New Mexico Rallies for Universal Health Care
Prominent physicians, medical students and seniors unite in support of single-payer health care reform
CHICAGO, IL, October 3, 2002 � October 1-8 is Universal Health Care Awareness Week in Albuquerque, New Mexico, bringing national attention to 25% of New Mexico residents who do not have health insurance. Health Students for Social Action (HSSA) and the Gray Panthers, a senior activist group in Albuquerque, have teamed up to organize a week of events to educate people about single-payer health care reform. An independent study by the Lewin group shows that developing a universal health care system is not only affordable, it's cost effective. Lewin calculated that New Mexico would save millions of dollars by adopting a universal single-payer system.
Event highlights include a highly anticipated October 4 debate between Dr. McCanne, M.D., president of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), and Dr. David Scrase, president of Presbyterian HMO, on the topic of financing health care.
Dr. McCanne is a retired family physician in San Clemente, California. For three decades, he allotted one-half of his practice hours to indigent patients. Dr. McCanne was a tireless supporter of Proposition 186, the California single-payer initiative, defeated by $10 million in insurance industry funded opposition. He has written extensively in the lay press on single-payer and patient-oriented health care, often using the concept of �Universal Medicare" as a model for single payer that the public can understand and support. He has elected to dedicate the remainder of his productive years to full-time activism on behalf of the single-payer cause. PNHP is membership organization of doctors that supports universal health care.
David R. Scrase, MD, is a Board Certified Internist and Geriatrician who has been involved in market-driven managed care for almost two decades. Dr. Scrase practices in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
�As a fourth-year medical student,� says Michael Walta, of HSSA, �I see patients everyday, facing hardship, bankruptcy, or just plain being turned away at the door. We are taking this issue away from the politicians, who are failing us, and bringing the message of universal coverage to those who are being abused by the health care crisis: the working poor, the elderly, and the middle-class.�
Linda Peeno, M.D., nationally known for exposing problems in corporate managed care, will be the keynote speaker at a panel discussion October 5. Peeno is a family practioner, a medical ethicist, and advisor on legal cases against giant for-profit HMOs. Peeno was recently the subject of the Showtime feature film �Damaged Care,� starring Laura Dern (Jurassic Park.)
The week concludes on Sunday with a "Run to Cover Everyone," sponsored by HSSA, followed by a rally at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
"New Mexicans deserve comprehensive affordable health insurance," said Jaime Aagaard, of HSSA. �Medical students are demanding change from our elected leaders".
More than one-third of Hispanics are uninsured; in some cities the figure is as high as one-half. New Mexico now joins Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, California, and Oregon in the ever-growing movement supporting single-payer health care reform. For more information about the Run to Cover Everyone go to: www.runtocovereveryone.net
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Physicians for a National Health Program has been advocating for health care reform for 15 years with more than 10,000 members across the United States.
PNHP is headquartered in Chicago.
Universal Health Care Week October 1- 8, 2002
Albuquerque, New Mexico
TUESDAY,OCTOBER 1 & THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
FUN RUN
Noon: register to sign up for "Run to Cover Everyone" and buy raffle tickets. Outside BMSB, sponsored by Health Students for Social Action (HSSA), noon-1pm.
Contact: 505-907-6655
Email: funrun@twignation.com
http://runtocovereveryone.net
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
Grand Rounds
8am: Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds, Dr. Don McCanne, president of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP). HSSB 105.
Q&A with Dr. Don McCanne
Noon: Informal Question/Answer Session with Dr. Don McCanne, expert on the single-payer healthcare system.
BMSB basement room 53.
Health Care Financing Debate
5pm: Healthcare Financing Debate, Dr. David Scrace, president of Presbyterian Health Program vs. Dr. Don McCanne.
Nursing and Pharmacy Bldg, auditorium.
Reception
6:30pm: Reception for Dr. Don McCanne, sponsored by local PNHP chapter.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
Universal Health Care Panel
7pm Universal Healthcare Panel, Santa Fe. Sponsored by Green party. Keynote speaker Dr. Linda Peeno, famous whistleblower on corporate managed care, and Dr. Don McCanne.
Call 505-992-3335 for info.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Reception
10am Reception for Nick Unger of Universal Healthcare Action Network (UHCAN). Contact: 505-899-0392
Run to Cover Everyone
1-5pm Run to Cover Everyone, followed by Rally with free food, live music (Tobias Rene), raffle, plus more. National Hispanic Cultural Center, 4th and Bridge SE. Contact: 907-6655 for info.