Will Pennsylvanians Get Universal, Single-payer Health Care?
by Marianne Smith

Approximately fifty people attended “Prognosis for Universal Health Care”, a program sponsored by Democracy for Lancaster, Wednesday night at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster.  Dr. Bill Davidson, a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, delivered a slide presentation explaining the current problem and the benefits of a single payer health care system.  Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director of Healthcare4allPA, provided an overview and current status of “The Family and Business Health Security Act” bills (HB1660 SB300) and handled many questions from a very inquisitive crowd.

Dr. Bill Davidson has been involved with Physicians for a National Health Program for five years.  The program has about 15,000 members.  Dr. Davidson is a physician of 27 years in Lebanon County.  In an intense, fact heavy presentation, he described the problem: our current system does not cover enough people, it does not cover people adequately, and quality is slipping.  The solution that Dr. Davidson supports is a Universal, Single Payer Healthcare system.  Stated another way, we need to replace private insurers with a publicly financed system.

Some facts that illustrate the problem:

• One out of six Americans are uninsured.

• An estimated 18,314 adults die every year due to lack of insurance.

• Medical costs are a leading reason for bankruptcy.

• Twenty six and a half percent of the spending of investor owned blues (Blue Cross, Aetna, etc.) is overhead.  Medicare (close to a single payer healthcare system) overhead is equal to 3.1%.

• General Motors includes $1200 in the cost of each car directly related to their Health Insurance burden which minimizes their ability to compete internationally.

How America stacks up to the rest of the industrialized world:

• France, Canada, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom all cover 100% of their population through government assured healthcare.

• Life expectancy for women is 79.4 years in the U.S.  In Canada, 81.7.  In France, 82.5 years.

• Infant mortality rates, at 7.1 deaths in the first year of life for each 1000 births, are high compared to Canada’s 5.3 and Sweden’s 3.4.  In fact, the infant mortality rate in the US was better than that of Canada up until the point, in the 1960s, that they obtained a single payer health care system.  Ever since that point in time, the Canadian infant mortality rate has been better.

• Per capita spending for each country is as follows; United States: $5635, Canada: $3001, Japan: $2139.

• A quote from Dr. Davidson: “The rest of the world has good healthcare, just like we do in the US.”

Finally, Dr. Davidson shared a quote with us to illustrate how in the past, the medical community has resisted similar changes.  However, he also made clear that many physicians, who would have agreed with this statement at the time, are, for the most part, pleased with the Medicare program today.  “…the most deadly challenge ever faced by the medical progression.” – President of the American Medical Association, on the impending Medicare bill in 1961.

Chuck Pennacchio then spoke more specifically about “The Family and Business Health Security Act” bills (HB1660 SB300).  This act calls for publicly funded, privately delivered health insurance.  Dr. Pennacchio has talked with many of Pennsylvania state legislators regarding these bills and has found that most are either in favor of the bills or are yet undecided.  He encouraged the audience to get involved, and to ask their legislators to review the bills and take a position. To further emphasize this point, he stated “We are the leaders we are looking for.”  Governor Rendell has committed to signing the legislation if it gets passed.

What can supporters of “The Family and Business Health Security Act” do?

• Find your legislators – at their Town Hall meetings or at the Rotary Club – and ask them to read and understand the bills and to take a position.  Inform them.

• Write, call or email your state senator and representative.  Call the capital switchboard at 717-787-2121 or look up their contact information at www.healthcare4allpa.org/legislators.htm.

• Talk to your neighbors.

• Write letters to the editor.

• Donate securely online at www.healthcare4allpa.org.

Facts about “The Family and Business Health Security Act”:

• How would it be paid for? Employers would pay 10% of payroll.  Residents of PA would pay 3% of income.

• The plan does preserve patient choice.

• The plan dedicates funding for curriculum, to educate students (K-12) on preventive healthcare.

• The plan provides a tax credit of $1000 for volunteer EMT and firefighters.

• The cost of medical malpractice insurance would drop to zero with this plan.

• The plan would reduce car insurance, home owner’s insurance and property taxes, by removing the need for each of these plans to cover health insurance costs.

• Prescription costs are covered.

• PA residents with zero income are covered.

• The coverage is portable – PA residents take it with them wherever they go, within the U.S. and internationally.

As I walked to my car to make my way home and type this article, I noticed small groups of people had formed outside the meeting place to discuss further the great amount of information just provided.  Even on a hot, muggy, August evening, people are interested.

 To learn more about this topic, visit www.healthcare4allpa.org. To learn more about Democracy for Lancaster, contact Lucy Mannix at lwmannix@comcast.net.

Marianne Smith, Secretary for Democracy for Lancaster.