Universal healthcare grassroots movement

Nurses Activism

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IT'S TIME TO ESTABLISH A POPULAR GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT FOR UNIVERSAL

HEALTH CARE

As the economy slows down, and more Americans are facing the potential financial burdens of inadequate health insurance coverage or no coverage at all, it is urgent that a common plan be formulated to initiate a popular campaign that can finally move society to take action in support of universal health care.

As we have seen, the road to health care reform has had many turns, including many dead ends. Various campaigns and many initiatives have been tried; we traveled in many different directions but have not found the way. Although our vision and determination to make quality health care a right of every citizen is just and unwavering, we have been unable to formulate a plan and unleash a campaign that could move society to take action in support of universal health care. In contrast to past movements for social justice, our efforts to find an effective approach have eluded us for over half a century. Let no one be in doubt

- there has been no predominant social movement for universal health care, merely sporadic and episodic campaigns and demands for health care justice, allowed to ignite, flame brightly, sputter, and die out.

The vital approach begins with our willingness to recognize and accept the lessons of past movements for social justice, equality and rights which require that those who support reform must finally agree to seek common ground, unite, plan and act together and move in the same direction in building a uniform popular movement for universal health care. It is only through strategically using combined talents and resources and a central plan that the isolated cries for health care reform can enlist the support and mighty roar of many Americans from coast to coast, thus initiating a true movement.

The whole answer, the whole truth, is no different from before. Our struggle for rights in health care is a part of America's unfinished work; it should be perpetuated in accordance with the nation's long historic journey for justice, and demands - as with past movements - that those whose rights are being denied must take part.

We are trying to determine if you might be interested in being involved in this new effort to seek common ground in order to build a nationwide grassroots movement for universal health care.

Philip Pollner, M.D.

Nancy Wooten, Ph.D.

Don McCanne, M.D.

Those who are interested please respond by email to [email protected] or

call Dr. Pollner at 302-266-7373 evenings (EST).

Please forward this message to friends, colleagues and to the leadership

of organizations that might share our vision.

Yes, statistically Canadians get more doctors visits (even for a stubbed toe), but they also get more hospital days, more procedures, more bone-marrow transplants. In the U.S. we are not only rationing high-tech health care (to people who can get health coverage), but primary care. At Cook County Hospital in Chicago, there are 10,000 patients on the waiting list for

primary health care.

National health insurance actually helps nurses. When hospitals aren't seeking ways to make a profit or come up with millions for their CEOs salary, there is more money for the actual delivery of care and for nursing. Public demand for quality medical care is the main factor working for nurses in an accountable system, because then good staffing becomes an issue of public policy.

In addition to national health insurance, we also need more

unionization of health care workers. In Canada virtually the entire

health care workforce is unionized (compared to 16% in the U.S.)

And when you really look at the actual salaries nationwide, Canadian RNs salaries are equal to those of RNs in the U.S. Also,

for every level below RNs, Canadian wages are higher. U.S. wages in nursing homes (a major employer of African American women) are only 62% of what they are in Canada. Over 500,000 U.S. health workers live in poverty.

Our salaries here are higher than in the States?! :eek: Not when I was in the US! I took a fair sized pay cut to come back here. The highest paid nurses in the province make 18$ an hour US. How are we better paid? Am I missing something? Are these figures after the zillion hours I worked in OT or based on hourly wages or do they include benefits, educational subsidies, signing bonuses, relocation expenses, etc.? I am really curious to know where that figure came from.

Anyways, we are also short of primary care here. There are not even enough GPs in our city of 70 000. It's been reported that up to 10 000 people have to rely on clinics rather than having their own family docs. We are also losing specialists (lost a plastic surgeon to Minesota recently). And there is the outflow of nurses. I don't think a system that is used by all citizens can pay the salaries that nurses and Mds get in the US. Believe me, when I see some people post what they're making in the US I am very tempted to go back....

I do think that universal health care should be present in any country as rich as Canada or the US. I just think that a lot of changes need to be made.

I am talking about salaries NATIONWIDE, not just the areas that are attracting Canadian nurses. Hey! I don't make this stuff up! Also, Canada does not put enough money into their health care system. Canada spends $2095 per capita on health care expenditures and the U.S. spends $4090 per capita. (Those are very reliable OECD statistics)

Here's another statistic for you. Applicants per Medical School place in Canada were 5.5 in 1999, in the U.S. applicants were only 2.4. Medical school enrollment dropped for the first time in 40 years. U.S. doctors are discouraging their children from going into medicine. ( JAMA; 282:892; Canadian Education Statistics, 1999:150.)

Wow. Thanks for the reply feistynurse. Now that you mention it, I have never heard of Canadian nurses moving to Mississippi or Alabama for the money. The money spent on health care is very interesting too.

fergus51--It's nice to discuss universal health care with somebody who has experienced both systems first hand. I realized that I have to be careful when I throw-out statistics and data, when discussing such a highly debated and hot topic. I have to make sure I state where I retrieved the information from.

This is an area that I have researched heavily and am very well versed in. Since my involvement with "Health Care for All" here in California, I have taught classes in Health Care Policy. So, I do get a little cared away. (to say the least) This BB really helps me refine my arguments, because I get such a wide variety of responses. Thanks fergus51!!

A few points to ponder have been brought up.

If the Canadian system has so many healthcare workers unionized then why does the system appear to have difficulties with keeping and mantaining a work force? Numerous posts talk of nurses joining unions and bringing power to the unions by increasing membership in the U.S. Yet, if Canada has so many members wouldn't one think they would be a power force demanding postive work environments and increased pay and then acheiving those demands. I support increased union membership in the States, yet, I had not considered this large membership in Canada. It would be interesting to know why with this type of membership conditions are not better for nurses in Canada over nurses in the States.

If the Canada system needs to put more money into its healthcare, why should we consider a like system? It appears the same problems exist in both - lack of adequate healthcare and lack of funding.

Univeral healthcare insurance is a method to insure all people, but its primary goal is to provide healthcare for the working poor and non-working. A noble idea, however, it mandates the working individual to pay and does not demand accountability or responsibility to non-working individuals. This is a tax. The big hurtle is that not all working people are willing to be taxed for healthcare for non-working people. How many are willing to lose their childrens college education, sacifice their vacations, retirement, savings, etc. to fund another subsidy program? The problem with universal healthcare insurance is the only portion of society paying - is the workers. It will reduce adminstrative cost and it will increase delivery and cost of healthcare by inclusion of an additional (40 - 60 million) non-paying subscribers. Will the difference provide that much savings?

If we adopt a universal system, we will also have a private pay system. Therefore, those with additional insurance and private money will take first position with our medical providers and they will continue to court this group because the bottom line is -healthcare is a commercial product. The only way for universal heatlhcare to save money is by making all other medical insurance illegal and that is not likely.

What is so wrong with being rich that all others must demand their money. Because of that wealth are they suppose to pay more and receive less? Just because they were prudent, lived below their means, invested, worked three jobs and put themself thru college and made good financial decisions, should they be mandated to pay more? Those who have sacrificed and done things right, do desire more and are entitled to more, otherwise there is no reason to work so hard !!

Are we going to solve the problem of people dying? No, we continue to deny the fact that people die. And more times than not no amount of money is going to change that fact. We have failed to educate society about medical care. We continue to do open hearts on people who will not survive. We continue to provide drug and alcohol rehab as many times as needed knowing they will drink as soon as released. We need to establish limits to the type and the amount of care provided.

Healthcare is not a "right". It is a commercial product not unlike carpentery, home building, accounting or banking. Those with money or insurance are at the top of the heap, those without are at the bottom. Universal heatlhcare insurance is not going to change this fact. Making healthcare a "right" is not going to work in a supply and demand economy.

The current health system can be improved. However, I am unwilling to finance another system "sight unseen". When I say a healthcare policy, I make a mistake, I should say show me the insurance policy, let me see what is covered, what is not covered, what is the deductable, who pays if I'm unable to pay the deductable, what are my maximum out of pocket expenses, is there an increased financial penalty for risky behaviors and is there healthy option discounts? What is the estimated monthly cost of universal health care insurance, per single individual, per couple and per family ?

Tell me how much it will cost and then and only then I will decide if I am willing to "buy".

I find the information shared to be of value. I have learned why universal insurance would be of value and I like the concept however, I am not convinced we can do or make the hard choices necessary for it to work. To often we find our Courts making judical mandates and we lose intent and purpose over the long haul. Soc. Securty is a great concept, why is it not working? poor planning, poor decisions, poor rulings, not enough foresight ?

RNed- The Canadian workforce in health is becoming inadequate for the same reasons as in the US. People can make better money elsewhere working in easier jobs, and a lot of nurses are retirement age. The system in place doesn't really make a difference.

The unions here are, in my opinion, very powerful. We have been offered a 22 percent raise over 3 years. The consessions still suck, but I think that is pretty good $$ to get from the gov't. And in my opinion, conditions are better here on average. I wouldn't still be here if they weren't. I know a lot of nurses are seduced by the big bucks they can make in the US, but I always say they need to pick where they are going to work very carefuly. I have worked in a fabulous hospital in the US, and one that I wouldn't want my dog cared for at as the staff were basically sweat shop workers.

Feisty- do you have a web site or anything for your "health care for all" or others that would show such statistics? I am interested. Thanks

Here is the "Health Care for All - California" Website:

http://www.healthcareforall.org/

Thanks, feistynurse, I appreciate it. I'll look it over more when I have some sleep.

I suspect that the answer to the point about unionisation, and the Canadian healthcare system's current difficulties, is another question. How bad would things be for Canadian RN's if they were not unionised?

RNed, you ask many good questions. Even though I can tell you that single payer will not cost anything more than what you are paying now and for many it will even cost less, I know you want the hard cold facts. This is why "Health Care for All" worked so hard to pass SB480, which calls for an evaluation and comparison of alternative strategies for achieving universal coverage and lists criteria to be met by all reform options. They include cost controls, comprehensive benefits, patient satisfaction and outcomes and various measurements of the quality of care. Hopefully, this will be our last hurdle in convincing people that it will work. Nobody will be sacrificing their children's education, losing retirement savings, vacations, etc. Did you know that people are already losing these things in the present system. Health care debt is becoming the number one reason for people to file for bankrupcy.

These are people who thought they had adequate health insurance.

Originally posted by donmurray

I suspect that the answer to the point about unionisation, and the Canadian healthcare system's current difficulties, is another question. How bad would things be for Canadian RN's if they were not unionised?

ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC!!!

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