On Wed, 25 Feb 2009, Steven L. Robinson wrote:
> So will it be the Massachusetts plan writ large? SR
The Physicians for a National Health Program <info at pnhp.org> sent out a letter on this yesterday that doesn't sound good:
<quote>
We have some good news, some bad news, and some breaking news!
The good news is that single-payer legislation (H.R. 676) was reintroduced in the 111th Congress on Jan. 26. Supported by 94 representatives in the 110th Congress, the bill is now backed by a new alliance of physicians, nurses, unions and grassroots groups with a base of over 20 million Americans and growing!
The bad news is that Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, will not allow consideration of single payer as an option for reform, and Sen. Kennedy (D-Mass.) is, by all indications, poised to promote the flawed Massachusetts health plan at the national level after months of secret meetings with insurance, business, and pharmaceutical company lobbyists.
The breaking news is that PNHP is co-hosting a briefing to refute the Massachusetts model and to promote single payer on Capitol Hill tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 25). The congressional forum will be webcast live on our web site at www.pnhp.org starting at 2 p.m. EST, with PNHP founder Dr. David Himmelstein as the first speaker (the forum will be posted for viewing later as well). Last week, PNHP released, with Public Citizen, a report on the Massachusetts plan, along with a letter to Sen. Kennedy signed by 500 physicians and other health professionals in the state, calling on him to return to his earlier support for single payer.
While President Obama has acknowledged that single payer is the best option for reform, and while he opposed a mandate requiring all individuals to purchase private insurance during his campaign, it would appear he is poised to embrace the piecemeal, incrementalist approach that keeps the private insurance industry in place.
<end excerpt>
Michael