennsylvania and their single-payer bill," notes Carpenter. "The momentum for single-payer healthcare grows daily. It appears Congress will have to be forced to follow the lead of states like Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts --- all working to implement single-payer healthcare at the state level."

House progressives were quick to express disappointment, as they were counting on the House to advance a strong alternative to the Senate Democratic leadership's very weak public option proposal -- which would allow states to opt out of the plan.

Reviewing the details of Pelosi's plan in a passionate speech on the House floor, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, one of the chamber's most ardent advocates for reform asked: "Is this the best we can do? Forcing people to buy private health insurance, guaranteeing at least $50 billion in new business for the insurance companies?
Kucinich continued:
Is this the best we can do? Government negotiates rates which will drive up insurance costs, but the government won't negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies which will drive up pharmaceutical costs.

Is this the best we can do? Only 3 percent of Americans will go to a new public plan, while currently 33 percent of Americans are either uninsured or underinsured?

Is this the best we can do? Eliminating the state single payer option, while forcing most people to buy private insurance.

If this is the best we can do, then our best isn't good enough and we have to ask some hard questions about our political system: such as Health Care or Insurance Care? Government of the people or a government of the corporations.
Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Lynn Woolsey, D-California, said she and her allies would continue to battle to muscle-up the public option.

"It's not even the fourth quarter,'' said Woolsey, who noted the public option had only recently been dismissed as dead by many pundits. "We will be insisting on (the option) being as strong as it possibly can be.''

Woolsey and other progressive Democrats are set to meet with President Obama Thursday.

"He needs to hear from us that he needs to support the public option,'' Woolsey told the Los Angeles Times. "He's not saying it loud enough. We want to make sure he lets the Senate know he wants a public option in the bill."

The focus on Obama is appropriate. He has the authority, as a man with a bully pulpit and a veto pen, to tell Pelosi that a soft public option is insufficient. At the same time, he can and should be more involved in challenging the absurd proposals -- advanced by conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans -- for "opt-outs" and "triggers," which threaten to weaken the public option to the point of meaninglessness.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/489881/pelosi_s_not_so_robust_public_option
6:39 PM 
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October 30, 2009 - Friday 

Category: News and Politics
Physicians and supporters arrested at CareFirst health insurance office to call for real health care reform
Dr. Margaret Flowers and Charles Loubert, 81, will stay in jail until CEO of CareFirst meets to discuss redirecting lobbying funds to pay for patients care


Dr. Margaret Flowers

Baltimore, MD – Two physicians and two supporters were arrested today at a sit-in at a Baltimore CareFirst health insurance office. The sit-in is part of a national groundswell of citizens and health care providers demonstrating for meaningful health care reform at insurance company offices.

Doctor Margaret Flowers, a pediatrician who has testified before Congress on the need for meaningful health care reform, was arrested and intends to stay in jail until the CEO of CareFirst has a public meeting with her. She is joined by Charles Loubert, 81, a Baltimore resident and former teacher who was also arrested, and who was denied health care several years ago by his insurer. Both Flowers and Loubert are refusing to give information to the Baltimore police that would lead to their release until Chet Burrell, the CEO of CareFirst, agrees to meet with them publicly to discuss CareFirst redirecting all funds that go to lobbying, advertising, or political contributions to pay for the care of clients who need it.

Dr. Flowers and Loubert were joined by Dr. Eric Naumberg, also a physician, and Patricia Courtney, also a former teacher. They are part of a national groundswell of civil disobedience at insurance companies to end insurance abuse and win health care for all coordinated byMobilization for Health Care for All. The mobilization has seen 115 people arrested at health insurance offices in 18 cities so far, with six more actions planned in the coming week. Arrests include several nurses, as well asMatt Hendrickson, MD MPH, who was arrested yesterday in Los Angeles.

Statement by Dr. Margaret Flowers:
Written Wednesday, October 28, 2009, the night before going to jail:

“Let me begin by saying that I don't have any desire to be arrested. I am a pediatrician with 3 teenagers and a husband who would prefer that I do not spend time in jail. I have never actually spent the night in jail and I imagine it is not very pleasant. To be honest, I am a bit frightened. But, I expect that these are normal feelings and I am dedicated to act despite my reservations because there comes a time for action. That time is now (or "way past now" as doctors and patients whom I've met in my travels have told me).
In short, I am going to be arrested again because I believe that it is my professional responsibility to advocate on behalf of those who can't and because it is clear that the other traditional advocacy tools are not working. The phrase that runs continuously through my mind is "To be silent is to be complicit." I cannot be complicit in the face of an industry that profits at the cost of human lives and in the face of an administration and Congress that are too dysfunctional to stop this practice.
I have traveled on an unexpected and eye-opening journey this year. In January, I celebrated the inauguration of a new President who I hoped would be the agent to create real change in America. I hoped that we would see changes that benefited the people of America(more than the corporations). I joined the steering committee of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care because I believed that if we built the grassroots movement for real health care reform: a national publicly-financed health system that was truly universal and accountable, then we would provide the political cover so that the new administration and the Congress could pass it, or at the very least discuss it. I believed when the administration said that it wanted to hear from the Americans, that we would actually have a debate about how to improve health care in this nation.
Early in the year, I lobbied with many other members of the LCGHC who represented health professionals, patients, labor and faith groups. We had two simple requests: include advocates of single payer in the hearings and do an economic study of single payer legislation so that it could be compared to the plans being put together in Congress. We were assured by members, such as Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, that this would happen. However, before long, we started seeing quotes from the leadership that essentially said all options were on the table except single payer. Ever the optimist, I thought this was simply a signal to work harder. "OK," I told myself, "they aren't going to make this easy. No surprise there."
We continued to meet with members, we pressured the White House to invite single payer representatives to the Health Summit in March (which they did) and we continued to reach out to organizations to join our movement.
We thought the health care debate would include the stakeholders (health providers and patients), but found that only the stockholders were invited to the table. When it came time for the first series of public hearings on health care, which were held in the Senate Finance Committee, we requested that one single payer advocate be included with the 41 other witnesses (many of whom represented the private insurance industry, pharmaceutical corporations and big business). Despite thousands of calls and emails from across the country, our request was denied. That is when it became clear that we would have to use stronger tools. On the day of the second hearing, May 5th, 8 of us traveled to Washington to attend the hearing. As it began, we stood up one by one and requested a seat at the table. And one by one we were arrested to the sounds of nervous laughter from the members of the committee and audience. It reminded me of a quote from Gandhi, something like "first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win." We returned the following week with nurses and more people were arrested in the committee. This time there was no laughter. I guess that meant we were on to phase three: the fight.
For decades, health providers have found it more and more difficult to provide quality health care. The private insurance industry placed more and more obstacles in the way of providers and patients - co-pays, deductibles, networks, uncovered services, the need for authorization, pre-existing conditions, rescissions, rapidly rising health insurance premiums,etc. And we, the doctors and patients, did our best to comply with the complex and confusing maze of requirements. We saw medicine turned into a business rather thana healing art. Patients became consumers and health care became available only to those who could afford it or were eligible for government programs. Doctors became frustrated and started leaving practice or opening "boutique" practices. Many of the doctors I spoke with this summer said things like, "well, up until about five years ago I could still get care for my patients, but now, I can't."
For decades, legislators at the state and federal levels have tried incremental health reform. I have heard legislators and health advocates say over and over again, that they are "diehard incrementalists" or "political pragmatists". Despite patchwork efforts to expand Medicaid, provide tax credits or subsidies towards the purchase of private insurance or to provide competing public insurances, the number of uninsured and underinsured has continued to grow. The cost of health care in this country has increased faster than wages, inflation and the GDP. How practical is it to keep trying the same thing and expecting a different result?
We, as a nation, have put off the fight we know we will have to wage if we want real health reform. The fight is against the market model of health care and the foe is formidable. The medical-industrial complex has billions of dollars and strong influence over the politicians. The revolving door between the M-I complex and the Congressional staffers is spinning so fast that it is hard to keep track. For instance, Liz Fowler worked for Sen. Baucus, then became Vice President of Public Policy for Wellpoint (one of the largest health insurers) and then returned to the Senate Finance Committee this year to oversee the legislative process for the health bill. There are 6 health insurance lobbyists for each member of Congress and at least 350 of these lobbyists were former staffers.The industry is spending around $1.4 million each day on lobbying.
We are the only industrialized nation to use this market model for health care and it has failed to be either universal or affordable for a very simple reason: the business of private health insurers is to make a profit for their investors which is done by charging high premiums, avoiding the sick and restricting and denying payment for care. Decisions are made based on what is best for the bottom line, not the health of the patient.
The United States ranks at the top in only one area when it comes to health care and that is for how much we spend. We spend twice as much or more per person than any other industrialized nation and for that we are ranked 37th in the world on health outcomes. We have high infant and maternal mortalities, growing health disparities and low life expectancy. The other industrialized nations guarantee health care to almost everybody living on their soil. We leave at least 46 million out entirely and have millions more who are insured but unprotected and so they lose their home or go bankrupt trying to pay for needed health care. We rank the highest of the top 19 industrialized nations for the number of preventable deaths, estimated at 110,000 per year in 2007.
It doesn't have to be this way. We have a model that does work for the population it serves, those 65 years of age and over and the disabled. It is traditional Medicare. Medicare is already nationwide. It finances health care with a very low overhead (3% instead of the 31% spent on private insurance) and allows doctors and patients to make medical decisions without jumping through numerous hoops (like private insurers do). The politicians know this, but they try to shut it out because adopting Medicare for all means giving up those generous campaign contributions.
There comes a time when we must ask ourselves if we can continue to delay doing what we know is right. Can we be silent and allow thousands of our fellow Americans to die each year? Is it acceptable to close our eyes and pretend we don't see because we may believe that we have "good insurance"?
A dear friend of mine recently wrote a song about the health care situation that contains the question "Isn't this America?" And I ask the same question. If we are spending the most, why aren't we trying to be the best? Or at least in the top ten? A national single payer health system, such as Medicare for All, is civilized medicine. It is what civilized societies do for their people. It allows people the freedom to go to school, change jobs, open their own businesses, and provide for their families without the stress of worrying about losing everything if they become ill.
I have decided to join other doctors and citizens in the mobilization for health care reform - a nationwide coordinated nonviolent civil disobedience campaign for Medicare for all.As we saw in other social justice movements such as women's suffrage and civil rights in the 1960's, change will not come unless we take a stand. I do this reluctantly because I am still on probation from my arrest in May and so I will likely have to stay in jail. But I do this with resolve for those who would like to act but cannot - the patients who are suffering and the doctors who are trying to provide care. And I hope that others will join and support the campaign in whatever way they can. The website is www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org.”
With hopes for peace and a better future,

Margaret Flowers, M.D.
Sparks, MD
Congressional Fellow, Physicians for a National Health Program

# # #
More info:
Mobilization for Health Care for Allwww.MobilizeForHealthCare.org
Check us out onYouTube
Follow us onTwitter
# # #

SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING SIT-INS AT INSURANCE COMPANY OFFICES

Thursday, October 29th:

Baltimore, MD
When: 12:00PM
Where: CareFirst
Contact: Kevin Zeese,kzeese@earthlink.net, (301) 995-6582
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-baltimore.ning.com

Louisville, KY
When: 10:00AM
Where: Humana insurance
Contact: Kay Tillow,nursenpo@aol.com, 917-621-7268
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-kentucky.ning.com/

Friday, October 30th:

Philadelphia, PA
When: Noon
Where: Anthem Blue Cross
Contact: Jeff Muckensturm, 267-515-2400,jeff@healthcare-now.org
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-pa.ning.com/
Tuesday, November3rd:
San Diego, CA
When: 10:00AM
Where: Blue Shield
Contact: Jerry Malamud,aabs@aol.com, 858-270-5562Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-sandiego.ning.com/

Wednesday, November 4th:

Albuquerque, NM
When: 10:30AM
Contact: Guy Watson,drguy0@gmail.com
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-abq.ning.com/

Atlanta, GA
When: 10:00AM
Where: Blue Cross Blue Shield
Contact: Denise Woodall,denisewoodallksu@yahoo.com
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-atlanta.ning.com/
Detroit, MI
When: 12:00pm
Where: Blue Cross
Contact: Precious Daniels,vincious1@hotmail.com; 313-361-4318
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-detroit.ning.com
Portland, ORWhen: TBAContact: Jim Ferner,vjday153@hotmail.com, 503-231-0847
Link:http://mobilizeforhealthcare-oregon.ning.com

6:11 AM 
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October 18, 2009 - Sunday 

Category: News and Politics
SEEKING MOBILIZATION LEADERS IN EVERY CITY!

TO LEAD THE NEXT MOBILIZATION IN YOUR AREA SEND AN EMAIL TO: organize@mobilizeforhealthcare.org with "10/28 Leader" in the subject line and an organizer will contact you.

##########################################

We knew October 15th was going to be a special day. But we never imagined we would see Americans stand up to the insurance company death panels with such amazing courage in as many cities as we saw on Thursday. From Boston to Palm Beach, Washington DC to Portland everyday people risked arrest and went to jail in nine cities across the country. 54 people were arrested, those in New York endured a difficult night in jail, and one arrestee - Sam Pullen - is still in jail in Los Angeles today.

Sam has decided to remain in police custody until Blue Cross agrees to immediately approve all doctor-requested care for its members with life-threatening conditions. His mother was denied critical care for cancer until she staged a sit-in at a Blue Cross office years ago, and Sam is carrying on her struggle to make sure no one else in our country suffers the same injustice ever again. Bail for Sam has been set at $5000 dollars. Please donate today to support Sam when he decides to seek release.

The courageous people who risked arrest and went to jail on Thursday were simply trying to save the lives of those who are being denied life-saving treatment by these profit-obsessed insurance companies. And for that they were shut out, dismissed, and arrested. In Phoenix and Reno the companies locked their offices down to avoid any possibility of talking with us. In Washington and Cleveland police refused to arrest anyone as we sat outside the offices. But in every city, across our country, we showed how far the real death panels will go to protect their obscene profits - and put a spotlight on the real problem in our health care system. The national media is starting to take notice and more and more people are learning that we don't have to take the abuse of the insurance companies any more. See below for links to examples of media coverage of Thursday's sit-ins.

Thursday was just the beginning. The 78 people who have gone to jail in this campaign in the last 18 days set an example of leadership for us all to follow. Now we have to take all the energy and inspiration their sacrifice created and channel it into even stronger action in even more cities. October 28th can be a day of national nonviolent action that will make it impossible for our country to ignore how fed up the American people are with the insurance companies and how determined we are to free our country from their deadly grip once and for all. New organizers are joining our team this weekend to get to work supporting local leaders who want to organize sit-ins in dozens of cities. If you haven't stepped up yet, now is the time to let us know that you're ready to make it happen in your city. Email organize@mobilizeforhealthcare.org with "10/28 Leader" in the subject line and an organizer will contact you.

For too long, the insurance companies have stood between us and the health care that is our right. No longer. We want Medicare for All and we're going to sit in until they can't stop us from getting it.

We're so proud of everything you've done so far - and incredibly excited to see what we all can do now. Thanks so much.

- Katie, Kevin, Kai, Julia, and the Mobilization team

Press Coverage links:

Huffington Post
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/16/united-health-group-prote_n_323499.html

Democracy Now!
http://staging.democracynow.org/2009/10/16/headlines#7

Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125564630527788625.html?mod=article-outset-box

Associated Press (New York)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgAqZ1lSOswIN6lW2mE2DlPSM9HAD9BBT2IO6

Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/10/16/11_charged_with_trespassing_at_health_care_protest_in_newton/

La Opinion (Los Angeles)
http://www.impre.com/laopinion/noticias/la-california/2009/10/16/en-la-lucha-por-reforma-de-sal-154481-1.html

WPBF (Palm Beach)
http://www.wpbf.com/health/21309643/detail.html

CBS/KOIN (Portland)
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoid=12738

News Channel 8 (Washington DC)
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/1009/668931.html
 
12:14 AM 
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October 17, 2009 - Saturday 

Category: News and Politics
Watch to the end. 
Then share, post, blog, tweet, and email!
Very important.  Thank you!


Sign up to take action in your city here:
http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/  

It’s up to ALL of us.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtN19Ug8ew 
7:20 AM 
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October 12, 2009 - Monday 

Category: News and Politics
Congress will vote on single-payer legislation this week!

They need to hear your support for Single Payer (Improved Medicare For All) today.  Monday is a holiday and if their message box is full, try Tuesday morning!  

Easy and free to get connected to your Reps here: http://tools.advomatic.com/35/hc-n/

Script for REPRESENTATIVES
I am calling to urge Representative _______ to support Rep. Weiner's single-payer amendment to HR 3200, which will receive a floor vote soon.
The Weiner amendment would essentially make all Americans eligible for Medicare.
Also, I urge the Representative to retain Rep. Kucinich's amendment to HR 3200 which would give states the ability to create their own single-payer systems.
Thank you for your support on this very important matter.
Script for SENATORS
I am calling to urge Senator _______ to support S. 703 when Sen. Bernie Sanders brings it to the floor for a debate and vote.
S. 703 is single-payer healthcare legislation that would save Americans billions of dollars while providing universal, comprehensive coverage to all Americans.
Thank you for your support on this very important matter.

SEND THIS TO AT LEAST 5 OTHERS!

6:48 PM 
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October 5, 2009 - Monday 

Category: News and Politics
Don’t despair—
single-payer healthcare is still alive
and gaining support

They said single-payer was off the table. In the next two weeks there will be a floor vote on HR 676 in the House.

They said Democrats would never support single-payer, yet PDA led the successful effort to get key state parties to adopt resolutions in support of HR 676. And the national party adopted "everybody in, nobody out" as a plank in their platform.

They said the AFL-CIO only supports the public option, but hundreds of local unions endorsed HR 676, leading to adoption by the AFL-CIO convention of their first single-payer resolution in over 25 years.

When they say a patient can't be saved, nurses keep trying.

When they say it's not politically possible, PDA organizes harder.

That's why we work so well together.

So thank you PDA for stepping up for healthcare NOT warfare!

The next two weeks are crucial for healthcare reform.

We need to get a big majority of Democrats to vote for the Weiner amendment (http://pdamerica.org/pdacms/sites/default/files/HR3200_Weiner_676.pdf) -- Medicare for All, HR 676--when it comes to a vote.

Unlike other approaches to reform, this isn't insurance reform--it doesn't keep the private insurance companies at the apex of power. It eliminates them. It would solve the crisis with comprehensive benefits, a single standard of quality care for all, real cost control, fiscally conservative budgeting, and progressive financing.

Knowing the odds are against us, we won't stop, and we're already planning for the next fight...in the states. Should federal reform pass with full implementation set for 2013, we'll have opportunities before then to win real reform in California, and Pennsylvania, Maine, Ohio or Colorado.

We just need to make sure states can legally implement single-payer. So Congressman Dennis Kucinich has secured a provision in HR 3200--the leadership bill in the House--that resolves the biggest legal obstacles in the way of state single-payer (http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=138052)

Let's make sure Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and key committee chair Henry Waxman support keeping the Kucinich amendment. Call them at the capital switchboard: (202) 224–3121.

These votes represent opportunities for real progress. Progressive progress.

That's why the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee has joined with PDA.

Together, we make a formidable alliance. Together, we will change healthcare. Together, we will replace corporate power with people power.

In solidarity,

Michael Lighty, Director of Public Policy
California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
 
9:11 PM 
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