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CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COULD SAVE $381,011,939 PER YEAR ON EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE COSTS UNDER LEGISLATION NOW PENDING IN HARRISBURG
Philadelphia City Councilman Bill Greenlee (At-Large) will accept a symbolic check made out to Pennsylvania taxpayers by leaders of the healthcare reform group “Healthcare4allPA” at a press conference scheduled for Thursday, February 4, at 9:00 am at City Council’s Caucus Room, Room 401, City Hall, Philadelphia.
According to surveys conducted by the statewide health advocacy group, under provisions of the bills, HR1660 and SB400, Philadelphia could reduce its current spending on health benefits to its workers by more than $381 millions per year.
The bills provide for a flat 10% payroll tax and a 3% individual income tax to cover all health related expenses, including prescriptions, dental, vision, and other – without charging additional costs to consumers.
“We are working to totally revamp the current way of paying for healthcare in Pennsylvania with our initiative,” said Healthecare4allPA chair Cindy Purvis. “One of the surest winners of our proposal will be municipal and local governments and school districts, which will see their health care expenditures shrink. In the end, taxpayers will be double winners: more resources for other vital programs and access to quality affordable healthcare everywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” she added.
Councilman Greenlee was the main author of a resolution supporting the Pennsylvania bills last year. Since Philadelphia, the cities of Pittsburgh, Lancaster and Wilkes-Barre have adopted similar resolutions in support. of the bills, also known as the Family and Business Health Care Security Act.
For more information, and to read the text of the bills, as well as other pertinent information, go towww.healthcare4allpa.org.
Leticia Roa Nixon
Written by admin · Filed Under Uncategorized, Updates | Comments Off on Philadelphia saves under single payer
Observations of Dr. Walter Tsou, former Philadelphia Health Commissioner, and Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director of Healthcare for All Pennsylvania, on yesterday’s (12.16.09) Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee hearing on SB 400.
Chuck Pennacchio:
In addition to Walter’s more detailed observations and insights below, I’d like to make a few key points intended to translate events and chart a path forward for passage of SB 400/HB 1660 at the earliest possible moment.
First, it was obvious that our SB 400 testifiers — including Senator Jim Ferlo’s tone-setting statement at the top — were far better prepared, passionate, and on-point than our opponents. But no need to take our word for it. The glowing wrap-up comments of Chairman White, his decision to extend the hearing time an additional 50 minutes, his desire to continue the hearings and research and bill-writing process, as well as his personal congratulatory handshake while saying, “your panel did a terrific job,” give us real hope that we are within shouting distance of accomplishing what all of us need — a healthcare system that, in moral and economic terms, puts patient care and dignity first and foremost.
I was also pleased with the preparedness, comments, and questions of Senator Jake Corman, part of the GOP leadership team, Chair of Senate Appropriations, and member of Banking and Insurance. His grasp of issues, embrace of our “new ideas,” openness to our fair-share health and wellness tax, and query of SB 400 opponents (exposing their ignorance of Single Payer) are all good signs.
This leads me to a broader discussion of the significance of what happened yesterday…
I know, I know, you say, we’ve been here before. Right? Politicians raising our hopes and then letting us down. Actually, so far and past and present experiences inform me, I perceive elements remarkably different and, I believe, promising.
For starters, it’s time to imagine what is unimaginable to many (or most?) citizen activists. And yet, the “unimaginable” is a course Healthcare for All Pennsylvania has been on since 2006 — a course that subsequent events have borne out.
Based on a repeatedly validated assumption that, because of the destructive effects of campaign contributions from health insurance, pharmaceutical, and allied interests to politicians in both major parties, as well as a political culture of “incrementalism,” we must be fiercely non-partisan, evidence-based, organizationally sound, forthright and flexible, and mindful of our federalist constitution and political history.
In other words, we have long held that the winning coalition around the proven Single Payer Solution will be comprised of “conscience Republicans” and “conscience Democrats,” beginning with one of our “modeling” fifty states. And, in the case of Pennsylvania, not only do we have political advantages that others do not, but we have what appears to be a thoughtful and courageous GOP leadership on the joined issues of healthcare delivery, healthcare economics, and healthcare financing. Put another way, we have legislative leadership in the State Senate that “gets it” — analysis of problems, openness to policy prescriptions, and a feel for the political choreography needed to bridge policy pieces, key players, and central institutions.
Finally, and by way of consensus emerging from yesterday’s historic Banking and Insurance Committee hearing, our next critical step is to raise the funding to complete our ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY. Two months ago, you and other HC4APA supporters provided the $5,000 in seed money to get us to the point where we are today. Now, with the study prospectus in hand and bidding negotiations finalized, it is on all of us to raise an additional $49,000 to complete our EIS and, provided the learning experiences of other states, “grease the legislative skids.” We truly are that close. So, obviously, if you can give, do so to the best of your ability. If you know others who can contribute, please ask them to help as well. And if you know folks who are serious enough about considering a donation, but need a briefing on SB 400/HB 1660, let us know that as well.
Dr. Walter Tsou:
“My overall impression was this was an enormously successful and impressive showing for Pennsylvania state single payer. Yes, I may be biased, but our four panelists did a superb job in explaining the Family and Business Health Security Act. To explain why I say this, consider the concluding remarks of Senator Don White, Republican Chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. First, Senator White offered that “there were those who said I should not have this hearing” — a clear rebuke of the fearful during this time of healthcare and economic crisis. Second, whereas in his opening comments he downplayed expectations for the hearing as a “fact-finding session only,” by the end, his praise of the Single Payer presenters was so “positive,” he declared that this opening act was just the beginning of a series of hearings on this most important topic.
The hearing began with Senator White, a former insurance broker, welcoming everyone and inviting Senator Jim Ferlo, the lead sponsor of SB 400, to present some opening thoughts. Ferlo explained the need to look at different approaches rather than be tied to the usual failed insurance model. Among other attributes, he said that the state Single Payer plan would free employers from the onerous burden of skyrocketing health insurance costs by, instead, providing healthcare for everyone at far less cost.
Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director of Healthcare for all PA spoke next and further explained the particulars of the state-level, Single Payer approach, and how it represents values we can all embrace: freedom, choice, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, modeling solutions, constitutional federalism, fair-share taxation, efficiency, transparency, accountability, jobs creation, bureaucratic streamlining, investment and reinvestment, coordinated and comprehensive care, reduced rationing, restored patient-provider relationship, healthy outcomes, tort remedy, end bankruptcy fears, healthcare education, “medical home” data base, and more.
Patricia Eakin, RN from Philadelphia explained that she was a nurse in one of the busiest ERs in Pennsylvania at Temple and that she sees the problems of the lack of insurance on a daily basis. She gave some examples of the problems faced by people who have lack insurance. She noted how her hospital was losing money because they had to spend limited resources on billing personnel, and had to absorb, and/or pass along, financial losses on people without insurance or on Medicaid.
Dwight Michaels, MD, a Republican, and family practice doctor from Gettysburg, spoke about how his experience with private insurance bureaucrats had driven him to support the Single Payer Solution. He said it is increasingly difficult to practice medicine because his five-person practice struggles daily with 20 different insurance plans, all with different rules. This bureaucratic nightmare makes it impossible to spend quality time with his patients because he is forced to justify more and more of his procedures with the insurance carriers. Dr. Michaels’ testimony was a vivid description of the life of a family doctor in a dysfunctional system.
David Steil, a former Republican state legislator and head of a small manufacturing business was another inspired choice. Not only did he know all of the Senators but, as a creative-thinking lawmaker, he broke the stereotype that all Single Payer supporters are lefties. Mr. Steil spoke about how he tries to run a business, but the cost and hassle of health insurance has made his company more vulnerable in an international market where his non-American competitors have far cheaper health costs.
I think this panel worked extremely well. Not only were they excellent speakers, but they spoke from real world experiences, not as paid lobbyists. And two were Republicans which was an added bonus. The committee had many questions, but none were nasty and all seemed genuinely interested in the real world experiences of the panelists. And the room was packed with 90% supporters of SB 400. I don’t think this was lost on the committee.
The opposing panel were all known lobbyists for their respective interest groups. They gave the usual refrain of condemning single payer.
NFIB speaker – he simply declared that small businesses don’t want Single Payer, but admitted that healthcare costs are the number one concern of businesses. They want the same outcomes that only Single Payer provides. But since that involves “government bureaucracy,” it cannot possibly work.
PA Medical Society – wants tort reform but not Single Payer because it would be too powerful in controlling reimbursements (and costs).
Capitol Blue Cross – gave a confusing talk about the problems with the Washington federal bill and then simply concluded that SB 400 is just like the Washington bill and should be rejected. Of course, nothing in the federal bill even resembles Single Payer, which is why it is so unpopular.
Hospital Association of PA – opposes any government controls generically. Gave a knee-jerk opposition to Single Payer.
Insurance Federation of PA – same as the hospitals. They oppose Single Payer as “monopolistic” — working from the assumption that the 35-cents-on-the-healthcare-dollar insurance “middle man” is indispensable, and that a little more regulation and industry “innovation” will solve cost issues.
There was not much time for questions but, frankly, they were special interest lobbyists and not a very interesting opposing panel. If this was a debate, the clear winners were the Single Payer SB 400 panel who did a great service in advancing state-level Single Payer today.
Happy Holidays to everyone. And thanks for all you do.
Chuck and Walter
Written by admin · Filed Under Uncategorized, Updates | Comments Off on Observations on Senate Banking and Insurance Committee hearing on PA single payer plan
On Wed, Dec. 16 at 8:30 AM, an historic meeting will take place. The nation’s first committee hearing by a Republican controlled State Senate will hold hearings on SB 400, the Family and Business Health Security Act which would institute a single payer plan for Pennsylvania. The pro single payer speakers include Dr. Dwight Michaels from Gettysburg Family Practice who is a conservative Republican doctor who now supports single payer. The second Republican speaker is Dave Steil, Former State Representative from Bucks County and now a small business owner. The third speaker is Chuck Pennachio who is the Executive Director of Health Care for All Pennsylvania. All three are members of the Chamber of Commerce. The final speaker is Patricia Eakin, RN who is the President of the Pennsylvania Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals. If you are able get up early, please come to this hearing in Room 8E-A East Wing, Capitol Building. We need to support this revolutionary bill that will cover all medical, hospital, dental, and long term care services for less money than we now spend.
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ACTION ALERT – SENATE HEARING CONFIRMED!
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Banking and Insurance Committee to Hold SB400 Hearing
What: SB400 hearing before Banking and Insurance Committee
When: Wednesday, December 16, 8:30 – 10:00 AM
Where: Room 8E-A East Wing, Capitol Building
The Banking and Insurance Committee of the Pennsylvania Senate has agreed to hold a hearing on SB400, the Pennsylvania Family and Business Health Security Act. The hearing will take place on December 16, from 8:30-10:00 AM in room 8E-A East Wing, located on the lower level of the Capitol building. Those in support of SB400 will have 45 minutes to present their information and arguments, and those opposed will also have 45 minutes.
This is a vitally important step forward, and one of the only times in history that a state-based single payer bill has been granted a senate committee hearing. We need to make sure that the presence of SB400 (and HB1660) supporters is felt by the members of theBanking and Insurance Committee, the media, and our legislators. Please forward this email to your friends and family. Post it on your Facebook page. Blog about it. Make a Youtube video. Tweet it out. Write it out in holiday lights on your lawn (and send us the pictures!). Do whatever you can to get the word out and, most importantly, attend this critical hearing.
HealthCare4ALLPA
P.O. Box 828
Levittown, PA 19058
Thank you for your support, and for your commitment to making Pennsylvania the first state with truly universal, comprehensive and rational healthcare in the Nation.
In Solidarity,
Chuck Pennacchio, Ph.D.,
Executive Director
HealthCare4ALLPA
UPDATE! Those testifying on behalf of SB400 will be:
- Patricia Eakin, R.N.
Emergency Room Nurse
Temple University Hospital
President, PASNAP
(PA Assn. of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals)
Philadelphia, PA
- Dwight Michael, M.D.
Gettysburg Family Practice
Physician and Co-Owner
Gettysburg, PA
- Chuck Pennacchio, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Healthcare for All Pennsylvania
History Prof., Univ. of the Arts
Plumsteadville, PA
- Dave Steil
President
Micro Trap Corporation
Former PA House Member (HD-31)
First-in-the-nation GOP co-sponsor of Single-Payer bill
Morrisville, PA
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1) If you have social media, i.e. facebook, twitter, myspace, — start today on your update saying the following:
“Medicare for all type of healthcare reform in PA, SB400, will get its first public hearing this coming wednesday in Harrisburgh, stay tuned. go to
www.healthcare4allpa.org for more info.”
or
“Washington botched healthcare reform, now we have to keep the fight in the states. SB400, single payer reform in PA will have its first public hearing next wed. in Harrisburg. Go to
www.healthcare4allpa.org for more info”
If you use twitter, get creative with 140 characters
Please, please, we have gone this route before and very few of you have followed up on using social media despite having it. Just use your update (what’s in your mind today section) and do this once.
2 – A brief call to your local newspaper telling them of the public hearing coming up, and that you expect to read in their pages what happens next wednesday, could be good
3. All of you who are in the healthcare field, two things:
A – The PA Medical Society is opposing the bills — if you are a member, or know someone who is a member, ask them to call the Harrisburg office and ask why is the Society opposing health reform that will benefit the members, the patients and the state of PA – The contact info is: Phone: (717) 558-7750
Toll free in Pennsylvania only: (800) 228-7823
B -Same if you work at a hospital, call your local hospital and ask to speak to the adminstrator and ask why is the hospital blocking healthcare reform in PA that would certainly benefit them and the community.
4. If you listen to talk radio in PA, call and talk about the public hearing coming up.
5. If you are coming to the public hearing next wed at 8:30 AM
6. Let us know if you do any of these things.
Have fun folks
Pedro & Chuck
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“THE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY:
AN INSIDER SPEAKS OUT”
A TOWN HALL MEETING
WITH WENDELL POTTER
Former Chief of Corporate Communications, CIGNA
Saturday, September 19, 2009
11 AM to 1 PM
The Free Library of Philadelphia
Parkway Central Library
Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA
Wendell Potter has been widely interviewed in the NY Times, Washington Post, Phila. Inquirer, NPR, Bill Moyers Journal, Democracy Now! and cable television
Sponsored by:
Physicians for a National Health Program, Phila. PSR,
Health Care for All Philadelphia, Health Care 4 All PA, www.OpEdNews.com,
Health Care for America NOW!, National Physicians Alliance
Free and Open to the Public
For more info, contact Henry D’Silva (267) 679-0617 or Marc Stier (215) 880-6142
Written by admin · Filed Under Uncategorized, Updates | Comments Off on A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH WENDELL POTTER
I’d like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=72011249145422981/l=3132166008/g=58598523/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1185263023/a=58598523_1013469023/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=11%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish
Written by admin · Filed Under Uncategorized, Updates | Comments Off on Photos taken by Jane Dugdale at July 30, Washington DC rally
Next Steering Committee meeting, June 2: Temple Campus, Room 614 Gladfelter Hall (on 11th Street, between Berks and Norris)
General Membership meeting, June 9 will be held on the Philadelphia Community College Campus, Bonnell Bldg at 17th and Spring Garden, Room BG17
Tim Lachman
Health Care for All Philadelphia will meet temporarily, and maybe permanently on Tuesday, May 12, 7-9 PM at Temple University, Gladfelter Hall, Room 614, which is between 11th and 12th and Norris and Montgomery Avenue on Temple main campus. Here is a map of Temple which shows Gladfelter Hall at #22 on the map. http://www.temple.edu/maps/documents/TUMain_map.pdf
Explanation: We have met for several years at the Penn Newman Center on the second Tuesday of each month. However, we moved our monthly meetings beginning in May because of new rental charges at the Newman Center.
PA Healthcare: The Goose That Lays The Golden Egg?
Harrisburg, PA – A group working for publicly-funded, privately-provided health care believes abandoning the employer-based health care system in Pennsylvania would be one of the solutions to the state’s economic troubles.
Health Care for All Pennsylvania predicts the Family and Business Health Care Security Act – also known as the “single payer” solution – would cover all Pennsylvania residents, save $15 billion over the current “multi-payer” system, and create over 100,000 medical delivery jobs, according to executive director Chuck Pennacchio.
“This legislation would be the greatest jobs creation program since the late 19th century when the steel industry took off like a rocket in Pennsylvania.”
The plan has gained wide appeal and a has good chance of passage this year, says Pennacchio.
“We’ve been able to pick up Republican support, which makes us the only legislative campaign for universal health care that has been able to attract Republican support.”
The plan would be funded using existing state and federal funds, along with a three-percent personal income tax and 10-percent business payroll tax. Supporters include labor, business, the governor, the Allegheny County Council, and the city councils in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Erie. While supporters say most Pennsylvanians would save money under the plan, opponents say it would create another large taxpayer-funded bureaucracy.
Copyright © 2008 Public News Service
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Here are some pictures from our demonstration outside 30th St. Station where Obama began his Inaugural train ride.
Due to the dinner with Drs. David Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler on Tuesday, Oct 14 (details below), the GENERAL meeting of Health Care for All Philadelphia will be moved up one week to Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at the Penn Newman Center, 3720 Chestnut St, Philadelphia. This is the normal time of our steering committee meeting, but we will be making it a GENERAL meeting instead.
Please come on Oct 7 for the GENERAL meeting.
On October 14, 2008, please come to dinner at the Imperial Inn for an eight course chinese banquet and hear Drs. David Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler, Harvard Medical School speak on health care and the elections. Dr. Himmelstein and Woolhandler are the founders of Physicians for a National Health Program and the leading national spokespersons on behalf of single payer national health insurance. Don’t miss this special event.
Please mark your calendars NOW for several major healthcare events
scheduled in Philadelphia, PA on Tuesday, October 14, 2008
They will be speaking on “Health Care Reform: A Medical Emergency”
Dr. Steffie Woolhandler will be speaking 12 noon- 1:30 PM at
Penn’s Huntsman Hall, Room 360, 3730 Walnut Street.
Dr. David Himmelstein will be speaking at:
1. Temple Medical School 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Kresge Bldg, Lecture Room A, Broad and Tioga Sts., and then
2. Jefferson Medical School 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Bluemle Life Sciences Bldg., Room 101, 233 South 10th Street.
AND PLEASE COME & ENJOY
An 8 Course Chinese Banquet & conversation with
Drs. David Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler
present on “Health Care Reform and the Elections”
On the same Tuesday, October 14, 2008 from 6:15 pm until 9 PM
At the Imperial Inn, 142-146 North 10th Street, Philadelphia 19107
Restaurant Tel: (215) 627-2299 . Reservations Required. Space Limited
Cost is $50.00 per person & $30.00 per med. student payable at the door
Please make checks payable to: “PNHP” Memo: Philadelphia Chapter
Credit Card payment is also accepted
For reservations or further information,
please contact our Coordinator, Diane Mohney, RN:
(215) 385-0455 OR Email: dianemohgo@aol.com
If you cannot come, you can still support us by mailing your check or credit card information to:
PNHP, 29 E. Madison St., Suite 602, Chicago, IL 60602.
Be sure to memo your payments to the “Philadelphia Chapter”.
Thank you for your support !
Written by admin · Filed Under Uncategorized, Updates | Comments Off on Don’t Miss Drs. Himmelstein and Woolhandler on Oct. 14
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