The issue of universal healthcare is a moral and spiritual issue.
There's the concept of the chironic healer. We can't feel another person's pain
unless we know pain. We can't identify with another person's grief unless we experience
grief. Only as an outcome of our own suffering do we commit to ameliorate the
suffering of others. Healthcare policy is less about budgets and more about humanity.
As others around the Mediterranean, the early Christians accepted reincarnation as a given. As one doesn't need to address the issue of breathing, the topic of reincarnation was never addressed until Emperor Constantine banned the concept at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Those who are anti-universal healthcare have younger, immature souls that have yet to perceive the world through chironic eyes.
Single-payer Universal Medicare, Now
10 Oct 09 - Copyright 1999-2009 by Andrew Homer - Webmeister StarHeart Web Designs - Health - What Would Jesus Do? PAC - Progressive Society
2009 Sep 30
2009
Sep 18 2009
Sep 17 2009
Sep 15
1 - Why are Republicans so afraid of a public option? Don't they have faith in the marketplace? 2 - Why don't the Republicans give Obama what he wants regarding universal healthcare? If the Democrats fall on their collective face, the Republicans can trounce in the 2012 election. 2009
Jul 26
by Union of Concerned Scientists
* Big 3 Dems' Health Insurance Unfriendly to Women
Health
Care Reform: Maine Becomes the First State to Enact Universal Health Care Earlier this year, the Legislature enacted and Governor John Baldacci signed into law the nation's first universal health care program. Over the next five years, the Dirigo Health Program will provide coverage to the 180,000 Mainers who are currently without health insurance and, equally important, reduce health care costs for everyone. By utilizing a innovative blend of private and public resources, Maine has catapult itself to the forefront of progressive health care reform. A statewide poll conducted in 2000 revealed that health care was as the most pressing concern to Maine citizens. Further analysis of the poll showed that 69 percent of respondents were very concerned about the cost of health insurance, placing that issue at the top of the list of concerns. The cost of medical care came in second followed by prescription drug costs and the cost of caring for the elderly. These issues all ranked ahead of education, taxes, crime and the environment. A survey of Maine small businesses, also released in 2000, indicated that they too were concerned about the rising cost of providing health care coverage to workers. A large majority, 81%, indicated health insurance was important in their efforts to attract and retain employees. For the past several years, Mainers have been subject to annual double digit increases in health insurance premiums. In fact, this year it is projected that across the country employers will experience a 15% increase in health care costs. Given escalating premiums, and confronted by a slow economy, employers have been challenged to maintain their current level of employer-based coverage. Already, workers have been asked to bear more of the cost of coverage, either in the form of higher co-payments or deductibles, or to forego wage increases in an effort to maintain health coverage. Very tight state and local government budgets have further compounded the problem. With annual double-digit increases in health care costs for government, school systems, and university employees, flat-funded, balanced budgets require real cuts in programs to offset the increases. For a rural state such as Maine, these spiraling health insurance costs have become a major drain on the state's human and financial capital. Faced with this dire situation, two years ago the Maine Legislature authorized the creation of a Commission to examine a single payer system. This proposal was hotly debated in the 2002 Gubernatorial election that included Democratic, Republican, Independent and Green candidates. Shortly after taking office, Democratic Governor John Baldacci announced his intention not to pursue a single payer system and, instead, to introduce the Dirigo Health Plan and created the Office of Health Policy and Finance to shepherd the bill through the Legislature. When the bill was first introduced in May, it was widely supported by consumer groups and health care activists but faced strong opposition from the hospitals, insurance companies and physicians. In order to avoid a potential stalemate between organizations who want progressive reforms and the status quo, Maine's Legislative leadership took the unusual step of establishing a bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Health Care Reform. Members were selected from the Legislature's Health and Human Services, Insurance and Financial Affairs, and Appropriations Committees. The Committee, which had broad authority, was given just over a month to fashion a compromise and revamp the state's health care system. Following a series of public hearings and late night negotiations, the Joint Select Committee unanimously approved a rewritten version of the Governor's proposal. The newly created Dirigo Health is based on the premise that by providing health coverage to all residents, the health care system can recapture a major portion of the $270 million that is now lost in emergency room and uncompensated care. Dirigo Health will: * Provide an affordable,
comprehensive benefit plan to individuals and small businesses by July 2004. Dirigo Health is a quasi state agency with a five member Board nominated by the Governor and approved by the Legislature. The Board is now in the process of developing a benefit plan and will issue a request for proposal next year for a private carrier to administer the plan. By this time next year, Dirigo Health expects to enroll over 30,000 uninsured Mainers. In addition to Dirigo Health, the U.S. Supreme Court also awarded Maine a significant victory this spring when it ruled that the Maine Rx Program could be implemented. The program, passed by the legislature in 2000 was immediately challenged in court by the pharmaceutical companies. Due to the Courts ruling, Maine will be the first state in the country to extend prescription discounts to an additional quarter of a million of its citizens. In Maine we waited for help from the federal government. Help to reduce the cost of health care, help for those without coverage and help to lower the cost of prescription drugs. We decided not to wait any longer. Instead, we are on the cusp of transforming health care in this state to ensure that all residents-regardless of income or education-have access to quality health care. We look forward to making Dirigo Health a success and we would welcome the opportunity to work with other states or organizations interested in pursuing progressive health care reform. Senator
Michael Brennan represents Maine Senate District 27, which includes Portland,
Falmouth and Long Island. He is Senate Chair of the Joint Select Committee on
Health Care Reform and the Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. He
can be reached at SenMichael.Brennan@legislature.maine.gov
or at the Maine Senate Majority Office at 207-287-1515. Language, process, and history for the Dirigo Health legislation, LD 1611 in the 121st Legislature: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?LD=1611 Public Law Chapter 469, the Dirigo Health statutory language as enacted and signed into law (go to this site and scroll down to Chapter 469, click on the various subchapter parts for the language): http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/lom/LOM121st/10Pub451-500/TableofContents.htm - November 14, 2003 - CommonDreams.org |
Wow. Pinch me. Both Big Pharma & the AMA are, now, for healthcare
reform!?!
2009 Jun 14 - Why does every country in the world that has a cross on their
flag NOT have the death penalty? Why does every country in the world that has
a cross on their flag HAVE single payer healthcare?
2008 Dec 15 - Universal health
care just makes sense according to Christianity ("What you do to the least
of these you do to me."), the Constitution ("LIFE, Liberty and the Pursuit
of Happiness") AND capitalism (we need the workplace to be operating at maximum
efficiency don't we? That calls for preventive medical attention). Read Steven
Hill, of The New America Foundation, in Yes! magazine.
- Andrew Homer
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Literacy Needed for Good Health March 3, 2001 by Brigitte Greenberg, Washington (AP) - Millions of Americans are risking their health because they cannot understand medical forms, even prescriptions, and many doctors are too harried to provide simple directions, experts said Saturday. "This enormous problem has gone largely unrecognized and rarely discussed," said Dr. Herman I. Abromowitz, an American Medical Association trustee who participated in a discussion of health literacy at an AMA national leadership conference. "Take away the fear of your white coat and stethoscope. Let your patients know it's OK not to understand and to ask questions," he said, reminding his colleagues they have an ethical responsibility to ensure that patients understand them. Among the problems cited: the growing number of senior citizens who have problems with vision, hearing and cognitive skills; more and more patients for whom English is not their first language; patients unable to read or with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. Also, doctors busier than ever are not taking the time to adequately explain patient consent forms, instructions, prescriptions and other vital information. And when they can take the time, many physicians lapse into "doctor-speak," rather than using plain English. The AMA estimates about 90 million Americans have difficulty comprehending medical information and acting on it. That means an inability to follow instructions on pill bottles, understand health advice, complete office forms or insurance applications, or give informed consent to have an operation or office medical procedure. The results can be devastating - visits to emergency rooms, increased likelihood of complications, even death. The country's largest organization of physicians estimates that low health literacy costs the health care system $73 billion per year in unnecessary doctor visits, hospitalizations and longer hospital stays, and that estimate does not factor in expenses associated with malpractice lawsuits. Last year, the AMA, and its philanthropy arm, began a first step toward addressing the problem - educating doctors about how to recognize patients with low health literacy. The foundation recently started distributing kits to doctors that include an 18-minute video showing patients struggling to keep up with their medications. On the video, one patient, a fifth-grade dropout who can barely read, admits he has problems following labeling directions for the nine medications he must take each day and the three inhalers he uses. A second patient says, "You're just like a bird out there, you're lost." At the discussion Saturday, Dr. Mark V. Williams, director of the hospital medical unit at the Emory University School of Medicine, told about 35 doctors that his research shows many patients are simply too embarrassed to let the doctor know they do not understand what they are being asked or told. "There is shame involved. We need to be sensitive," he said. Dr. Patrick E. Brookhouser, an otolaryngologist - or specialist in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat - said patients just told of a cancer diagnosis or other unanticipated news cannot be expected to comprehend the information that comes next. Dr. Bruce Scott, also an ear, nose and throat specialist, said he changed all of his office forms to make them easier to read after realizing that many patients were giving incorrect answers to such basic questions as whether they had had any previous surgery. "Here I was wondering, 'Why aren't you cooperating with me?" he said. Psychologist Terry C. Davis, a professor at Louisiana State University's School of Medicine, challenged the panel to simplify lengthy consent forms that contain what she described as incomprehensible legal and medical terms. "What we say to ourselves is legally this is the way it is, and we just throw up our hands," said Davis, shaking her head. "Patients are asked to sign these every day, and they don't understand what they're signing."
Low-income
families lack healthcare, despite economic boom
Despite
a healthy US economy, nearly a third of low-income Americans still lack health
insurance, according to a new survey.
Thomas
Calls for End to Employer-based Health Insurance Washington, DC (Reuters Health) --
The employer-based healthcare system in the United
States is "fatally flawed" and needs to be replaced, a leading health
policymaker told the US Chamber of Commerce Wednesday.
Breast
Cancer and Money
Fran Visco is president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, an advocacy organization of 500 member organizations and more than 60,000 individual women, their families and friends. Readers may write her at: NBCC, 1707 L Street NW, Suite 1060, Washington, DC 20036.
Immigrants in the 21st century will help save both Social Security and Medicare: Social Security because their tax payments will help finance the retirement of the baby boomers, and Medicare because their willingness to accept relatively low wages for difficult jobs -- picture all those orderlies in the nursing homes of the future -- will mean decent care for the elderly without exploding costs. - Worth Magazine, Sept '99
Las Cruces 'David' Takes On 'Goliath' Task New York Times Books@barnesandnoble.com 
If Jesus was a healer, why are you against publicly-funded healthcare?
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