I wrote to my congressman about the need to fundamentally reform American health care. I got a letter in reply, but it was disappointing. My congressman said he supported reforming the health care delivery system, but his proposal was an anemic, vague plan to let individual states decide what kind of system they wanted. He called it "creative federalism". Sounds great but fuzzy thinking is not what is needed to cure the sick system. Some in your face economic leverage--like Oxycontin against pain--is what the doctor needs.
Enter Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) with a bold plan to heal the inflammation of spiraling costs, unresponsive HMOs, and diabolical insurance companies. Only a single payer plan provides the needed economic muscle to negotiate lower drug prices and control the runaway cost of medical care in America. HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act, introduced last year and originally co-sponsored by Kucinich and that other friend of the working person, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), it is now co-sponsored by 61 other House members this session. Kucinich says, "passage is inevitable--it is only a matter of time." The bill proposes to expand the existing Medicare system to include every man, woman and child in America so they can receive publicly financed, privately delivered health care. Every participating American would receive a National Health Insurance ID card and number. No frustrating, profit motivated insurance companies to deal with here. You get to choose who takes care of you. No co-pays or deductibles either. The federal government would have the necessary economic leverage to negotiate lower drug prices and control costs since every provider would be compelled to accept payment from the nationwide public insurance program. The program would be paid for by a roll back of the regime's tax breaks for the rich, a 5% health tax on the wealthiest 5%, a 10% tax on the top 1%, a 1/3 of 1 percent transaction tax, and a 4.25% payroll tax for employers and employees. A study by the Center for Economic Research and Policy found that a family of three with an annual income of $40,000 would spend about $1900 on health insurance under the universal plan. The average premium for a family covered under an employer provided health insurance plan in 2007 is $11,000.
Congressman, HR 676 is what I call "creative federalism": doing the greatest good for the greatest number. So why don't you sign on?