The Huffington Post
The Blog
(Accessed June 13, 2006)
In today’s NY Times (June 10), Hillary Clinton states, “I think you should cover all children who don’t have other access to coverage. We shouldn’t have any uninsured children. But we have to take that step by step.”
For decades, we have been reforming health care “step by step.” These steps have resulted only in more uninsured and in an explosion in medical debt due to deteriorating coverage. These financial barriers to care have resulted in impaired health outcomes.
John Conyers’ HR 676 would replace our inefficient, inequitable, fragmented system with an affordable national health insurance program providing comprehensive benefits for everyone. For those concerned about skyrocketing costs, this is the only effective proposal (which expands coverage) that actually brings costs under control. It should appeal to progressives who want access and coverage for everyone, and to the business community which wants relief from unrelenting cost escalation while ensuring adequate coverage for employees.
This should no longer be a partisan issue. If the Republicans would begin to discuss the business rationale of single payer, then Sen. Clinton should be willing to concede that comprehensive reform really is feasible. But we do need to sit down with our Republican friends to be sure that they understand the single payer business model.
By: dmccanne on June 10, 2006 at 01:05pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-burger/a-walking-tour-of-america_b_22478.html
Wounds Salved, Clinton Returns to Health Care (NY Times, June 10):
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/10/washington/10hillary.html?pagewanted=all
Comment:
By Don McCanne, M.D.
Seriously. Let’s make every effort to be certain that the Republicans and the business community clearly understand the single payer business model. The efficiencies and cost containment mechanisms should appeal to anyone who is struggling with budgets.