A Resolution in Support of the United States National Health Insurance Act
Whereas everyone deserves access to affordable, quality health care.
Whereas the number of Americans without health insurance continues to rise and now exceeds 46 million.
Whereas tens of millions with insurance have coverage so inadequate that a major illness would lead to financial ruin, and medical illness and bills contribute to one-half of all bankruptcies.
Whereas proposals for “consumer directed health care” would worsen this situation by penalizing the sick, discouraging prevention and saddling many working families with huge medical bills.
Whereas managed care and other market-based reforms have failed to contain health care costs.
Whereas HMO and insurance company overhead consumes over $100 billion annually.
Whereas U.S. hospitals spend 24.3% of their budgets on billing and administration while hospitals under Canada’s single payer system spend only 12.9%.
Whereas American physicians are inundated with bureaucratic tasks and costs that physicians in Canada and other nations with national health insurance avoid.
Whereas the U.S. Government Accountability Office has estimated the bureaucratic savings from converting to a single payer system at 10% of health spending, $200 billion in 2006, which is enough to cover the uninsured and to improve coverage for all of those who now have only partial coverage
Whereas “consumer directed health care” adds yet another expensive layer of bureaucrats – the financial firms that manage health savings accounts.
Whereas entrusting care to profit-oriented firms diverts billions of dollars to excessive incomes for CEOs and threatens the quality of care.
Whereas United States Representatives John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich have introduced H.R. 676, The United States National Health Insurance Act.
Whereas H.R. 676 would assure universal coverage of all medically necessary services under a non-profit single payer program, while containing costs by slashing bureaucracy.
Whereas H.R. 676 would protect the doctor patient relationship, assure patients a free choice of doctors, and allow physicians a free choice of practice settings.
Therefore ________________________________ expresses its support for H.R. 676, The United States National Health Insurance Act (HR 676).