Showing posts with label single payer healthcare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label single payer healthcare. Show all posts
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Don't Mourn...Organize!
That's been the rallying cry of progressives throughout our country's history. And, although we have taken a backward step in this election, we cannot stop working for change and social justice for everyone in our country. There are plenty of issues that will need our engagement in the months ahead. We have to protect the gains we made during President Obama's first two years -- particularly health care and banking reform. We need to pass fair tax legislation in this Congress. We need to protect Pennsylvania from the environmental degradation of drilling in the Marcellus shale. We need to continue to fight for single payer health care for Pennsylvania. Add your issues to the list and then come to our next meeting on November 8 at 7 pm at the Greencastle Presbyterian Church in Greencastle. Let's discuss "what is to be done!"
Friday, December 18, 2009
Senate Committee Finally Holds Hearing on Single Payer
There was a major breakthrough in the Pennsylvania legislature on December 16. The Senate Banking and Insurance committee, chaired by Republican Senator Don White, held a hearing on Senate bill 400 which provides for a Statewide comprehensive health care system. In light of the weak showing by Congress on health reform, it was a breath of fresh air.
Supporters of the measure, whose primary sponsor is Sen. Jim Ferlo testified first. Ferlo explained the need to look at different approaches rather than be tied to the usual failed insurance model. Among other attributes, he said that the state Single Payer plan would free employers from the onerous burden of skyrocketing health insurance costs by, instead, providing healthcare for everyone at far less cost.
Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director of Healthcare for all PA set forth the particulars of the state-level, Single Payer approach, and how it represents values we can all embrace: freedom, choice, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, modeling solutions, constitutional federalism, fair-share taxation, efficiency, transparency, accountability, jobs creation, bureaucratic streamlining, investment and reinvestment, coordinated and comprehensive care, reduced rationing, restored patient-provider relationship, healthy outcomes, tort remedy, end bankruptcy fears, health care education, "medical home" data base, and more.
Patricia Eakin, RN from Philadelphia explained that she was a nurse in one of the busiest ERs in Pennsylvania at Temple and that she sees the problems of the lack of insurance on a daily basis. She gave some examples of the problems faced by people who have lack insurance. She noted how her hospital was losing money because they had to spend limited resources on billing personnel, and had to absorb, and/or pass along, financial losses on people without insurance or on Medicaid.
Dwight Michaels, MD, a Republican family practice doctor from Gettysburg, spoke about how his experience with private insurance bureaucrats had driven him to support the Single Payer Solution. He said it is increasingly difficult to practice medicine because his five-person practice struggles daily with 20 different insurance plans, all with different rules.
David Steil, a former Republican state legislator and head of a small manufacturing business was knew all of the Senators and broke the stereotype that all Single Payer supporters are Democrats on the left. Mr. Steil spoke about how he tries to run a business, but the cost and hassle of health insurance has made his company more vulnerable in an international market where his non-American competitors have far cheaper health costs.
Those opposed included the head of the Blues, the head of the PA Medical Society, a spokesman for the National Federation of Independent businesses, the Insurance Federation, the Pennsylvania Hospital Association. Their arguments included standard objections including fear of government monopolistic control of health care, but they frequently cited some of the same problems that the supporters of single payer raised. Ultimately the very respectful and excellent questions from the Senators spurred them to say: "we need to get together a discuss better reforms." Everyone agreed that the system was seriously broken and imperiled state finances.
The room was packed with supporters of Senate bill 400 including from our area Dan and Ruth Jordan and Jack and Kathy Hendricks. For further information check out the Health Care for All website.
Supporters of the measure, whose primary sponsor is Sen. Jim Ferlo testified first. Ferlo explained the need to look at different approaches rather than be tied to the usual failed insurance model. Among other attributes, he said that the state Single Payer plan would free employers from the onerous burden of skyrocketing health insurance costs by, instead, providing healthcare for everyone at far less cost.
Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director of Healthcare for all PA set forth the particulars of the state-level, Single Payer approach, and how it represents values we can all embrace: freedom, choice, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, modeling solutions, constitutional federalism, fair-share taxation, efficiency, transparency, accountability, jobs creation, bureaucratic streamlining, investment and reinvestment, coordinated and comprehensive care, reduced rationing, restored patient-provider relationship, healthy outcomes, tort remedy, end bankruptcy fears, health care education, "medical home" data base, and more.
Patricia Eakin, RN from Philadelphia explained that she was a nurse in one of the busiest ERs in Pennsylvania at Temple and that she sees the problems of the lack of insurance on a daily basis. She gave some examples of the problems faced by people who have lack insurance. She noted how her hospital was losing money because they had to spend limited resources on billing personnel, and had to absorb, and/or pass along, financial losses on people without insurance or on Medicaid.
Dwight Michaels, MD, a Republican family practice doctor from Gettysburg, spoke about how his experience with private insurance bureaucrats had driven him to support the Single Payer Solution. He said it is increasingly difficult to practice medicine because his five-person practice struggles daily with 20 different insurance plans, all with different rules.
David Steil, a former Republican state legislator and head of a small manufacturing business was knew all of the Senators and broke the stereotype that all Single Payer supporters are Democrats on the left. Mr. Steil spoke about how he tries to run a business, but the cost and hassle of health insurance has made his company more vulnerable in an international market where his non-American competitors have far cheaper health costs.
Those opposed included the head of the Blues, the head of the PA Medical Society, a spokesman for the National Federation of Independent businesses, the Insurance Federation, the Pennsylvania Hospital Association. Their arguments included standard objections including fear of government monopolistic control of health care, but they frequently cited some of the same problems that the supporters of single payer raised. Ultimately the very respectful and excellent questions from the Senators spurred them to say: "we need to get together a discuss better reforms." Everyone agreed that the system was seriously broken and imperiled state finances.
The room was packed with supporters of Senate bill 400 including from our area Dan and Ruth Jordan and Jack and Kathy Hendricks. For further information check out the Health Care for All website.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Car Pool to Harrisburg
Want to rally for single payer in Harrisburg on October 20? We're setting up a car pool for Greencastle Antrim folks to travel there. Call Ruth or Dan 717 685 8005.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
That's What I Call a Rally!
More than 400 people from every county in Pennsylvania rallied in the rotunda of the State Capitol in Harrisburg for single payer health care for Pennsylvania. Check out the photos in our photos album courtesy of Jack Hendricks Fulton County Democrats.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Single Payer Health Care Rally in Harrisburg
RALLY ON THE CAPITOL STEPS * HARRISBURG, PA.
JUNE 11, 2009 * 11 am – 12:30 pm
Entertainment begins at 11 am
Rally and Lobby Day For Pennsylvania Single-Payer Health Care
FILL THE CAPITOL STEPS ON THURSDAY, JUNE 11
(100 N. THIRD STREET)
SUPPORT SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!
Pa. House Bill: 1660 and Pa. Senate Bill: 400
Speakers will include Donna Smith (star of Michael Moore’s “SiCKO”); Bill George (President Pa. AFL-CIO); Walter Tsou (nationally recognized expert and consultant on public healthcare reform and former Philadelphia Health Commissioner); Chuck Pennacchio (Executive Director of HealthCare For ALLPA
Learn More at: http://www.healthcare4allpa.org/home.php
JUNE 11, 2009 * 11 am – 12:30 pm
Entertainment begins at 11 am
Rally and Lobby Day For Pennsylvania Single-Payer Health Care
FILL THE CAPITOL STEPS ON THURSDAY, JUNE 11
(100 N. THIRD STREET)
SUPPORT SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!
Pa. House Bill: 1660 and Pa. Senate Bill: 400
Speakers will include Donna Smith (star of Michael Moore’s “SiCKO”); Bill George (President Pa. AFL-CIO); Walter Tsou (nationally recognized expert and consultant on public healthcare reform and former Philadelphia Health Commissioner); Chuck Pennacchio (Executive Director of HealthCare For ALLPA
Learn More at: http://www.healthcare4allpa.org/home.php
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