Summary: To achieve a healthy nation, we need not only single payer healthcare, but also robust public health practice. During COVID, an already underfunded and
The McCanne Health Justice Monitor is produced by a team of health policy experts and single-payer champions. For more information, and a complete archive of entries, visit the HJM website. For an archive of Quote of the Day entries from Dr. Don McCanne, click here.
Don’t Undermine Medicare via Means Testing in Build Back Better
Summary: Means test Medicare? What? Yes, suggested by a conservative Democrat for the proposed Medicare improvements in the huge social infrastructure bill in Congress. This
We can cut drug prices *and* foster innovation
Summary: As Congress considers enabling Medicare to negotiate down out-of-control drug prices, pharmaceutical companies warn that innovation will suffer. Not so, says the president of
Access to Mental Health Care — US worst among wealthy countries
Summary: World Mental Health Day was October 10th. How is the US doing on access to care? Terribly. Therapists often don’t take insurance, and we
Racism in health – medical debt
Summary: “Columbus Day” is a holiday that invites us to reflect on another source of pervasive racism in our health system – the debt that
Medicare Privatization is Failing Seniors
Summary: Seniors face much greater financial barriers to medical care in the US than in other wealthy countries. Why? Because we’re handing Medicare over to
Dental care for Medicare!
Summary: Medicare has always lacked dental services. Some dentists are now offering dental practice “memberships”. But dental health is too important to be handled piecemeal
Racism in US health, two reminders
Summary: Racism in US health manifests in multiple guises and scales. Today we report on two diverse country-wide phenomena most severely harming Blacks: thousands of
No relief from private insurance market concentration
Summary: The American Medical Association finds rising health insurer concentration. That’s bad, because powerful private insurers undermine the healthcare experience. What we need is fully
Medicare Advantage & DCEs: How Corporate Investors Deplete Medicare
Summary: Private investors have devised and exploit clever mechanisms to obtain massive payments and outlandish profits from Medicare. These manipulations started with Medicare Advantage, and
NYT: The multifaceted failings of US health insurance
Summary: The New York Times, the most respected US daily newspaper, over the last week prominently published three stories about startling failings in our health
High Uninsurance post-ACA for Low-Income, Black, Hispanic Americans
Summary: This study used a national survey to document high levels of uninsurance among vulnerable populations after ACA implementation, especially in states not choosing to