By Kathy Rallings
Chair, Health Care for All-San Diego Chapter

Recently, Anthem Blue Cross made the case for the California Universal Health Care Act (SB 810) by raising its rates 39% this year while pulling in record profits. The company blames rising health care costs, yet overall health care has only increased by 6%. Insurance companies like Anthem do not contribute anything to our health care and take billions of dollars out to satisfy their stockholders.

As Congress holds its hearing about Toyota recalls, and Rep. Brian Bilbray recently toured a Toyota dealership in Carlsbad, we need to ask a simple question. Why has Congress sat silently by while the private insurance industry has rushed to gouge us with exorbitant premium increases?
 
By Tracy Emblem

 
Between 2000 and 2009, there were only 34 deaths attributable to the Toyota vehicle defect. According to a recent 2009 Harvard Medical School study, nearly 45,000 people die each year in the United States -- one every 12 minutes -- mainly because people lack health insurance and cannot get health care.

39% Rate Hike by Anthem-Blue Cross Persuaded CA Senator that Consumers need Choice of a Public Plan
 

Updated February 19, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) has joined with 16 other Senators to urge that Majority Leader Harry Reid pass a public option for health insurance using reconciliation, a parliamentary procedure that allows a simple up-or-down vote with a majority of 51 Senators.

 
California OneCare Campaign Reveals Massive Campaign to Gain Support to Override a Likely Veto by Governor

January 28, 2010 – While Congress struggles to pass a healthcare reform bill that has been gutted of its public option, California’s State Senate today passed passed landmark healthcare reform legislation, SB 810, that calls for sweeping changes in the financing of health care. The measure passed by a healthy 22-14 vote. (Roll-call voting record is not yet available.)

Under the bill, authored by Senator Mark Leno (SF), all residents would be covered by a universal health care system, which would pay for all needed health services utilizing a "single payer" insurance system. Private insurance companies would be replaced by one non-profit health insurance fund. All California residents would have coverage for doctors, hospitals, medications, mental health, medical equipment, dental, eye care and more.

“It is imperative the [health care] bill pass soon. If it doesn't, we will be stuck with the status quo. For me personally, it will mean a death warrant.”

By Will Power

Nothing but the truth!

January 18, 2009 -- The Democrats have been thwarted for six months from passing health care reform. Now the death of Ted Kennedy may mean there is no reform at all. What's maddening is that the Democrats only need 51 votes, according to the Constitution.

Nothing but the truth!
 
By Will Power
December 21, 2009 -- If you are like me and get incomprehensible MD billing statements prepared in India by Urdu-speaking clerks who can't read English, get ready for the newest medical fee to come down the pike. It's called a "Facility Fee" and is not covered by insurance, but by the patient (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-myturn21-2009dec21,0,462899...). The minute you walk through the MD's office door you get nicked, for anywhere from $75 to $250. The Facility Fee is to charge for "wear and tear" you inflict on the office furniture. Stand in the corner on a newspaper and pay anyway!

By Jim Stieringer, President
Grossmont Healthcare District

November 14, 2009 (La Mesa) -- The House of Representatives' vote on November 7th is the first step in a long process that will have a profound effect on healthcare funding throughout the nation. Although few have read the 1990 page proposed legislation, some parts lend themselves to an early analysis.

There may be a constitutional problem in compelling people to purchase health insurance. Although many states currently require drivers to insure their automobiles, no one is required to drive a car. In fact, the state of California requires every owner of a motor vehicle to maintain an acceptable form of financial responsibility.

 
November 12, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – East County and San Diego leaders offer diverse views on the landmark healthcare reform bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Some praised the bill, others criticized it, while many hope to see changes made in the Senate.
(For East County Magazine's analysis of the bill, see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2211 )
 
Their divergent views reflect not only concerns over details, but also core differences that strikes at the heart of healthcare reform debates raging across America: should healthcare be a right, or a privilege?  Should people have a public option, or should private insurance be the only choice--for those who can afford it?  For those who can't, just how much are we willing to pay to save people's lives and health?

COSTS, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KEY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PLANS ALSO WEIGHED
 

November 8, 2009 (Washington D.C.) –H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act approved Saturday by the House of Representatives is widely deemed the most significant social reform since the enactment of Social Security and Medicaid. The bill will next be considered by the Senate. While much media coverage has focused on a public option (i.e., giving qualifying consumers a choice between private healthcare and a government-run system) the bill in fact has many other provisions that, if enacted, will impact nearly everyone in America.

Last-minute amendments, media spin (and in some cases, outright fibs) have many confused about what’s actually in the bill. How will it affect you, what will it cost, and how does the Democratic-backed bill passed by the House compare with alternatives proposed by Republicans? East County Magazine has consulted a wide variety of sources on the left and right as well as nonpartisan fact-checking outlets, government analysts, and major media outlets to provide you with as many answers as we could find.

by Francine Busby

November 9, 2009 (San Diego) --Mr. Bilbray and his Republican colleagues in Congress just don’t get it. They need a shot of reality before they render themselves completely obsolete. It's way past time to stop the empty excuses, tired remedies and baseless accusations in regards to Healthcare reform. It's time to work together for the health and well-being of our families, our economy and our national security.

This is a very personal issue. In San Diego County, over 600,000, or 20.2% of people are uninsured and tens of thousands more are under-insured. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in Bilbray's own Congressional district, 15.8%, or over 103,000 people are currently without health insurance.

By Masada Disenhouse

November 9, 2009 (La Mesa) -- As an East County resident I was very disappointed, though not surprised, that my Congressperson, Duncan Hunter, voted against the best interests of his constituents when he voted no on the House of Representatives healthcare bill. Though the bill is not perfect, still giving too much to insurance companies and too little to citizens, it would be a step forward.

By Tracy Emblem

November 7, 2009 (San Diego)-- Congressman Brian Bilbray says the health bill in Congress is expensive, bloated and wasteful and publicly asks us: "How will America pay for the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act?" Yet, he does not acknowledge some causes for our escalating health care costs or offer any leadership solutions on how to solve the problem.

HUNTER AFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC OPTION; OTHERS OBJECT TO DROPPING AMENDMENT TO LET STATES PASS STRONGER HEALTHCARE REFORMS

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2009 – The Democratic-sponsored healthcare measure currently before Congress got a booster shot today with the endorsement of two major groups, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

November 5, 2009 (San Diego) – Mary Bell, 25, cannot get health insurance anymore since overcoming a kidney infection two years ago. On Monday, Bell and two others (photo, left) were arrested following a three-day vigil at Blue Cross in San Diego. Blue Cross executives declined to meet with the protesters, who sought to ask the insurance giant to stop spending money on lobbying and political ads – and fund care of patients like Bell instead.

 
November 1, 2009 (San Diego) – Conservatives rallying for the Tea Party Express, which kicked off its national tour in San Diego, received an unexpected visit from Billionaires for Wealthcare, a group formed to draw attention to high insurance company profits in the healthcare reform debate. A video of the bizarre confrontation has been posted at YouTube.

Barbara Cummings, a Spring Valley grandmother, donned formal attire to join the satirical Billionaires group. “We arrived in a stretch limousine, complete with red carpet,” said Cummings, a retiree who has struggled with healthcare costs and supports healthcare for all.

October 31, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Many Americans are not aware that The Affordable Health Care for America Act now before Congress has many provisions to help people afford healthcare costs right away. A public option (or choice between government-run healthcare and private insurance) if passed would take time to set up. This week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this list of the top 14 provisions that would kick in immediately:

1. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE — Reduces the donut hole by $500 and institutes a 50% discount on brand-name drugs, effective January 1, 2010.

2. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL) — Creates a temporary insurance program until the Exchange is available for individuals who have been uninsured for several months or have been denied a policy because of pre-existing conditions.

Sit-In Slated for Monday morning

October 30, 2009 (San Diego) --“Is there anything scarier than thinking you might need medical care, and getting canceled by a health insurance corporation who spent your premiums on TV ads and lobbying?” asks San Diegan Mike Copass, co-organizer of a 45-hour haunt of Blue Shield’s office at 2275 Rio Bonito Way in Mission Valley.

The actions are part of a national groundswell of civil disobedience at health insurance company offices by people seeking to end insurance abuse and win health care for all. So far, 115 people have been arrested in 18 cities demanding “real health care reform that treats health care like a human right, not a commodity,” according to a press release issued by event organizers. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 18, 2009 – The House and Senate are grappling with several versions of major healthcare reform measures that could dramatically transform our nation’s healthcare system. Four of the five measures would include a public option, which give Americans a choice between private health insurance or opting for coverage under a government-run system similar to Medicare.

Where do your Congressional and Senate representatives stand? All have now taken a firm position either for or against the public option. Here are statements directly from San Diego County’s five Congressional representatives and California’s two U.S. Senators. If you wish to contact your Congressman or Senator to voice your views, you can find their contact information in our Citizens Action Center.

September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – Want to learn more about healthcare reform options?  San Diego’s League of Women Voters presents a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Gerald Kominski, Ph.D., professor at UCLA School of Public Health and Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Dr. Jeoffrey Gordon from California Physicians Alliance will also speak, summarizing the political climate for healthcare reform in Congress.

 
By Brina-Rae Schuchman
Chair, TrueVoteSanDiego
 
The structure of our government in Washington is not making it easy to get changes we seek and need.
 
The Health Insurance Industry ran amok during the Bush Years because Bush et al showed contempt for government, citizens, regulation, fair play, justice, peace, responsibility, service, commitment, etc.
 

 
By Miriam Raftery
 
August 30, 2009 (Spring Valley) – A rowdy crowd of approximately 1,500 turned out to cheer on and heckle Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) during a town hall meeting in Spring Valley Saturday afternoon. Protests from conservative “teabaggers” and signs with racist overtones were countered by a newly-formed group calling itself “Billionaires for Wealthcare.” (photos)

 
 Dressed in formal attire, members pulled up in a limousine to greet other protesters, thanking them for “standing with billionaires” to oppose real healthcare reform. The group later posted a YouTube slideshow, followed by a humorous video inside the townhall meeting,  then forwarded an e-mail that read "Townhall crashed by wealthy Hollywood elite," creating an online sensation.

By Howard Dean, M.D.
Chelsea Green Publishing

Reviewed by Miriam Raftery

The free market just doesn’t work in medicine. You can’t be an informed consumer. I never saw someone with severe chest pain jump off the table and say, Doctor, I’m going to the cheaper guy down the street.” -- Howard Dean. M.D. , on a recent book tour in San Diego

August 16, 2009 (San Diego) –I first became intrigued to read this book when a conservative Republican hospital board member in East County confided, “I hate to admit it, but the healthcare reform plan that makes the most sense to me is Howard Dean’s.” Dean visited San Diego on a book signing tour last month, where he spoke about his book and fielded questions from the audience—providing scalpel-sharp responses.

By Miriam Raftery
 
August 6, 2009 (San Diego) – Violence, arrests and racial slurs have disrupted town hall meetings on healthcare reform in Florida, Pennsylvania and other states, where mobs opposed to healthcare reform attempted to shout down and drown out supporters.
 

 
By Tracy Emblem
 
July 26, 2009 (San Diego)--Many of us know from personal experience that our health care insurance system is not working. Families and business owners cannot meet escalating premiums, co-pays and high prescription costs. Besides the millions of Americans who are without health care insurance at all, many are under-insured and cannot get the care they need. President Obama has stepped up to the plate to reform our health care insurance system.

July 23, 2009 (Washington DC) – On July 17, the House Education and Labor Committee voted unanimously to accept an amendment offered by Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) aimed at protectingt small businesses from employer mandates included in comprehensive health care reform legislation currently under consideration in the House.

Nothing but the Truth!

The Social Contract
By Will Power

July 10, 2009 (San Diego's East County)--The neo-con ninnies disagree with the neo-liberals about the role of government. Anything that interferes with the invisible hand of the marketplace is seen as anathema. People should be able to borrow, spend, invest , and cheat each other with impunity. Government should be kept to the bare minimum, and private enterprise should take over the mail, the transportation, the roads, and the prisons.

But there are some necessary services that government can do better than private corporations, just on the basis that there is public oversight.

 
July 12, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) whose district includes most of East County, will hold a video town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. To participate, click the “video townhall meeting” link on his website Tuesday evening (http://www.hunter.house.gov/).

This event was previously scheduled for the end of last month but was postponed due to legislative business on the House floor. “As promised, I will be discussing health care reform and cap and trade legislation, while also taking questions on other issues of interest,” Hunter said an an e-mail to constituents and media.

 
By Miriam Raftery
 
June 28, 2009 (San Diego)— Last week, President Barack Obama presented his “prescription for America” (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7922187&page=1). The President aims to create a public option for a government healthcare program similar to Medicare that would compete against private insurance companies.
 
As debate in Washington D.C. heats up, local advocates are speaking out, holding forums, and mobilizing citizens in San Diego and East County to lobby legislators in favor of healthcare reform—a move they say is needed to counter heavy lobbying by health insurers, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare industry interests. But while some applaud the Obama plan, others believe it doesn’t go far enough—and believe only a single-payer plan which eliminates private insurance will solve our healthcare crisis. Still others oppose any government healthcare plan option, arguing it will prove costly and cost jobs in the private healthcare industry.

 
Town hall forum: Congressman John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), will discuss health care reform 1 to 4 p.m. July 11 at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Conyers is a leading voice on Capitol Hill for healthcare reform and author of a single-payer healthcare bil that a Congressional committee has thus far refused to allow to be heard.
 

July 8, 2009 (San Diego) -- Health Reform will impact all of us. Proposals are emerging from Congress, the White House, organizations and groups across the country. By July, several strong proposals will be taking shape and major issues clearly on the table. Successful health reform should address not only how coverage and access to care will be provided, but also how that coverage will be financed though taxes, provider payment reductions, insurance reforms and savings. To assess those issues, a broad coalition of healthcare and business interests  led by San Diegans for Healthcare Coverage is hosting “Health Reform, The Devil is Still in the Details,” an audience participation forum on Friday, July 17 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Mission Valley Doubletree, 7450 Hazard Center Drive in San Diego.