Media Advisory
March 20, 2007
CONTACTS:
Don McCanne, MD — (949) 493-3714
David Himmelstein, MD — (617) 665-1032
Nicholas Skala — (312) 782-6006
Leaders of the 14,000-member Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) will be available for commentary and analysis of candidates’ health proposals related to the “New Leadership on Health Care” presidential forum hosted by the Service Employees’ International Union and the Center for American Progress. The event will be Saturday, March 24th, 2007, 12:15 pm ET at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
PNHP is the nation’s largest organization advocating a single-payer national health insurance system. For more than 20 years, PNHP has been at the forefront of the U.S. health policy debate. PNHP leaders have published original research in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and Health Affairs. Members have also done countless media appearances and interviews, including the New York Times, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Major research by PNHP includes:
* Americans already pay the world’s highest health care taxes. We spend enough for national health insurance — we just don’t get it.
(Woolhandler, et al. “Paying for National Health Insurance — And Not Getting It,” Health Affairs 21(4); July / Aug. 2002)
* Nearly one-third (31 percent) of health spending goes to administration and paperwork which result from our reliance on private insurance companies.
(Woolhandler, et al “Costs of Health Administration in the U.S. and Canada,” NEJM 349(8) Sept. 21, 2003)
* Half of all U.S. bankruptcies are due in part to illness and medical bills.
(Himmelstein et al, “Illness and Injury as Contributors to Bankruptcy,” Health Affairs Web Exclusive, February 2, 2005)
Local physician experts are available for most state and metropolitan media.
WHAT: Physician health policy experts available for interview about presidential candidates’ health proposals
WHEN: Following SEIU/CAP “New Leadership on Health Care” forum, Saturday, March 24th, 2007, 12:15 pm ET
WHERE: Experts are available for comment on all areas of national policy, and local PNHP representatives are available in most states and major metropolitan areas.
To Schedule an Interview: Contact Nicholas Skala at 312-782-6006. An analysis of John Edwards’ health proposal by PNHP Senior Health Policy Fellow Dr. Don McCanne is available at:
Critique of Edwards’ Health Plan:
https://pnhp.org/news/2007/february/harry_and_louise_on_.php
And a policy analysis archive by Dr. McCanne is available at:
https://pnhp.org/news/quote_of_the_day.php
Physicians for a National Health Program is an organization of 14,000 physicians that support single-payer national health insurance. PNHP is headquartered in Chicago and has chapters and spokespeople across the U.S. To contact a physician-spokesperson in your area, contact nick@pnhp.org or call 312-782-6006. www.pnhp.org.
