Time to talk about the platform: Health Care?

[blondeatlast]

The platform is the where the Democrats can prove they do have some spine again. A health care plank is crucial, IMHO.

What should the health care plank consist of?

I am strongly in favor a single-payer, universal plan but I know it's a damn hard sell.

I also think the health care platform MUST endorse funding for embryonic stem-cell research.

Going to DC for the American Diabetes Associtation in May, so I'm keenly interested in what everyone thinks on these issues.

[NC_Nurse]

1. Single-payer universal

is how they should go, but it won't happen.Just think how that would free up people to change jobs and in the end save businesses huge $. Except of course for the current health insurance companies and drug companies who are making such a handsome profit from today's failing system.

Speaking selfishly, they also need a platform that includes a policy on the nursing shortage that isn't just about increasing funding for education, but is concerned with WHY people leave this profession in DROVES! Howard Dean was the only candidate I know of who had a coherent policy on Nursing and now he's out.

People are under the mistaken impression that the doctor will be the one between them and an early demise....that is rarely the case. It's the nurse who monitors you 95% of the time in a hospital setting; which is pretty hard to do when you have to high a patient load, mandatory overtime, low wages, etc.

[blondeatlast]

2. Friend, I appreciate good nurses probably more than anyone!

I've had ample opportunity.

I have met some nurses that were worth their weight in gold, and I've known hundreds.

You are so right--that should be a crucail part of the plank. Thank you for pointing it out--and I WILL definitely discuss it when I get to DC.

The nurses who cared for my dad in his last days were absolutely incredible. I noted at the time that they were all nearing retirement age and could not stop thinking about it.

I am one who really knows the value of good nurses. Thank you for choosing to be a nurse. I'm well aware of the way you've been exploited.

Edit: almost forgot! WELCOME TO DU!!!

:toast:

[NC_Nurse]

3. Thanks!

I appreciate your support of nurses too!
And I've enjoyed many of your posts already!:toast:

[cryofan]

6. But if everyone says "it won't happen", then it will NEVER happen

Before it CAN happen, we first must say that it WILL happen.
THat's the first goddamn step!

[NC_Nurse]

7. you're right of course...

but I didn't say "never". I just can't imagine "soon".

I guess being a part of the dismal trainwreck that is our current system has made me a little jaded. Every day I get to see the people who are making the current system work for their benefit and it's hard to imagine them letting change occur. :shrug:

[blondeatlast]

8. It will work--you are so right.

But only one candidate supports it now (even though many have been led to believe that their candidate does) so it will be hard to get it brought up for the platform.

We need to sell the idea to employers--with UHC, they can get out of the health insurance debacle. If the Dems can work on that, they can give us a sure winner on the issue.

[Kanary]

17. Do you know there's an organization for medical personnel

who support universal uni-payer health care? (I just like using uni- a lot. :) )

From my understanding there are over 10,000 physicians members now.

I refuse to think it won't happen.... so much depends on it! Plus, my candidate supports it. :)

Have you seen the thread in GD comparing Canadian and USian coverage?

Welcome to Du, NC Nurse!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:

Kanary

[NC_Nurse]

4. Oh yeah! I should metion

that we need to connect the dots between the harm the chimp has done to environmental policies and the rise in chronic health problems...esp. in kids!

I am going to the EPA's meeting this week on RELAXING power company emission standards to let them spew more mercury into the air....which gets into the rain, the snow, our waterways and the fish we eat.

Mercury is highly toxic and can cause birth defects and neurological defects and disorders in children...the symptoms of mercury poisoning are almost identical to those of Autism. The CDC estimates that 1 of 12 women of childbearing age has unsafe levels of mercury in her blood.

This administration is going to do us all in if they get a chance with their stupid shortsighted @#$%^ policies! AAAAUGH!

[blondeatlast]

10. You know it--health care goes way beyond how it's paid for;

as you know better than anyone.

Give 'em hell, grrl!

[camero]

16. here's one link

http://www.diabetesnet.com/news/news102900.php#Arsenic

It is commonly known that arsenic is an extremely toxic substance that can kill people if given in a strong enough dose. However, researchers are now trying to publicize the health risks associated with the low, but dangerous levels of arsenic that is common in tap water.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to low concentrations of arsenic over many years can lead to diabetes, anemia, reproductive disorders, and cancers of the skin, bladder, lungs, and prostate. The current congressional standard for the presence of arsenic in water is limited to no more than 50 parts per billion. However, the EPA hopes to lower this standard to no more than 5 parts per billion.

Bush did not lower the levels. At least 2 millions people in the last 3 years have been diagnosed with diabetes.

A second study has been done in Sweden that supports this theory.

http://infoventures.com/osh/abs/smlt0002.html

Data from a previous study on arsenic exposure and mortality at a copper smelter in Sweden were reexamined to investigate a possible association between diabetes mellitus and arsenic exposure. Death records for the years 1960 to 1976 in a parish in northern Sweden were used as the source of data. The authors conclude that the findings of this study provide some support for the suggestion that arsenic exposure could be an important factor in the development of diabetes mellitus.

[skippysmom]

5. Universal health care

It HAS to happen one way or another. This current piecemeal system cannot be sustainable.

[blondeatlast]

9. The key is selling its advantages to employers, IMHO.

I'm sure they would love to wash their hands of it--look at how many are cutting their contributions drastically. If the Dems can do this, they will help keep the power of the insurance companies out of the eqauation.

If we can look at it rationally we can defeat the insurance pigs at their own game.

As someone with a chronic health problem, this is THE ISSUE for me.

[skippysmom]

11. Spot-on!

I would think that universal health care would benefit companies, who wouldn't have to foot the bill for health care AND wouldn't need so many HR people to manage benefits.

With so many workers changing jobs frequently, single payer makes the most sense.

[LWolf]

12. Single-payer, universal

for 100% of America.

public, not private.

[blondeatlast]

13. Kick for the platform.

:kick:

[blondeatlast]

14. One last kick before an untimely death...

[Cleita]

15. One thing you never hear anymore is about the

Patient's Bill of Rights. I think we ought to start pushing for it and make it so difficult for the for profit industries to make money that they will get out of the business and pave the way for a single payer universal system.

I propose:

No one can be denied health insurance for any reason, not pre-existing conditions, not age, not anything.

No one can be charged more than they are able to pay or means testing. Let's say no one has to pay more than 10% of their wages and if they aren't employed like children or elderly then they get it free.

Care givers, like Clinics, Medical Professionals and Hospitals are to be reimbursed at an agreed upon amount for each visit, procedure or test.

These are just off the top of my head. I'm sure many more rights can be added. Let's run those HMO's and Health insurance quacks out of Dodge.

[Kanary]

18. Where do we start?

Sounds like a good way to pressure from the bottom.

Kanary

[Cleita]

19. Well, when we know who the candidate will be, we will have to

start a letter writing campaign asking them to please put this on their platform. I mean we write to the Presidential candidate, the DNC and even the DLC. Maybe we can even target delegates to the convention, but I don't know how to go about that.

Actually, we could even remind the Bush that he had made some promises about a Patient's Bill of Rights. Everytime he is scheduled to be interviewed by CNN or other news whores we should write them to ask him why he hasn't kept his promise.

We have to get everyone talking about it again. I don't want a Republican plan of course, because it will be something to screw us over like the prescription drug giveaway.

But this issue has been swept under the rug and it needs to be dragged out again.

[Kanary]

20. You've been thinking about this a lot longer than I have

I guess what was in my mind was to keep pressuring the pols at the top (Pres, Senators, etc) for the one-payer system, and work on the Patient's Rights Bill separately, from the bottom.

Maybe another organization to head this.... what about that organization that people joined when they dropped out of AARP... dang, the mind has gone blank.

I don't know if this is the right way... just what came into my mind. Sort of two fronts at the same time.... One from the top, and one grassroots.

Tell me your thoughts...

And, thanks for continuuing to bring this up. I really think it has merit.

Kanary

[napi21]

21. Get Howard Dean to to help!

He said he wants to help to win back the White HOuse. He's going to stay involved. He's accomplished a pretty good system in Vt. He's a Dr.

Ask for his help.

Remember he was also the candidate who said if he were to design a health care system from scratch, this is not it, but we need to start with what we have so we can get something passed congress.

He's right. Remember Hillary's program? It was crushed.

Idealism is wonderful, but if it can't get off the ground, it hasn't got a chance.

First, we need to get a Dem in the WH, then we need to take back congress, then we can talk about major change in a lot of systems including health care.

[Cleita]

22. This is why Dean was my candidate, but the old insider's system

took him down. I think it was the moderate DLC Democrats that did it IMHO so they could push their candidates in there that toe the DLC line.

[Kanary]

23. Hi napi!

Welcome to DU!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:


I was reticent to mention my candidate, because this is still GD. To get more specific, we'll have to move it to GD04.

I'm not so sure that Hillary's proposal tanked because it was too much too fast... it was, after all, still tied to insurance companies.

Kanary

[camero]

24. Federal Insurer of last resort

That could be a precursor to UHC. The idea would be to create a pool for the uninsured much like it exists on the state level. The unemployed could be subsidized in this system. The states that have them could add to it or just recieve federal funds with federal standards. It's a start I guess.

My thoughts right now say it could be modeled on the insurance that Congress gets.