tagged w/ single-payer
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Despite mass efforts by "Medicare for All" supporters, and Pelosi's willingness to allow a vote, Kucinich and Conyers have pulled their amendment from consideration for now.
Kucinich stated the following (http://healthcare.change.org/blog/view/kucinich_tries_to_kill_vote_on_medicare_for_all):
"... we want to offer a strong note of caution about tomorrow’s vote. The bill presented tomorrow will not be HR676. While we are happy to relinquish authorship of a single payer bill to any member who can do better, we do not want a weak bill brought forward in a hostile climate to unwittingly accomplish what would be interpreted as a defeat for single payer."
It makes a lot of sense to me to hold back on support of the current bill before Congress which has been called an insurance industry bailout, since it was largely authored by insurance industry lobbyists. Some say that getting any public option plan out will be a first step. I think doing that could quell and appease reformers into complacency, leaving us with years of continued third world health care in this country.
A weak public option is not a first step. It could be a last step. The real first step was Medicare.
Step two: Medicare for All.
The following letter comes from Healthcare Now, a coalition of Medicare for All supporters:
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On the eve of what could have been the first vote on single-payer legislation in our nation’s history, we have just learned that 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 healthcare, 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 healthcare with no financial barriers. These efforts have brought truth and clarity to a national debate on healthcare 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 in this Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce S 703 in coming weeks, 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 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 healthcare 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. Healthcare-NOW! and the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care remains committed to a national, single-payer solution to the healthcare crisis. Comprehensive, quality healthcare 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 healthcare system must come to the table. We will keep building the movement to make that happen.
For healthcare justice,
Healthcare-NOW!
Physicians for a National Health Program
Progressive Democrats of America
California Nurses Association
Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care
Public Citizen
Healthcare for All Texas
Western PA Coalition for Single Payer
Alliance for Democracy
___________________________________________________________
http://www.healthcare-now.org/statement-on-the-withdrawal-of-rep-weiners-single-payer-amendment-to-house-bill/
Visit http://outinthestreetfilms.comDespite mass efforts by "Medicare for All" supporters, and Pelosi's... more
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If you watch the mainstream press, you will hear that a single-payer health care plan will not be seriously considered by lawmakers crafting reform of the US health care system. Advocates of HR 676, the single-payer health care plan in the House of Representatives, beg to differ. This video follows their efforts at a rally in Upper Senate Park.If you watch the mainstream press, you will hear that a single-payer health care plan... more
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Are you wondering what the mainstream media is hiding about US health-care reform? "Beyond Sicko" discusses what's wrong with the current US health-care system and concrete ideas on how to fix it.This four-part series was recorded at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network in mid-July 09. Part 4 looks at employer-based insurance, the single-payer system, HR676 and preventive medicine. Action tips are given. Host: Heather Wokusch, Guest: Beth Hart, Producer/Director: Gloria Messer.Are you wondering what the mainstream media is hiding about US health-care reform?... more
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Are you wondering what the mainstream media is hiding about US health-care reform? "Beyond Sicko" discusses what is wrong with the current US health-care system and concrete ideas on how to fix it.This four-part series was recorded at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network in mid-July 09. Part 3 looks at questionable choices of the Obama administration, US military spending and the whole issue of socialism. Action tips are given. Host: Heather Wokusch, Guest: Beth Hart, Producer/Director: Gloria Messer.Are you wondering what the mainstream media is hiding about US health-care reform?... more
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Are you wondering what the mainstream media is hiding about US health-care reform? "Beyond Sicko" discusses what's wrong with the current US health-care system and concrete ideas on how to fix it.This four-part series was recorded at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network in mid-July 09. Part 2 looks at preventive medicine, the power of US pharmaceutical companies and questionable choices of the Obama administration and the Senate Finance Committee. Host: Heather Wokusch, Guest: Beth Hart, Producer/Director: Gloria Messer.Are you wondering what the mainstream media is hiding about US health-care reform?... more
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Did you know that the US healthcare system was ranked #37 internationally? And we spend more on healthcare than other industrialized countries. Not much to be proud of! "Beyond Sicko" is a four-part series of short videos covering aspects of the healthcare debate the mainstream media doesn't want you to see. Part 1 spells out the problems and how ideas from other countries can benefit the US health-care system. Host: Heather Wokusch, Guest: Beth Hart, Producer/Director: Gloria Messer.Did you know that the US healthcare system was ranked #37 internationally? And we... more
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Following a pattern of civil resistance in Washington D.C. and around the country, citizens in Des Moines Iowa on Monday risked arrest to press for the creation of single-payer healthcare, the establishment of healthcare as a human right, and an end to the deadly practices of Iowa's largest health insurance company, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.Following a pattern of civil resistance in Washington D.C. and around the country,... more
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The industry that helped scuttle health reform 15 years ago with its "Harry and Louise" ads is back, voicing its support for a central element of the Obama administration's plans: making sure everyone is covered. That doesn't mean the industry is backing the administration, though. They are actually doing their best to ensure that the reform we get is not the reform that we truly want, in large part by twisting our own words from opinion polls and using them to confuse our elected leaders about what we support.The industry that helped scuttle health reform 15 years ago with its "Harry and... more
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aj727b
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added this
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2 years ago
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I just thought this was an interesting (6-page) FAQ on single-payer health systems. It's from the Physicians for a National Health System website.I just thought this was an interesting (6-page) FAQ on single-payer health systems.... more
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