Single-payer healthcare in California: Not Dead Yet
“Is there any hope for health care on the national level,” he was asked? “No.”
But Don Bechler, Chair of the California activist group Single Payer Now, was on northern California’s KZYX yesterday affirming that there is still hope for health care “if we get the insurance companies out.” California voters have twice passed single-payer health plans, both times seeing them vetoed by Governor Scwarzenegger. State Senator Mark Leno has a universal-coverage bill in the current legislature to try once more. It’s a bill anybody would love — unless you’re a body working in the insurance business.
As to the national battle, Bechler says HR 676 (sometimes known as the John Conyers bill) is the best current hope. “We haven’t really given up.” Strategies? “Talk to your congressmen, ask them to co-author HR 676. There are 87 co-sponsors so far. It’s health care for everyone, dental coverage, long-term care.” What’s not to love?
Bechler contends that Massachusetts voters who put Scott Brown did not do so out of anti-health care sentiments as has been speculated in media reports. “That’s the corporate media doing their corporate spin for their corporate buddies in the insurance industry.” Lest there be any doubt, Bechler is not much more enthusiastic about the media than about the insurance business.
As to the threat of filibuster of the current bill, which is at least more likely to pass than HR 676, Bechler suggests the Republican bluff be called. “Put it on the floor. Let the Republicans get up and talk for two months.”
Such a prospect is mind-numbing all by itself. But the national outrage might keep everyone awake.
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Single payer is the most logical approach to health care. Currently corporations pay a fortune to provide health care for their employees. By eliminating that cost and instituting only a portion in the form of a fee or tax to fund the plan, much of the cost will be offset. This could be done by extending Medicare, which operates at an administrative cost well below private insurers. Adding a healthier mix of participants will bring overall costs down and no doubt there could be many further savings in streamlining the system, including electronic records that would end even more administrative costs as well as redundant tests. Thanks for a great article.
Amen. Why is it so hard for our congress to figure that out?