From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Mon Aug 5 00:06:59 2013 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2013 00:06:59 -0400 Subject: Study released on Capitol Hill shows single payer is feasible and would save billions Message-ID: <3b91d791259df26e35ce843c99dddd97.squirrel@unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org> Study released on Capitol Hill shows single payer is feasible and would save billions On Wednesday, July 31, Congressman John Conyers and three other legislators celebrated Medicare?s 48th Birthday on Capitol Hill by hosting a briefing by Professor Gerald Friedman who released his study of the funding of HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, showing that single payer health care is feasible and would save 592 billion in one year. Following the briefing, Congressman Conyers was joined by Representatives Mark Takano and Keith Ellison and Senator Bernie Sanders in a press conference to call for enactment of single payer health care. The events were cosponsored by Physicians for a National Health Program, Public Citizen, and a number of other organizations. Professor Friedman?s study was covered by The Hill and Becker?s Hospital Review. The Huffington Post ran an opinion piece by Conyers and Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen. Conyers? Op Ed appeared in The Hill and his Medicare Birthday Statement was presented in the House. University of Massachusetts Professor Gerald Friedman?s full study is available here: http://www.pnhp.org/sites/default/files/Funding%20HR%20676_Friedman_final_7.31.13.pdf Excerpts and links to the articles are here: 1. Study: Single-payer healthcare system would save billions By Lara Seligman The Hill, Healthwatch blog, July 31, 2013 Expanding the nation?s Medicare program to cover people of all ages would save the government billions of dollars, according to a new study released Wednesday. The study found that a single-payer health care system based on the principles of legislation by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, would save the federal government about $592 billion in one year. That?s more than enough to pay for comprehensive benefits for all Americans at a lower cost to the public, according to Physicians for a National Health Program, which circulated the study. The extra money would go to paying down the national debt. Full story: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/august/study-single-payer-healthcare-system-would-save-billions 2. Happy 48th birthday, Medicare By Rep. John Conyers Jr. The Hill, July 29, 2013 I believe Medicare For All is the answer, which is why I have introduced and advocated for since 2003 a publicly funded, privately distributed insurance program, H.R. 676. Even with the expansion of access that ACA will provide, there will still be those who fall through the gaps or who struggle to pay for the costs of medical care. This would not be the case under a single-payer program like H.R. 676. More: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/july/happy-48th-birthday-medicare 3. Fulfilling the Promise of Medicare By Rep. John Conyers and Robert Weissman The Huffington Post, July 30, 2013 Nearly five decades after its enactment, here's what we know: Medicare saves money by eliminating all the waste associated with the for-profit insurance industry. And Medicare provides coverage to everyone eligible. In stark contrast, the for-profit insurers condition care on ability to pay ... and then still try to deny care to those who have paid. That's five decades of evidence that indicates the solution to our nation's healthcare crisis isn't cutting Medicare. It's strengthening Medicare and expanding it to cover everyone. However the Affordable Care Act ultimately plays out, we know two things for certain: Millions of Americans will remain uncovered and the for-profit insurance industry will remain in charge of prices and life-and-death treatment decisions. As President Obama once stated, the only way to ensure everyone is covered is with Medicare-for-All, a single-payer system. More: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/july/fulfilling-the-promise-of-medicare 4. Study: Single-Payer Health System Feasible, Could Save $1.8 Trillion in 10 Years By Bob Herman Becker's Hospital Review, July 31, 2013 A new study shows that expanding Medicare to every American citizen would not only achieve universal coverage and trillions in savings, but it's also feasible to implement based on legislation that has already been proposed. Gerald Friedman, PhD, a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, released his study today in Washington, D.C., at a congressional briefing. The basis of Dr. Friedman's research is HR 676 ? the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act ? which is a bill introduced by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) in February that would establish a single-payer health care program. The bill has been proposed for 11 straight years. In his study, Dr. Friedman said if Rep. Conyers' bill were signed into law, the expansion of Medicare could "paradoxically" save the U.S. health care system $592 billion in 2014 alone. The main savings would come from slashing "administrative waste" in the private health insurance industry and using the government's bargaining power to obtain cheaper pharmaceuticals, according to the report. Over the next decade, the study suggested savings could reach $1.8 trillion. More: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/july/study-single-payer-health-system-feasible-could-save-18-trillion-in-10-years Distributed by: All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care--HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218 Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 8/5/13 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line. From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Sun Aug 11 23:03:59 2013 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 23:03:59 -0400 Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Laborers=92_O=92Sullivan_calls_for_a_fix_to_ACA=92s_=93des?= tructive” impact on union health benef =?iso-8859-1?Q?“destructive=94_impact_on_union_health_benefits_?= Message-ID: Laborers? O?Sullivan calls for a fix to ACA?s ?destructive? impact on union health benefits The Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) was one of a handful of unions that did not support the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA). LIUNA was concerned that the law would have an adverse impact on the multiemployer plans on which their members, retirees and families rely for health coverage. The union was assured that their concerns would be addressed. These issues are not yet resolved. Terry O?Sullivan, General President of LIUNA sent this letter to the president, the vice president, Senate Majority Leader Reid, and House Minority Leader Pelosi. LIUNA represents over 500,000 workers in the construction industry. The letter by the president of LIUNA follows similar letters by the presidents of the IBEW, IBT, UFCW, UNITE-HERE and the Roofers International Union. July 18, 2013 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), I am compelled to express our concerns over the destructive consequences of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) for multiemployer health and welfare funds. During the drafting and Congressional enactment of this law, LIUNA raised serious concerns that our Union had with aspects of the law and its impacts on the health insurance system that has served millions of hard working Americans and their families over the last forty years. Many of the objections we raised were dismissed out of hand or, we were assured, would be addressed later as the law was implemented. Unfortunately, policymakers do not seem to appreciate these non-profit, labor-management trust funds that have been providing medical, hospitalization and other health benefits to our members, retirees, and their families for generations. Were it not for these funds, most of LIUNA's members and families would have lacked health care coverage because of the mobile work patterns in the building and construction industry. These benefits have been gained over the decades through self-help. The funds are simply pools of workers' money funded by collectively bargained contributions that are wage substitutes. During the legislative process that led to the enactment of the law, it was clear that the unique nature of the multi-employer plans was poorly understood by the Congress and the Administration. We were assured that our plans would not be adversely affected by the law and that as the law was implemented the issues unique to our universe would be addressed. As you are well aware, because of our concerns over the impact the PPACA would have on the members of our Union and their families, the Laborers were one of a few handful of unions that did not support enactment of the law. Now, we have watched as the implementation of the law has progressed, our fears have become reality. Instead of working to assure that these insurance pools can continue to provide health care for the workers they serve, administrative decisions have compounded the problem. The recent announcement by the Department of Treasury that the Administration will provide an additional year before the ACA mandatory employer and insurer reporting requirements begin, along with a delay in the required "employer shared responsibility payments", only makes this unfair treatment worse. It is bad enough that the employer mandate only applies to companies with more than 50 employees, which excludes most of the construction industry, but now larger "low road" employers are being given an extra year to continue their efforts to subvert the law. The ACA imposes substantially higher costs on multi-employer funds and union members, while enabling non-union employers to continue escaping responsibility and shift their employees' health insurance costs to the taxpayers. The law enables non-union contractors to avoid any cost for their employee health insurance, giving them a grossly unfair competitive edge. ACA does not require them to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. There is a "free rider penalty", but even that small amount applies only to "large employers" and can be easily evaded by any employer. The ACA encourages non-union contractors to send their employees to the new Health Exchanges for Government-subsidized health insurance. Underscoring the unfairness, the Administration is interpreting ACA as preventing union members with health and welfare fund coverage from receiving Government subsidies for that coverage, even if they meet all of the subsidy eligibility standards. In other words, non-union contractors' employees get Government-subsidized health insurance coverage, and union members get to pay for their own coverage through collectively bargained contributions to health and welfare funds. A complicated "two trust solution" has been devised to supposedly correct this subsidy problem, but it is absolutely unworkable. Moreover, it does not address the broader problem of ACA giving non-union contractors an unfair competitive advantage. Our unions are committed to seeing the playing field leveled between the union and non-union sectors of the construction industry. Health and welfare funds' costs are increasing because of various benefit mandates and regulatory requirements unnecessarily imposed on the funds. But even more outrageous is ACA's taxes on funds. The so-called temporary reinsurance tax alone will cost every health and welfare fund $63.00 per covered life for just 2014, for a fund covering 10,000 lives (members and dependents), the tax will be $630,000.00. The proceeds of this tax will be used by the Government to subsidize insurance companies offering health plans in the Health Exchanges. In effect, ACA takes money from the pocket of each laborer covered by a health and welfare fund and gives it to forprofit insurance companies. The worker gets nothing in return. That is offensive and inexcusable. At what point will responsible behavior be rewarded? ACA's costs will inevitably require increases in collectively bargained contribution rates for health and welfare. This puts more pressure on the total wage package for members. In a competitive environment, higher labor costs generally means fewer jobs. In short, for unionized construction workers, their employers, and their health and welfare funds, the ACA is proving to be a destructive program that was supposed to control health care costs as was promised. Approximately, 3 million laborers, retirees, and their families now face the very real prospect of losing their health benefits. This, I must remind you, was something that you promised would not happen. We believe that there are opportunities that the Administration can take to help alleviate some of the impacts that the law is having on our health care plans. We hope that you will work with us to see that these common sense changes are implemented. With kind regards, I am Sincerely yours, TERRY 0'SULLIVAN General President yp cc: Vice President Joe Biden Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Distributed by: All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care--HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218 Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 8/12/13 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line. From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Thu Aug 22 22:37:47 2013 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:37:47 -0400 Subject: Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice Endorses HR 676 Message-ID: <18c42bb04f18ef4a1dd357157a9f7322.squirrel@unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org> Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice Endorses HR 676 Mary Shesgreen, a member of the steering committee of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, reports that her organization has made a ?wholehearted endorsement? of HR 676, Rep. John Conyers? national single payer health care legislation. Shesgreen said that most of the members of the steering committee have long supported HR 676. ?A single payer program as provided by HR 676 is the only affordable option for universal, comprehensive coverage,? states the resolution passed. Hale Landes, a member of IBEW Local Union 134 in Chicago who is also on the Jobs with Justice steering committee, said that the resolution for HR 676 was unanimously adopted at a retreat on June 27. Landes is also on the Labor Outreach Committee of the Illinois Campaign for Single Payer. ?We support single payer for all because it is the right thing to do. We at Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice believe that healthcare is a human right,? said a release on behalf of the organization. Northern Illinois JwJ is the 606th labor organization to endorse HR 676. In other news, on July 30, 2013, three additional congresspersons signed on to HR 676, bringing the total of co-sponsors in the House to 48. The news ones are Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY- 12), Robert A. Brady (PA-1), and Jose E. Serrano (NY-15). Your can check the list of HR 676 cosponsors here: http://unionsforsinglepayer.org/ Click on 113th Congress in the left column. #30# HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a greatly improved Medicare to everyone residing in the U. S. HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental (including oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, podiatric care, and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs. In the current Congress, HR 676 has 48 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. HR 676 has been endorsed by 606 union organizations including 146 Central Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 43 state AFL-CIO's (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO, MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI, MT, NE, NJ, NY, NV, MA, RI, NH, & ID). For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample endorsement resolution, contact: Kay Tillow All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care--HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218 Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 8/22/13 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line.