Tuesday, December 25, 2007

I Am Not a Health Reform - New York Times

I Am Not a Health Reform - New York Times
This is a good article to put the candidate's proposals in perspective. They are afraid to take on the insurance companies.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Mandates and Mudslinging - New York Times

Mandates and Mudslinging - New York Times
This shows how the politicians can go from a good policy position to just running for office saying what they think people want to hear. BTW - the idea of requiring signing up for insurance is being tested in Mass. and showing it isn't covering all and is going to cost way more than just being able to get care and have the bills paid by a single source.
If the NYT site says you have to sign up to see the articles, it should be a simple process and no longer requires any payment at all -- free site.

Friday, November 30, 2007

LTE - Universal health care makes sense

Winona Daily News - 6.0
Ms. Redig replies to a recent anti-reform LTE.
Thanks Lorraine!

Friday, November 23, 2007

Former Brooklin Couple Applaud Canadian System

The Ellsworth American - Former Brooklin Couple Applaud Canadian System: "incremental systems that have failed in the past is like a train,” Volenik said. “The engineer is driving the health care train, and he stops at each stop and picks up a few more people, maybe children, or a group of low-income people. But he fails to notice that the train is on fire and that people are leaping off in all directions, because the system is ridiculous."

Monday, November 19, 2007

Doctors turn tables by ranking insurers

Doctors turn tables by ranking insurers
Maybe this will help motivate more Doctors to join the movement.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

It’s Not Just the Uninsured - New York Times

It’s Not Just the Uninsured - New York Times: "the health insurance crisis that is responsible for so much unnecessary suffering and death in the U.S."
The Sandra Hightower story.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Monday, November 12, 2007

Socialized Medicine: An urgent hospital visit in China: Not bad at all

Jeremy Breningstall: An urgent hospital visit in China: Not bad at all: "It was a nerve-racking experience, but it cost hundreds of dollars less than it would have to receive equivalent care in Minnesota."

Sunday, November 11, 2007

US Among Worst in World for Infant Death

US Among Worst in World for Infant Death: "Doctors and analysts blame broad disparities in access to health care among racial and income groups in the United States."
This reflects our society's tendency to protect what we have and think it is wrong and risky to help those in need. Wish more of us would see that we are only one illness or accident away from being the one in need.
Even big unions can be on the wrong side of this issue in spite of what the majority of members want. Here's a recent summary of what the head of the AFL-CIO actually has to say.
AFL-CIO leadership works to stop rank and file efforts for single payer.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Some Health Care Facts

Recent Letter to the Editor:

Published - Friday, November 09, 2007

Some health care facts

The recent Minnesota Senate Health Care Hearing was well attended and has generated much debate. That debate gets emotional and reminds me of the ones concerning abortion or Iraq. Much of our debate is affected by scare tactics and misinformation. If anyone is interested in looking at facts, here are just a few sources:

  • Rate of uninsured U.S. residents younger than age 65 has increased to 17.9 percent (Employee Benefit Research Institute, Oct. 5, 2007).
  • Minnesota premiums for private health insurance jumped 7.6 percent, out-of-pocket costs up 15 percent (Minnesota Department of Health, Oct. 4, 2007).
  • More than 98,000 Minnesota adults aged 18 to 24 have no medical coverage (Minnesota Department of Health, June 3, 2007).
  • Health care costs are a larger concern than war in Iraq (American Society for Quality, March 26, 2007)
  • Most Minnesota physicians endorse single-payer universal health care (Univ. of Minnesota School of Public Health, Feb. 12, 2007).
  • Retiree health benefit costs increase 10 percent annually for cities (Moody’s Investor Services, Feb. 1, 2007).
  • High cost of health insurance hinders start-up companies (Health Research & Education Trust, Kaiser Family Foundation, Nov. 30, 2006).
  • More employers reduce or drop retiree health benefits as costs increase (Health Research & Education Trust, Kaiser Family Foundation, Sept. 26, 2006).
  • Most working adults shopping for individual insurance were turned down or found it too costly (Commonwealth Fund, Sept. 14, 2006).
  • Health problems for U.S. workers, families result in $260 billion in lost productivity (Commonwealth Fund, Sept. 1, 2005)
  • Uninsured workers are unlikely to purchase individual health insurance (Congressional Budget Office, Aug. 31, 2005)
  • More then two in five Americans have medical debt, medical bill problems (Commonwealth Fund, Aug. 11, 2005).

    Brooks is with the Great Northern States Health Care Initiative.

  • **********
  • (the source of the research list was Lisa Krahn of Mora, MN)
  • Health Care Excuses - Krugman

    Health Care Excuses - New York Times
    Paul Krugman's latest -
    He still believes single payer is the best way to resolve the problems. But, he is saying maybe we need a stepping stone of universal access to insurance with a Medicare type option which will eventually win out. Wish that was not such a likely scenario. Why can't we just do it and do it right?

    Saturday, November 3, 2007

    Worsening the Odds - New York Times

    Worsening the Odds - New York Times: "Lonnie died on March 26 at age 45. The cause of death was cancer, aided and abetted by an absurd, unnecessary and utterly unconscionable absence of health insurance."

    Prostates and Prejudices - New York Times

    Prostates and Prejudices - New York Times
    We all know that politicians can lie and pick and choose what to say that fits their purposes. We know that many try to pretend that single payer universal care is the government taking over our medical care rather than simply changing how the bill is paid. What Krugman points out as well is that the media does not call them on the lies. They focus more on how someone sounds or what they look like. This just means we have more responsibility to be vocal and public in our demands for truth and accountability.

    Sunday, October 28, 2007

    The Regressivity of Consumer Directed Health Care

    Ezra Klein: The Regressivity of Consumer Directed Health Care
    "consumer-driven care -- also known as the Republican Party's answer to universal health care -- "would probably widen socioeconomic disparities in care and redistribute wealth in 'reverse Robin Hood' fashion, from the working poor and middle classes to the well-off. Racial and ethnic disparities in care would also probably worsen."

    Saturday, October 20, 2007

    End the shame of our health-care crisis -- chicagotribune.com

    End the shame of our health-care crisis -- chicagotribune.com: "Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton presents us with yet another health-reform proposal based on the fatal strategy of keeping private insurance companies in the driver's seat."

    Miles Mogulescu: "Why Not Single Payer?" A Response to Paul Krugman and the Leading Democratic Presidential Contenders. Part 1. - Politics on The Huff

    Miles Mogulescu: "Why Not Single Payer?" A Response to Paul Krugman and the Leading Democratic Presidential Contenders. Part 1. - Politics on The Huffington Post: "Faster than you can say the word 'Sicko' and turn around 3 times, the Democrats' promise of health care for all has gone from 'Universal Medicare For All' to 'Individual Insurance Mandate'."

    U.S. Women's Health Care Still Falls Short

    HealthDay
    This article may of of interest.
    The report is available at the Women's Law Center.

    Friday, October 12, 2007

    McCain aims to give people more health care choice, options

    McCain aims to give people more health care choice, options: "Allowing veterans to use whatever provider they want, wherever they want by giving them an electronic health care card or through another method."
    Every candidate for President has their own position on health care. This Vet's component of McCain's is intriging. Give a card to all that allows them "to use whatever provider they want". Gee, if that works, it just might be a model for system wide change.

    Monday, October 8, 2007

    Many users of Medicare's Part D drug plan forced to switch

    Many users of Medicare's Part D drug plan forced to switch
    If ever there was one single reason for universal, single payer, this is it. This is as complex as the IRS code!

    Saturday, October 6, 2007

    SCHIP Veto

    YouTube - Kids Warn Conservatives on SCHIP: No More Photo Ops
    Might be fun to share this with others. Putting Republicans on the defensive regarding health care is a good idea.

    Friday, October 5, 2007

    Health costs rising at fast clip

    Health costs rising at fast clip
    This article is about Minnesota's cost increases. Same thing is happening in WI and elsewhere. The time has come for MAJOR change! Our experiment in this country with insurance and HMOs and health savings accounts and treating access to health care as some kind of moral, only of the worthy benefit has got to stop.
    Universal, Single Payer is the only way we can afford to make the changes needed to ensure access to health care for all citizens.

    Wednesday, October 3, 2007

    Winona area State Senator named to Single Payer Planning Group

    Winona Daily News - 6.0
    Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes has been named to this new planning group. See the article. Minnesota's current proposal is SF2324/HF2522 and is much like the Healthy Wisconsin one. We are blessed with State Senators on both sides of the river who know what is needed in health care reform. Thanks to Senator Vinehout and Senator Erickson Ropes.

    Monday, October 1, 2007

    Sunday, September 23, 2007

    Bush, Democrats battle over kids' health

    Bush, Democrats battle over kids' health
    What do oil companies and health insurance companies have in common?
    It is President Bush's undying support regardless of what the majority of citizens think.

    Friday, September 21, 2007

    Thursday, September 20, 2007

    Healing Our Sicko Health Care System

    Healing Our Sicko Health Care System
    An interesting comment on how SICKO can affect the public's views.

    Saturday, September 15, 2007

    Mayo pitches health care cure

    TwinCities.com - Mayo pitches health care cure
    Too bad they are against single payer. But at least they are proposing major change. Your thoughts?

    Wednesday, September 12, 2007

    Health premiums: Feeling the pain

    Health premiums: Feeling the pain
    Surprised at the low level so far for health savings account plans. I am guessing the resistance is not so much ignorance as it is that people know they will get screwed.

    Wednesday, September 5, 2007

    Health Care Not Warfare March

    Troops Out Now Coalition
    Info on a march Sept. 29th in DC

    Saturday, August 25, 2007

    LTE on Healthy Wisconsin

    Helping others


    .
    Almost everyone in the state and country knows that the availability and cost of health care is a catastrophic problem for many. It is for this reason that concerned Democrats in the state Senate worked and crafted a health care program for Wisconsin called “Healthy Wisconsin.”

    Under this plan, everyone in Wisconsin (except seniors and Medicaid-eligible people) will receive health care with the same coverage as that received by our legislators, while providing statewide savings of $1.5 billion.

    While this program is being acclaimed by other states as a model, “Healthy Wisconsin” and the senators who developed this program are being attacked rather viciously, and the State Assembly is dragging its feet on approval.

    Be aware that this program is not socialized medicine, it is not a single-payer plan (although more money would be saved if it was) and it will not increase taxes. In fact, if implemented, this plan will provide all city, county and town governments and school districts significant savings and reduce property taxes for their citizens.

    Why then is there such strong opposition by most Republicans? Is it because they really don’t understand the seriousness of the problem? Is it because they receive financial contributions from companies and business profiting from the current system? Don’t they really care about people less well off than themselves? I keep asking these questions, and my answer to all of them comes out, “Yes.”

    Investigate the plan yourself by going to a town hall meeting near you. I guarantee you will come home knowing that “Healthy Wisconsin” goes a long way in solving or reducing the health care crisis in Wisconsin. Don’t let this opportunity escape by allowing opposition from people who seemingly do not have a great deal of compassion for others less fortunate than themselves.
    .

    LTE on Healthy Wisconsin

    Helping others


    .
    Almost everyone in the state and country knows that the availability and cost of health care is a catastrophic problem for many. It is for this reason that concerned Democrats in the state Senate worked and crafted a health care program for Wisconsin called “Healthy Wisconsin.”

    Under this plan, everyone in Wisconsin (except seniors and Medicaid-eligible people) will receive health care with the same coverage as that received by our legislators, while providing statewide savings of $1.5 billion.

    While this program is being acclaimed by other states as a model, “Healthy Wisconsin” and the senators who developed this program are being attacked rather viciously, and the State Assembly is dragging its feet on approval.

    Be aware that this program is not socialized medicine, it is not a single-payer plan (although more money would be saved if it was) and it will not increase taxes. In fact, if implemented, this plan will provide all city, county and town governments and school districts significant savings and reduce property taxes for their citizens.

    Why then is there such strong opposition by most Republicans? Is it because they really don’t understand the seriousness of the problem? Is it because they receive financial contributions from companies and business profiting from the current system? Don’t they really care about people less well off than themselves? I keep asking these questions, and my answer to all of them comes out, “Yes.”

    Investigate the plan yourself by going to a town hall meeting near you. I guarantee you will come home knowing that “Healthy Wisconsin” goes a long way in solving or reducing the health care crisis in Wisconsin. Don’t let this opportunity escape by allowing opposition from people who seemingly do not have a great deal of compassion for others less fortunate than themselves.
    .

    Friday, August 10, 2007

    Wisconsin Women’s Health Care at Risk

    Representative Huebsch
    Has Put Wisconsin Women’s Health Care at Risk

    The Assembly Budget, under Rep. Huebsch’s leadership, aims to reduce access to cervical cancer testing and treatment, birth control and family planning services.

    You are Invited to a
    Community Forum on
    Women’s Health in the State Budget

    Thursday, August 16
    6:00 - 8:00 pm
    (Food will be provided)

    Gundersen Lutheran
    Board Room
    1900 South Ave.
    La Crosse, WI 54601

    Please Attend to Learn More About What’s Really At Stake:
    - cancer screening programs who suffered reduced funding
    - family planning and reproductive health programs that were dismantled in the Assembly Republican’s budget
    - the potential devastating impact to the health of women and families in Wisconsin
    - how the final stages of the budget process will work
    - and how to take action to protect Women’s Health

    Please RSVP to shelle.michalak@ppwi.org or 608-256-7549 x2132

    Saturday, July 28, 2007

    From an Insurance / HMO company near you

    TwinCities.com - Healthy? Insurers have deal for you
    Article on high deductibles latest spin. A carrot for the young healthy employees and high cost for the old and ailing. I hope the disability and senior groups get an attorney and sue them for discrimination.
    "Employers are expected to see savings of up to 20 percent in the first year by switching to a high-deductible plan in which the premiums are less expensive. Eventually, they are expected to save money as people get healthier and submit fewer claims."
    They neglect to mention that they save money also as employees die or are force by health and finances to quit the job and go on welfare. A short sighted aspect, for purely profit margin reasons, is that due to demographics we will see shortages of available people to fill jobs. So in the long run the employer will be cutting off his nose to spite his face. These short term tactics of insurance companies and politicians just keep building the size of the problems to be faced.

    Thursday, July 26, 2007

    Tuesday, July 17, 2007

    Humor can Heal

    The Health Care Blues...

    A man suffered a serious heart attack and had an open heart bypass surgery. He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic Hospital. As he was recovering, a nun asked him questions regarding how he was going to pay for his treatment. She asked if he had health insurance.

    He replied, in a raspy voice, "No health insurance."

    The nun asked if he had money in the bank.

    He replied, "No money in the bank."

    The nun asked, "Do you have a relative who could help you?" He said, "I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun."

    The nun became agitated and announced loudly, "Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God."

    The patient replied, "Well, in that case...send the bill to my brother-in-law!"

    BusinessWeek articles on Universal Health Care

    BusinessWeek Search Results
    I found this interesting that some very good material in support of single payer universal health care would be in this magazine. Also take a look at Paul Krugman's latest column for some great comments on waiting lines and the lies and scare tactics used by the HMOs. If you can't find the column, it is in a discussion message at our email group.

    Employer health premiums face double-digit increase

    Employer health premiums face double-digit increase
    Another in the long list of reasons why we need to remove the multiple insurance and HMO companies from the health care system.

    Tuesday, July 10, 2007

    Health Care Terror - New York Times

    Health Care Terror - New York Times

    July 9, 2007
    Op-Ed Columnist

    Health Care Terror

    These days terrorism is the first refuge of scoundrels. So when British authorities announced that a ring of Muslim doctors working for the National Health Service was behind the recent failed bomb plot, we should have known what was coming.

    “National healthcare: Breeding ground for terror?” read the on-screen headline, as the Fox News host Neil Cavuto and the commentator Jerry Bowyer solemnly discussed how universal health care promotes terrorism.

    While this was crass even by the standards of Bush-era political discourse, Fox was following in a long tradition. For more than 60 years, the medical-industrial complex and its political allies have used scare tactics to prevent America from following its conscience and making access to health care a right for all its citizens.

    I say conscience, because the health care issue is, most of all, about morality.

    That’s what we learn from the overwhelming response to Michael Moore’s “Sicko.” Health care reformers should, by all means, address the anxieties of middle-class Americans, their growing and justified fear of finding themselves uninsured or having their insurers deny coverage when they need it most. But reformers shouldn’t focus only on self-interest. They should also appeal to Americans’ sense of decency and humanity.

    What outrages people who see “Sicko” is the sheer cruelty and injustice of the American health care system — sick people who can’t pay their hospital bills literally dumped on the sidewalk, a child who dies because an emergency room that isn’t a participant in her mother’s health plan won’t treat her, hard-working Americans driven into humiliating poverty by medical bills.

    “Sicko” is a powerful call to action — but don’t count the defenders of the status quo out. History shows that they’re very good at fending off reform by finding new ways to scare us.

    These scare tactics have often included over-the-top claims about the dangers of government insurance. “Sicko” plays part of a recording Ronald Reagan once made for the American Medical Association, warning that a proposed program of health insurance for the elderly — the program now known as Medicare — would lead to totalitarianism.

    Right now, by the way, Medicare — which did enormous good, without leading to a dictatorship — is being undermined by privatization.

    Mainly, though, the big-money interests with a stake in the present system want you to believe that universal health care would lead to a crushing tax burden and lousy medical care.

    Now, every wealthy country except the United States already has some form of universal care. Citizens of these countries pay extra taxes as a result — but they make up for that through savings on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs. The overall cost of health care in countries with universal coverage is much lower than it is here.

    Meanwhile, every available indicator says that in terms of quality, access to needed care and health outcomes, the U.S. health care system does worse, not better, than other advanced countries — even Britain, which spends only about 40 percent as much per person as we do.

    Yes, Canadians wait longer than insured Americans for elective surgery. But over all, the average Canadian’s access to health care is as good as that of the average insured American — and much better than that of uninsured Americans, many of whom never receive needed care at all.

    And the French manage to provide arguably the best health care in the world, without significant waiting lists of any kind. There’s a scene in “Sicko” in which expatriate Americans in Paris praise the French system. According to the hard data they’re not romanticizing. It really is that good.

    All of which raises the question Mr. Moore asks at the beginning of “Sicko”: who are we?

    “We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics.” So declared F.D.R. in 1937, in words that apply perfectly to health care today. This isn’t one of those cases where we face painful tradeoffs — here, doing the right thing is also cost-efficient. Universal health care would save thousands of American lives each year, while actually saving money.

    So this is a test. The only things standing in the way of universal health care are the fear-mongering and influence-buying of interest groups. If we can’t overcome those forces here, there’s not much hope for America’s future.

    Sunday, July 8, 2007

    Analysis: 'Sicko' numbers mostly accurate; more context needed - CNN.com

    Analysis: 'Sicko' numbers mostly accurate; more context needed - CNN.com
    The #s are right on in the film. The big one omission for me is that the majority of money spent on health care in the US is for the public programs and in states like MN the majority of HMO profits come from the public dole.

    Sunday, July 1, 2007

    Doyle pushes BadgerCare

    La Crosse Tribune - 6.0
    "Gov. Jim Doyle says he’ll push for his plan to expand the state BadgerCare program rather than a universal health-care plan that Senate Democrats added to the state budget proposal."
    Democrats fighting over which way to go on reform - NOT a good thing.

    Friday, June 29, 2007

    Ralph Nader: Sicko and the Politics of Health Care

    Ralph Nader: Sicko and the Politics of Health Care
    Some very good points about the need to follow up and take advantage of this opportunity brought to us my the new Moore movie.
    "Great movies and documentaries raise people's latent indignation levels-for a short time. ".....
    "Unlike for other social justice movies, there is even a bill in Congress, H.R. 676 with 74 cosponsoring legislators, led by Cong. John Conyers (Dem. Mich.), to establish full Medicare for all."....
    We need to "...be given a chance to connect with each other for a cohesive change constituency."

    Thursday, June 28, 2007

    Vinehout on Wis. Senate health care plan released

    Winona Daily News - 6.0
    Excerpt - "Health care reform is a long time coming. It is not quite here yet. But we took a giant step forward. Now that the plan is public, the debate will begin. You will hear much about the plan. Some will be distortions and misinformation. The stakes are high. We must cut waste and greed. And those who are profiting from the system will not give up easily.

    If you are interested in learning more about the plan, contact me. If you have ideas, write or call. In Black River Falls at (715) 284-1730. In Eau Claire at (715) 838-0448 or in Madison at 1-877-763-6636; or write: State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707-7882 or e-mail Sen.Vinehout@legis.wisconsin.gov."

    Monday, June 25, 2007

    WI universal health care plan released Sunday

    La Crosse Tribune - 6.0
    A major universal health care proposal for WI is being released this week. More detail is in the Madison paper. Thanks to Judi Moseley from Citizen Action for sharing this news. What do you think of this proposal and what do you think we should do?

    Wednesday, June 20, 2007

    Health expert warns of approaching crisis

    Health expert warns of approaching crisis
    Health care in the United States is at a critical crossroads as an aging population, with its looming set of costly chronic conditions, threatens to increase financial pressure on an already strained system, one of the country's top health care experts warned Tuesday.

    Monday, June 18, 2007

    Making health pay off twice

    Making health pay off twice
    This looks to me as a way to make the employee pay more -- maybe twice as much. We need to find and share research which shows whether the carrot added to the stick of high deductibles does anything other than cut the cost employers pay.

    Sunday, June 17, 2007

    State kept quiet on cancer in 35 miners

    State kept quiet on cancer in 35 miners
    This is what happens when politicians control the results of health studies and policy recommendations. These same political appointed people are controlling State comments on managed care and universal health care. Remember this as an example of why not to trust and to push for outside review.

    Saturday, June 16, 2007

    Universal coverage called an economic imperative

    Universal coverage called an economic imperative
    How do we impact these kinds of opportunities without it being co-opted by the insurance companies?

    Thursday, June 14, 2007

    Smaller health-care ideas get a hearing

    Smaller health-care ideas get a hearing
    Some Minnesota legislative action is still moving. We need to keep up the push and the support in both state's.

    Tuesday, June 12, 2007

    Single-payer health care: the right diagnosis for us

    Holmen Courier - Opinion
    Opinion piece from the Farleys with comments on the WI legislative proposals.

    Kathy Sheran: Shine more light on drug clinical trials

    Kathy Sheran: Shine more light on drug clinical trials
    Some interesting things about drug trials and proposed legislation at a State level.

    Tuesday, June 5, 2007

    Editorial: Drug companies pay sanctioned doctors

    Editorial: Drug companies pay sanctioned doctors
    The FDA should do more to stop drug companies from paying doctors to do drug tests. However, all states should make this practice more open to the public. At least as much as Minnesota and Vermont. Maybe Wisconsin can follow suit soon.

    Sunday, May 20, 2007

    An F In Health Care

    TomPaine.com - An F In Health Care
    This links to comments on a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund. It has good data on how much we spend comparatively and how little we get for it. It makes some false conclusions about other countries providing 'insurance' for all. Many do a form of single payer and don't just have mandatory insurance with some government subsidy. If we perpetuate the system of insurance, high deductibles and second guessing doctors, the cost of universal access will be too high. Single payer is the only way we can afford to do this.

    Saturday, May 19, 2007

    What's Wrong With American Medicine?

    What's Wrong With American Medicine? | Health & Medicine | DISCOVER Magazine
    "It’s no secret that our lack of a rational, single-payer health system has allowed market forces (read: middlemen) to trump health needs."

    Some very interesting comments in these book reviews.

    You're fired! Take these millions and go

    TwinCities.com - You're fired! Take these millions and go
    This story epitomizes what is at the core of this Country's not creating a universal single payer health care system. The rich are overly protected, (so much so it can make you physically ill just to contemplate how unfair and utterly ridiculous it is), and lack of adequate health care is treated as something you must face if you are not "worthy". It is your fault that you can't afford it. That has been the mantra for "welfare". The problem with applying it to health care is that it affects more and more of middle income America. This attitude of 'to hell with the poor and let's just benefit the rich' has got to stop controlling what this country does. This article illustrates just how out of control we have let it become.

    Monday, May 7, 2007

    Fix health care? Mayo's on the case

    Fix health care? Mayo's on the case
    Many of us are served by the Mayo system (or work for it). This idea of "Pay for Value" is not a surprise coming from them. They did have two of their priorities as "health insurance for all" and "a better way to pay for it". Universal care via a single payer system would do that. Wish they'd see the light.
    They want to have a system that pays more to the "most efficient" providers. They think they are losing money by being more efficient. Not sure about that but I am sure they would save a bundle if they didn't have to have so many employees processing detailed bills to so many insurance companies.

    Tuesday, May 1, 2007

    TwinCities.com - UnitedHealth notes stir dispute

    TwinCities.com - UnitedHealth notes stir dispute
    And this is the Minnesota company that can't be an official MN HMO because the law requires that all MN HMOs be non-profit. However, that doesn't keep the HMOs from contracting with them for various services.

    Thursday, April 26, 2007

    Survey says 4 of 5 doctors took gifts from sales reps

    Survey says 4 of 5 doctors took gifts from sales reps
    Drug companies spend too much advertising in the media for prescription meds that should be outlawed. Giving kickbacks and pay offs so Dr's. use certain drugs should be outlawed too. Single payer universal health care would help remove this as a problem.

    Craig Brooks

    Single payer idea has a long way to go

    Just 33%favor National Health Insurance. The need to educate about single payer is still the most important thing we can do.

    Monday, April 23, 2007

    Community Conversations

    Community Conversations: "LACRESCENT/WINONA/LACROSSE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON HEALTH CARE

    See pictures of the LaCrescent meeting!"

    Incremental Health Reform: Whose Life Doesn't Count?

    The Blog | Rose Ann DeMoro: Incremental Health Reform: Whose Life Doesn't Count? | The Huffington Post:
    "Incremental Health Reform: Whose Life Doesn't Count?"
    "American history is filled with examples of fundamental, democratic change brought about by mass action and public pressure against the counseling of the go slow crowd. We can and must achieve that in healthcare as well."

    Prescription for change? State lawmakers working slowly toward universal health care

    Winona Daily News - 6.0 Front Page Coverage! Of our April 22nd public education event.
    Check it out and add comments to the end of the article.

    Saturday, April 21, 2007

    Sunday April 22nd Event in La Crescent - Part of Cover the Uninsured Week

    A Community Conversation on Universal Health Care

    Lawmakers describe current legislative proposals at La Crescent forum

    Citizens of Minnesota and Wisconsin are invited to a conversation about single-payer health care and what state legislation is currently being considered, as lawmakers participate in “A Forum on Single Payer—The Solution with NO Fine Print,” Sunday April 22 at La Crescent High School, 1301 Lancer Blvd. from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

    Dr. James Hart, a member of Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition (MUHCC) and Physicians for a National Health Program, will give an introduction to Single Payer health care to open the conversation. Participants will then share stories about their personal challenges with our health care system, after which elected officials, including Sen. Sharon Ropes and Rep. Ken Tschumper, will describe legislative proposals pending in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A question and answer session will conclude the forum.

    “We need to educate ourselves and make our voices heard,” said Craig Brooks, an organizer of the event. “If we don’t let them know what citizens want, the lobbyists will control the outcome. We hope to raise awareness as to the benefits of a single-payer health care system.”

    The event is co-sponsored by the Great Northern States Health Care Initiative and MUHCC. Interested persons are invited to contact Craig Brooks at 507-459-0237 for further information.

    With fervor, House tackles $9.9 billion health bill

    With fervor, House tackles $9.9 billion health bill
    The Minnesota Legislature just may be able to pass some steps toward major changes in our system. Let's hope, let's encourage them and let's tell the Governor we don't want him to veto it.

    Friday, April 20, 2007

    Bill allowing Negotiations for Medicare drug prices fails

    Senate Minority, Drug Lobby Obstruct People's Will

    Last Wednesday, the Senate failed to pass a bill to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. Read more through the above link.

    Health care for America

    A proposal for guaranteed, affordable health care for all Americans building on Medicare and employment-based insurance.

    Follow the link to Jacob Hacker's proposal.

    Negotiating drug prices could save billions

    The Waste and Inefficiency of the Bush Prescription Drug Plan
    The Republicans' prescription drug program sell-out to insurance and drug companies made a law prohibitting Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices. If Congress repeals this law and allows the government to use its bulk purchasing power, American taxpayers and seniors could save more then $30 billion annually.

    Waste and inefficiency in the Bush
    Medicare prescription drug plan:
    Allowing Medicare to negotiate lower
    prices could save Minnesota
    $582 million a year


    Waste and inefficiency in the Bush
    Medicare prescription drug plan:
    Allowing Medicare to negotiate lower
    prices could save Wisconsin
    $497 million a year

    Thursday, April 19, 2007

    Health care costs jumped 12% in 2006

    Health care costs jumped 12% in 2006: "one of the key reasons for higher costs is the number of uninsured patients seeking hospital services"

    Wednesday, April 18, 2007

    Editorial: Let Medicare bargain for better drug prices

    Editorial: Let Medicare bargain for better drug prices: "Part D: It is the biggest new federal entitlement since the Great Society"

    Please let you Congress members know what you think of this subsidy for big business at the expense of the low and middle income Medicare beneficiaries.

    Sunday, April 15, 2007

    Injured soldiers face unacceptable obstacles to treatment, commission says

    Injured soldiers face unacceptable obstacles to treatment, commission says
    If we had REAL universal access to health care via a single payer system, this would not happen.

    Thursday, April 12, 2007

    JS Online: State asks to keep SeniorCare drug program through end of year

    JS Online: State asks to keep SeniorCare drug program through end of year
    States wouldn't have to try to get permission to continue to spend state tax money to help with drugs for seniors if Medicare were allowed to negotiate prices and seek bids like the VA can. Contact your US Senator to ask them to not renew the legislation for Part D that prohibits negotiation on price.

    Wednesday, April 11, 2007

    Editorial: Health care cuts prove pound-foolish

    Editorial: Health care cuts prove pound-foolish
    Not providing coverage drives cost up for all. The original article referred to in this editorial can be seen at the Mpls. Trib.
    An article about how Minn. hospitals are having to accommodate people who can't pay their bills is at the Winona Daily News.
    High deductibles and reducing coverage only drives up cost for all of the system and all of us. It makes the vicious circle worse.
    Quote I heard today -- "When an Apple a Day Isn't Enough"
    The efforts to help pay for premiums with high deductibles isn't enough. We know it will cost too much and provide too little.

    Monday, April 9, 2007

    Burden of hospitals' charity is growing

    Burden of hospitals' charity is growing
    The cost of uncompensated care keeps increasing as a part of health care inflation. We all know that Single Payer is a way to deal with this as well and this is one of the many reasons Single Payer is affordable.

    Saturday, April 7, 2007

    April 22, 2007 Public Forum

    Community Conversation

    on Universal Health Care

    “A Forum on Single Payer

    – The Solution with NO Fine Print”

    Hosted by the Great Northern States Health Care Coalition and

    the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition

    Sunday April 22nd, 2007

    1:00 to 3:00 pm

    LaCrescent High School

    1301 Lancer Blvd., Lacrescent, MN

    Agenda

    Introduction to Single Payer

    Testimonials

    Elected Officials – What’s in the Works

    Q & A

    "Of all the forms of inequality,

    injustice in health care

    is the most shocking and inhumane."

    - Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Friday, April 6, 2007

    Minnesota can't afford to ignore dental care

    Dick Wiberg: Minnesota can't afford to ignore dental care
    This is one of many stories about what happens when access to basic health care is denied.

    Monday, March 12, 2007

    What is Single-payer health care anyway?

    Here is the definition of single-payer health care from Physicians for National Health Program:

    "Single-payer national health insurance is a system in which a single public or quasi-public agency organizes health financing, but delivery of care remains largely private.

    Under a single-payer system, all Americans would be covered for all medically necessary services, including: doctor, hospital, long-term care, mental health, dental vision, prescription drug and medical supply costs. Patients would regain free choice of doctor and hospital, and doctors would regain autonomy over patient care."

    Is national health insurance “socialized medicine”?

    "No. Socialized medicine is a system in which doctors and hospitals work for the government and draw salaries from the government. Doctors in the Veterans Administration and the Armed Services are paid this way. Most European countries, Canada, Australia and Japan, have socialized financing, or socialized health insurance, not socialized medicine. The government pays for care that is delivered in the private (mostly not-for-profit) sector. This is similar to how Medicare works in this country. Doctors are in private practice and are paid on a fee-for-service basis from government funds. The government does not own or manage their medical practices or hospitals."

    Sunday, March 11, 2007

    Minnesota: SCAM! Your Tax Dollars and the HMOs

    Pulse of the Twin Cities - Locally Grown Alternative Newspaper
    This link takes you to an article by Kip Sullivan about the need to deprivatize the public programs covering the poor's medical care.

    Monday, March 5, 2007

    Put All Public Employees in One Big Pool

    Here is an article from the Pioneer Press on the recent Minnesota legislative proposal for all public school teachers to be in one state wide pool. I want to throw out two extensions of that concept for consideration.
    1. Why not combine ALL public employees in one huge pool? That would be all public school, county, city and state employees.
    2. The idea of creating more negotiating power with the insurance companies isn't going to work, (they will still control cost and services). So, why not take such a large pool of people and put them in a single payer system controlled by the state and thus save the money that goes to the middle man? If too many are paranoid about the state's ability to do it, then create a single payer consortium modeled after the successful County Based purchasing organizations or, as a last resort, bid it out to one private vendor.

    Craig Brooks

    Thursday, March 1, 2007

    Profit for Some or Care for All

    Here's a quote from Diane Archer of ThomasPaine.com. Click on the link below to read the full text.

    "The health insurance industry is full of surprises, but history and
    experience show that insurers will never surprise us with a good, affordable
    health care system for America. Two dirty little secrets about the insurance
    industry reveal why offering Americans a publicly administered alternative
    such as Medicare is the only way to guarantee Americans good, affordable
    health care," says Diane Archer.


    http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/022807HA.shtml

    Sunday, February 11, 2007

    Who We Are

    Hello. You have found the web site of the newly organized grassroots group of citizens concerned about the current state of health care in the U.S.

    Our title includes the term "Great Northern States" in honor of the past tradition of Minnesota and Wisconsin of moving our country toward social change that benefits all citizens.

    What We Stand For

    Our organization uses the following to evaluate any proposal for change in the existing arrangements for health care:

    Whereas, it is the role and function of government to see that all have access to necessary health care, we support reform and funding of a health care system that guarantees:


    1. all residents access to quality, comprehensive health care explicitly defined as a human right.
      As medically necessary care is a human right, the term "Charity care" for those who cannot pay for medical services should be considered antiquated in any humane society.

    2. that the pursuit of corporate profit and personal fortune has no place in health care decisions.
      Public policy decisions on health care legislation and regulations must be based on acceptance of the social contract that treats health care as a right, not a commodity. In a democracy, the public should set health policies and budgets.

    3. that care and treatment decisions by doctors and other health care professionals are based on professional judgments as to the best interests of the patient, in no way influenced by insurance and payment circumstances.

    4. that personal medical decisions are made by patients with their caregivers, not by corporate or government bureaucrats

    5. that financial barriers to appropriate and necessary medical care are eliminated.

    6. patients have the freedom to choose their health care professionals.

    7. the establishment of serious, effective and enduring cost-containment measures. This may dictate that duplication of services and equipment be eliminated in some regions. Measures to severely punish corporate fraud in billing for medical services must be instituted and enforced.

    8. a simple, clear, easy-to-understand system of health care that is efficient to administer and allows no room for any part of the system to pass the buck, denying services to those in need of medically necessary care.

    Saturday, February 10, 2007

    Come to our First Event

    Saturday, March 10: The Healthcare Mess and How To Fix It

    Kip Sullivan, author of the "The Health Care Mess: How We Got Into It and How We’ll Get Out of It," is the guest speaker of our first presentation. Mr. Sullivan has been teaching and writing about the American health-care crisis since 1986. He will share with us some of his research and his ideas of how to fix the health care problem in this country.

    There will be two venues for this presentation:

    In La Crosse at the LaCrosse Public Library, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

    In Winona at the Science Lab Center Auditorium in Stark Hall at the Winona State University, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    There will be time for questions and a discussion following the presentation about what we can do.