The Albuquerque Tribune
September 13, 2004
By J. D. Bullington
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) has become increasingly outspoken on health care policy…
The NAWBO position doesn’t address whether a government-run, single-payer health care system should be studied. However, several prominent NAWBO members, including past presidents, say it’s time for universal, government-run health care to be put on the table as an option for consideration.
Samantha Lapin, former NAWBO president and CEO of POD Inc., an Albuquerque computer services company, says: “I’m the last person that would have ever considered looking at universal health care, single-payer, socialized medicine – call it what you want. But the more I learn about the health care system, and the more I hear the health care industry say costs will keep rising, and there is no end in sight, then I think we’ve gotten to the position where we have to keep all of our options open and every proposal on the table.”
Another former NAWBO president, Karen Urbieliewicz, principal of her own accounting firm, largely agrees with Lapin’s assessment of the health care industry and the growing financial burden on small businesses.
“The rising costs of the medical system are out of control,” she said. “I’ve shopped for alternatives like catastrophic coverage and health savings accounts, but these products are priced higher than regular health insurance coverage. We need to look at and reevaluate the entire health care system.”
Another active NAWBO member is Edna Lopez, CEO and president of COMPA Industries, a staff augmentation and program management company with 168 employees. Lopez is also president of the Hispanic Women’s Council.
“A single-payer system used to be unattractive and ridiculous to us. But we’re in a desperate situation, where health premium increases are hurting our businesses. We’re at a point now where we have to look at all other options.”
Lapin, who was named New Mexico’s 2004 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, sums up the frustration many women in business feel toward health care: “Maybe a single-payer system isn’t viable, but we don’t know, because we haven’t discussed it.”
“Is there an alternative? What is the alternative? I can’t find it. Can you?”
Comment: It is time to put all options on the table. But that is what is feared the most by the vested interests that are diverting our health care dollars into their own coffers. These vested interests can’t find an alternative to single payer that makes any sense if the goal is to provide everyone with affordable access to comprehensive care.
Go ahead and put all options on the table and then study them. I’ve done that. And, as Ms. Lapin says, I can’t find the alternative either.