Should Obama include single payer advocates in the health care debate?

[mmonk]

The president wants this process to be open and transparent, with the goal of achieving universal coverage. However, groups representing physicians, nurses, and consumers who advocate for a single-payer system of national health insurance have thus far been excluded from the summit.

-snip-

Under a single-payer system, doctors, hospitals and other health care providers are paid from a single fund administered by the government. The system would eliminate the wasteful spending and high administrative costs of private insurance, saving almost $400 billion annually. This savings is enough to provide every American with the same high-quality care, including those who currently have insurance but still cannot afford medications and treatment.

-snip-

The Clinton task force on health reform made a similar mistake of excluding the voices of those who support a single-payer system, and the result was a complicated, inadequate reform proposal that catered to the interests of insurance companies and failed to garner public support. At a time when public support for single-payer is greater than ever - more than 60 percent in recent polls - we urge President Obama not to make the same mistake. He must include single-payer advocates in the health care summit next week.

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/february/president_obama_must.php

[midnight]

1. If the single payer system can save $400 billion annually,then yes!

The system would eliminate the wasteful spending and high administrative costs of private insurance, saving almost $400 billion annually. So what do you say Mr. President? Let's get rid of the waste, and give more access to medical treatment for everyone.

[Faryn Balyncd]

32. K&R - -"Physicians for a Natl Health Program" - Dr's. Himmelstein & Woodhandler should be INVITED...

http://www.pnhp.org/

[Faryn Balyncd]

33. K&R - - "California Nurse's Association" - - strong Single Payer advocates, should be INVITED.......

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2009/january/first-of-its-kind-study-medicare-for-all-single-payer-reform-would-be-major-stimulus-for-economy-with-2-6-million-new-jobs-317-billion-in-business-revenue-100-billion-in-wages.html

[Demeter]

2. He Doesn't Even Include American Taxpayers and Medical Consumers!

I call bogus!

[biopowertoday]

3. Health Care Industry in Talks to Shape Policy [SECRET TALKS], NYT

February 20, 2009
Health Care Industry in Talks to Shape Policy
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON — Since last fall, many of the leading figures in the nation’s long-running health care debate have been meeting secretly in a Senate hearing room. Now, with the blessing of the Senate’s leading proponent of universal health insurance, Edward M. Kennedy, they appear to be inching toward a consensus that could reshape the debate.

Many of the parties, from big insurance companies to lobbyists for consumers, doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, are embracing the idea that comprehensive health care legislation should include a requirement that every American carry insurance.

.........
The talks, which are taking place behind closed doors, are unusual. Lobbyists for a wide range of interest groups — some of which were involved in defeating national health legislation in 1993-4 — are meeting with the staff of Mr. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a search for common ground.

.................

While President Obama is not directly represented in the talks, the White House has been kept informed and is encouraging the Senate effort as a way to get the ball rolling on health legislation.

...............

“While there was some diversity of views,” it said, “the sense of the room is that an individual obligation to purchase insurance should be part of reform if that obligation is coupled with effective mechanisms to make coverage meaningful and affordable.”

The ideas discussed include a proposal to penalize people who fail to comply with the “individual obligation” to have insurance.

......................................

The 20 people who regularly attend the meetings on Capitol Hill include lobbyists for AARP, Aetna, the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Business Roundtable, Easter Seals, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the United States Chamber of Commerce.

[Captain Hilts]

5. There's a lot of secrecy in health care policy. It's too hot a topic. Too wealthy an industry. nt

[Demeter]

6. If It Was Universal, Single-Payer, This Would Be a Non-Issue

why should we pay insurance companies? Anyone? Bueller?

[mmonk]

7. Because their lobbyists run the system.

The people have no say.

[biopowertoday]

10. The WH wants universal INSURANCE not universal single-payer. With

his universal insurance-he brings in the insurance INDUSTRY.

[RC]

25. The private insurance is the root problem

[enlightenment]

12. If the 'sense' of the room is revolving around

the word 'purchase' and 'obligation' then health care reform is dead before it's born.

This is far too important an issue to be decided in secret, by twenty individuals who primarily represent the money-making end of something that shouldn't even be considered a 'business'.

Shameful. Shameful, but not at all surprising.

[mmonk]

16. Yes, this is more crony capitalism or corporate socialism.

[biopowertoday]

19. they are lobbyists. simple as that.

[Pharlo]

23. Interesting.....

Sounds like the Health Care equivalent of Cheney's Energy Commission.

Personally, I don't understand how they can have an open debate if they don't include all major options including single payer.

[Captain Hilts]

4. That's where the discussion should START. nt

[biopowertoday]

11. single payer is NOT on the table.

[Captain Hilts]

13. I know. We need it to bring the starting point of discussion further left.

We've got to start making too many Big Concessions BEFORE negotiations even start.

[biopowertoday]

15. But the Kennedy group is already talking with the insurance industry

--for a few months now. It will be the plan that gets put out there by Congress--that I know. I do not mean to be down about this but can't help it when I see articles such as one I posted.

[Captain Hilts]

17. The insurance industry has to get a piece of the pie, because...

it might take some of the fight out of them - I know, naive. It didn't work in '93.

[mmonk]

20. HR 676 has been proposed out there in Congress longer.

[biopowertoday]

21. Yes, but it is dusty. and getting dustier.!!

[mmonk]

22. And that's not a good thing. This crap system is going to break many

of us. It will keep unemployment high and discourage entrepreneurship on the local level and has already been doing so.

[Kip Humphrey]

14. ...And that's where the discussion should end

Single payer would provide the largest single stimulus to the American economy period.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Worked for me in military medicine and in Ontario. nt

[kaygore]

42. I know! It is so obvious and yet the insurance companies seem to dictate

Money speaks and big money speaks the loudest.

We have to put pressure on Congress!

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Americans Can't Afford Better Health Care At Far Lower Prices

So stop thinking about it.

Fortunately, Zeke Emanuel and the DLC are looking out for our interests: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5159769&mesg_id=5159769

[cali]

9. Yes. Absolutely he should.

[demodonkey]

24. Yes. My god, YES! We can't afford NOT to do single-payer.

The only solution that is going to get the job done is SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE FOR ALL. Anything else is simply going to continue the greed-driven for-profit "insurance" based system that we all know is not working now.

My God Obama, pay attention to the people not the Pharma lobbyists!

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Single Payer or shelve it

Demanding people pay for insurance is wrong. Extortion. Compelling people to contrubute to the profit of others is called a shake down.
The Insurance Companies ARE the problem.

[Kalyke]

46. They require us to have car insurance and home-owners (if financing) insurance.

I want to say that I'm for single-payer, lock, stock and barrel. There's no other way for the United States to stay economically competitive, or healthy, without it.

However, I just wanted to point out that there is precedent in requiring us to purchase insurance.

[area51]

27. Rec #3

Get the facts on single-payer healthcare.

Every day, 273 people die due to lack of healthcare in the U.S.

[LWolf]

28. If he doesn't, it's not exactly "open," is it?

It doesn't really matter if he includes them, though, if he has no intention of allowing a single-payer system. Including them at that point is for propaganda purposes, not for substantive reform.

Do you really think he wants a single-payer system?

[mmonk]

44. No it's not open, it's closed.

[Vincardog]

29. He must include single-payer advocates in the health care summit next week.

[pleah]

30. K&R

[annabanana]

31. If he doesn't, he's not serious about moving the HMO's out of the way. . .n/t

[Faryn Balyncd]

34. INSURANCE COMPANIES designing a healthcare plan = DRUG COMPANIES design the Bush Px Drug Benefit.

The insurance companies are the problem, not part of the solution.....

Without getting rid of the parasitic insurance companies - - - - & tapping the 31% "administrative costs" that insurance companies charge in order to cherry pick the low risk patients (and dump those with pre-existing conditions, etc onto the backs of the taxpayers and healthcare providers - - - - we will NEVER be able to afford universal healthcare.

[mmonk]

43. Yes indeed.

[leftofthedial]

35. reminds me of the bushgang's energy task force

everyone is included...


except environmentalists and alternative energy advocates.

Of course, single-payer advocates should be included. In fact, they should be driving the process.

If the insurance companies are enshrined as keepers of our medical system as Obama seems determined to do, we'll be cleaning up this mess in another few years.

[mmonk]

47. I used that as an example when I contacted the White House by email

this morning.

[slipslidingaway]

36. Yes! knr n/t

[GeorgeGist]

37. He will if he's open-minded. / nt

[JackRiddler]

38. These groups need to show up in large numbers outside the summit.

The statements are important but what if he doesn't include them anyway? In politics good things have never happened without popular action.

[leftstreet]

39. Not just Yes, but Hell Yes!

K&R

[bertman]

40. ABSOLUTELY! If they are not included that tells me our President is scared of Big Medicine.

[Faryn Balyncd]

41. Leaving out Single Payer advocates & appointing a Czar who wants to privatize Medicare !#?#!#?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5159769

[thesquanderer]

45. Is Elizabeth Edwards invited to the summit? (n/t)

[TalkingDog]

48. Don't give me Health Insurance, give me Health Care

Health Insurance is beauracracy.
Health Care is....Health Care.

If there is one thing I am certain of, it's that a paper pusher is much less likely to fix what ails me than a Medical Doctor.