Healthcare Reform NOW
March 13, 2023
Happy Monday Healthcare Advocates
I am so thankful for all of you and for the actions you take to move us towards a universal healthcare system.
Universal Healthcare Notes
Many of us favor Universal Healthcare and I wanted to share some of the important facts about it that can help influence others.
Here is an article in Medpage by Marc Ryan, MPA (thank you, Harriette). He is a Republican but recognizes that the current methods of delivering healthcare is way too expensive, too inefficient and does not cover enough of the population.
Some of the problems he identifies are lack of focus on wellness and prevention, and gaps or lack of coverage. Those gaps are often the results of job loss and so insurance loss. He also recognizes that business will become far more competitive if they are not shouldering the majority of the healthcare insurance cost (Berkshire Hathaway agrees). Here is a good reference for these comments at the Commonwealth Fund.
There are a number of problems with healthcare delivery that we have seen. These include (per the Congressional Budget office) about $400B wasted on overhead each year and $200B wasted on prescriptions due to overcharging and unregulated expenses,
It is worse, according to a study done by the American College of Physicians, who support universal healthcare, the fee for service model in place in so many institutions adds 30% to the overall system cost with unneeded tests, procedures and examinations. A healthy patient model is much more efficient and effective at lowering costs and keeping us productive.
Providers are also big supporters of Universal Healthcare. I know I’ve mentioned Physicians for a National Health Plan (https://pnhp.org/) but a 2019 poll of 1306 healthcare providers found that 49% of physicians agree with the Medicare for All concept, 47% of nurses and advanced practice registered nurses favor it, followed by 41% of those in health business/administration and 40% of pharmacists. Many of these practitioners are stymied because the current system ties their hands and does not let them give their patients the best care possible.
Universal Healthcare is the answer and a well designed system, line Enhanced Medicare for All will address the problems we face today.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY
RESISTBOT
Text SIGN PZTSYS to 50409 to send your Congressperson, Senators, and the Whitehouse this message (or use it on the phone or copy and paste it to email - Links are in the resources below)
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will be bringing her Universal Healthcare bill back to Congress shortly. I want to see this bill supported and passed. Almost half of all doctors want it, the American College of Physicians supports it, Physicians for a National Health Plan supports it.
It will lower costs, provide better, high quality care to everyone (urban and rural) and make us as competitive as we can be in the world market.
What are you waiting for? We need you to do this now.
Resources
Contact White House or other federal agencies: usa.gov/federal-agencies
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/change-your-address
Contact all members of Congress
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
By US mail: Representatives / Senators
By fax: Representatives / Senators
By Resistbot: Resist.bot