Articles of Interest
These articles highlight many of the health care related stories in the news--ranging from single-payer op-eds by PNHP members to reports by newspapers on corporate health care.Another doctor chimes in on the single-payer option - November 6, 2009
Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek | Letter to the Editor | Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times
A heartfelt public “thank you” to Dr. Michael Rey for his guest commentary, “ER doctor analyzes health reform debate,” (AC-T, Oct. 23). He echoed my sentiments exactly, and as a practicing primary care physician, I strongly second his desire for a universal single-payer health care system.ER doctor analyzes health reform debate - November 6, 2009
By Dr. Michael T. Rey | Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times
This country needs radical reform to fix a health care system that currently encourages poor-quality medical care and costs too much. A universal single-payer system would put the focus back on patient care, where it belongs, and reduce costs.Democrat Gives Up Single-Payer Measure to Back Party Leaders - November 6, 2009
By David M. Herszenhorn | New York Times | Prescriptions Blog
Representative Anthony D. Weiner, Democrat of New York, a fierce champion in Congress of a single-payer health system that would be fully run by the government, said Friday that he had agreed not to insist on a vote on that issue, in an effort to help Democratic leaders pass their plan.The reform that's missing - November 6, 2009
By Rhonda Swan | Palm Beach Post
Perhaps "death panels" weren't such a bad idea. For private health insurance companies. If ever there was a useless entity, it's a business that earns profits for doing nothing.Unhealthy America - November 5, 2009
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF | Op-Ed Columnist | New York TimesLack of health insurance played a role in thousands of child deaths, researchers say - November 4, 2009
By Shari Roan | Los Angeles Times Blog
An analysis of 23 million hospital records from 37 states shows that a lack of health insurance likely played a role in the deaths of nearly 17,000 U.S. children over a 17-year period.A doctor's view: escaping the maelstrom - November 4, 2009
By Samuel Metz | The Oregonian
Our health insurance industry succeeds as well in this century as the tobacco industry did in the last. Witness the congressional "reforms" -- all variants on a theme: Make every citizen buy our insurance. And if our price is too high, make our government buy it for them. All hail this great victory for free enterprise. But what about our health?Health Care Abroad: Taiwan - November 3, 2009
By Anne Underwood | New York Times | Prescriptions blog
William Hsiao is a professor of economics at the Harvard School of Public Health and co-author of the 2004 book “Getting Health Reform Right.” He served as a health care adviser to the Taiwan government in the 1990s, when officials decided to reform that country’s health care system and to introduce universal coverage. He spoke with Anne Underwood, a freelance writer.My Kind of Medicine: Real Lives of Practicing Internists: Andy Coates, MD - November 3, 2009
By Catherine Nessa | American College of Physicians Medical Student Newsletter
On any given weekend during the fall of 2004, Andy Coates was never where you might expect--he wasn’t at home with his children or outside working in the yard. He wasn’t at a restaurant having dinner with his wife or at the ballgame with his buddies. He wasn’t at a party thrown by neighbors or friends, or even on a beach chair on vacation. Instead, Andy Coates spent his weekends at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, NY, with the barest of accommodations: meals were brought in by cooler, his bed was a cot in a room in a recently-closed nursing home across the street from the hospital, and for entertainment, he had his work. For many physicians such an arrangement might be unappealing, but it was perfect for Dr. Coates, who has found satisfaction and fulfillment in unexpected places by taking roads less traveled.Remember Medicare for All in the healthcare reform debate - November 3, 2009
By Kay Tillow | The Hill
We are in danger of losing the opportunity to bring Improved Medicare for All, a single payer plan, before the Congress. Last July Congressman Anthony Weiner and six of his colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee attempted to substitute the real public option--HR 676, a single payer plan--for the healthcare reform in the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi assured them that if they withdrew the amendment in committee they would have an opportunity to bring it to the House floor for a debate and vote. Now Pelosi is threatening to keep the Weiner Single Payer Amendment from seeing the light of day.CBO: Few Americans Would Sign Up For Public Health Insurance Plan - November 3, 2009
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
Coverage numbers regarding the Democrats' legislative push "for a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers are finally in: Two percent. That's the estimated share of Americans younger than 65 who'd sign up for the public option plan.Medical Students Urge Speaker Pelosi To Keep Her Promise - November 3, 2009
Medical News Today
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) urges Speaker Nancy Pelosi to keep her promise and allow a vote on a single payer substitution amendment to the House health care reform bill, to be introduced by Representative Anthony Weiner [D-NY].UPDATE: Groundswell of sit-ins and civil disobedience at insurance company offices to demand real health care reform - October 30, 2009
From Mobilization for Health Care for All
The Mobilization for Health Care for All continues to see a growing number of doctors participating in these actions. Yesterday Dr. Margaret Flowers, a pediatrician who has testified before Congress on the need for meaningful health care reform, was arrested in Baltimore and joined by Dr. Eric Naumberg, also a physician.The Doctor Will See You - October 30, 2009
By Henry S. Kahn, MD
No knock. Needed
Perhaps a chance to talk
With the doctor
Would be nice.Four Arrested at Baltimore Health Insurance Protest - October 30, 2009
By SHARMINA MANANDHAR | Southern Maryland Online
Four protesters, including two doctors, were arrested at a "single-payer health care plan" sit-in at the CareFirst insurance company office in Baltimore Thursday.Doctors risking arrest for single-payer health care for all - October 29, 2009
By Kevin Gosztola | OpEd News
At least three doctors will be risking arrest in civil disobedience actions during Mobilization for Health care for All's third wave of actions this week, which are being held to demand an end to insurance abuse and to demand real health care reform for all.Sanders to push for single-payer - October 29, 2009
By DANIEL BARLOW | Times-Argus (Vt.)
U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders will likely make history this year when -- for the first time ever -- he brings a bill creating a national single-payer health care system to the floor of the Senate for a vote.Health Care Choices and Decisions in the United States and Canada - October 29, 2009
Joseph S. Ross, MD, MHS; Allan S. Detsky, MD, PhD | JAMA
...Government-sponsored plans like Canada's are frequently publicly portrayed as limiting choice. However, there is clear evidence that for Canada's health care system, less choice in insurance coverage (although guaranteed) has not resulted in less choice of hospitals, physicians, and diagnostic testing and treatments compared with the United States. In fact, there is arguably more choice.OECD Bias in Evaluating U.S. Health Care Reform - October 27, 2009
By Don R. McCanne | International Journal of Health Services | Volume 39, Number 4 / 2009
Among OECD nations, the United States is an outlier in having the highest per capita health care costs in a system that unnecessarily exposes many individuals to financial hardship, physical suffering, and even death. President Obama and Congress are currently involved in a process to reform the flawed health care system. The OECD has contributed to that process by releasing a paper, "Health Care Reform in the United States," which describes some of the problems that must be addressed, but then provides proposed solutions that omit consideration of a more equitable and efficient universal public insurance program. The same omission is taking place in Washington, DC. By reinforcing proposals that support the private insurance industry, the source of much of [he waste and inequities in health care, the authors of the OECD paper have failed in their responsibility to inform on policies rather than politics.Meet the New Health Care Reform, Same as the Old Health Care Reform - October 27, 2009
By Aaron E. Carroll | Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine | The Huffington Post
We’re so close to health care reform! Even Paul Krugman is starting to talk about what comes next. Me? I’ve been thinking about what comes next for a long time. I think this bill will pass. We will get the incremental reforms we were promised. Things will likely get better in the short term. Then, since we didn’t contain costs, we’ll need to enact real reform. Or, things will go right back to the status quo.