State lawmakers tout single-payer healthcare system

[biopowertoday]

GOOD ON MAINE. LISTEN UP OBAMA.



http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/april/state_lawmakers_tout.php


Posted on April 9, 2009
State lawmakers tout single-payer healthcare system



Associated Press
Sun Journal
Wednesday, April 8, 2009

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine lawmakers have passed a resolution calling on President Obama and Congress to establish a single-payer health system that covers everyone.

The Senate passed the nonbinding resolution by a 20-15 vote on Wednesday, a day after the House did the same by a 91-52 vote.

The resolution cites the high costs of the present system and says managed care, health maintenance organizations and other reforms have failed to contain health costs.

The resolution was passed months after a poll of nearly 600 Maine physicians showed a majority in favor of a single payer or “Medicare for all” approach. The survey, conducted in November and December, showed 52 percent in favor and 48 percent against.

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/311640-3/MaineNews/State_lawmakers_tout_singlepayer_health

[patrice]

1. Many medical school students in our state favor SP too. It makes REAL sense for them.

They are organizing.

[biopowertoday]

2. glad to hear that. thanks for the post.

[biopowertoday]

3. GET ACTIVE--write a letter to your Representative here...........NOW

thanks.


http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/PNHP/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11400

[Better Believe It]

4. Good News K & R

[patrice]

5. Another natural SP constituency is alternative and complementary medicines.

All of those legitimate services like chiropractors, acupuncture, nutritionists, exercise therapists etc. etc. etc. who may contribute to HEALTH and to disease prevention, but are not covered by insurance companies. The ONLY way we're going to be able to consider expansion of services covered is to reduce costs as much as possible and the only way to do that is Single Payer.

[Bread and Circus]

6. I did my Residency for Family Practice in Maine. Great state, great people!

Nice medical community too except for some East Coast snobbery.

[maryf]

7. Thanks for this!! big K&R

Here's some reasons why they support it from pnhp.org:

* Universal, Comprehensive Coverage
Only such coverage ensures access, avoids a two-class system, and minimizes expense

* No out-of-pocket payments
Co-payments and deductibles are barriers to access, administratively unwieldy, and unnecessary for cost containment

* A single insurance plan in each region, administered by a public or quasi-public agency
A fragmentary payment system that entrusts private firms with administration ensures the waste of billions of dollars on useless paper pushing and profits. Private insurance duplicating public coverage fosters two-class care and drives up costs; such duplication should be prohibited

* Global operating budgets for hospitals, nursing homes, allowed group and staff model HMOs and other providers with separate allocation of capital funds
Billing on a per-patient basis creates unnecessary administrative complexity and expense. A budget separate from operating expenses will be allowed for capital improvements

* Free Choice of Providers
Patients should be free to seek care from any licensed health care provider, without financial incentives or penalties

* Public Accountability, Not Corporate Dictates
The public has an absolute right to democratically set overall health policies and priorities, but medical decisions must be made by patients and providers rather than dictated from afar. Market mechanisms principally empower employers and insurance bureaucrats pursuing narrow financial interests

* Ban on For-Profit Health Care Providers
Profit seeking inevitably distorts care and diverts resources from patients to investors

* Protection of the rights of health care and insurance workers
A single-payer national health program would eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of people who currently perform billing, advertising, eligibility determination, and other superfluous tasks. These workers must be guaranteed retraining and placement in meaningful jobs.

[maryf]

8. New Hampshire also

In my unions for single payer newsletter is this item:

The HR 676 resolution and vote in Maine, follows a similar roll call vote
by the New Hampshire House. The New Hampshire House voted 192-150 on
March 24th In favor of Resolution HCR2 which endorses HR 676 and a single
payer health care system.

[biopowertoday]

10. Good on NH...

[pleah]

9. K&R