Medicare for All in the Discussion

For the first time I feel there's hope for single payer, health care as a human right.

Via CommonDreams

"Physicians and patients alike stand to gain enormously from the adoption of this measure," Young said. "No effort should be spared to ask every senator to vote yes on Senate Amendment 2837."

Sanders' measure, which is largely patterned after a bill he introduced last March, the American Health Security Act (S. 703), would cover all of the 46 million Americans who currently lack coverage and improve benefits for all Americans by eliminating co-pays and deductibles and restoring free choice of physician.

Highlights of the amendment include the following:

* Patients go to any doctor or hospital of their choice.

* Comprehensive benefits, including coverage for dental, mental health, and prescription drugs.

* By eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private, investor-owned insurance industry, along with the burdensome paperwork imposed on physicians, hospitals and other providers, the plan saves at least $400 billion annually - enough money to provide comprehensive, quality care to all.

* Community health centers are fully funded, giving the 60 million Americans now living in rural and underserved areas access to care.

* To address the critical shortage of primary care physicians and dentists, the bill provides resources for the National Health Service Corps to train an additional 24,000 health professionals.

* The program is paid for by combining current sources of government health spending into a single fund with modest new payroll and income taxes amounting to less than what most businesses and people now pay for insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

* While federally funded, the program is to be administered by the states.



Alas, but the Senate was having enough trouble getting it through with full party support in the scraped off and more expensive way earlier in the year. Just the fact that single payer is back in the heart of the conservation is Wisdom unexpected but most welcome.


My home boy's even got in on it. Sehr excellent!

Update: Hmmm... It seems the first is the Sanders' Amendment and the Coburn, nicely necessary eh, is for Congress to use the Public Option. Whatever form it takes.

Both fairly obvious requirements of the lawmakers.

Comments

  1. I heard Senator Sanders on Thom Hartmann's "Brunch with Bernie" hour this morning, and he said he thought his
    amendment might get ten or fifteen votes. It would literally put insurance companies out of business, so trying to pass it would be a little like taking on a grizzly with your bare hands. Still, I love Bernie for even proposing it.

    PS: I hope Hartmann's radio show is available in your area. Sanders is on for an hour every Friday morning. The rest of the week ain't bad, either.

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  2. They at least get a Bowie knife by this time. Still not much chance, eh.

    I only get/think to listen to radio in the car. Then it's mostly sports and a 1 minute commercials rock station. Sometimes NPR or rock jock talk. Weirdness, that last... :)

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