Dr. Syed Quadri Speaks on Single Payer at UofL

On Wednesday, November, 9, 2016, at the UofL University Club, Dr. Syed Quadri of Elizabethtown spoke at a luncheon of the Institute for Sustainable Health and Optimal Aging.  He presented a detailed explanation of the problems of our current health care system comparing the costs and outcomes to those countries that have universal health care systems.  He made a compelling case, both moral and financial, for moving to a single payer plan.

The program was organized by Dr. Edgar Lopez, Board Member of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care.  Both doctors are members of Physicians for a National Health Program.

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Single Payer presentations are available to any Kentucky class, organization or group.  Call Kay at 502 636 1551 to make arrangements.

 

UofL Med Students Speak Out for Single Payer Health Care

On Monday, October 31, 2016, University of Louisville Medical Students hosted a single payer event on the Health Science Campus Quad.  Mallika Sabharwal, President of Students for a National Health Program, SNaHP, chaired and introduced the four medical students and four physicians who spoke.

The event was a part of  a national #TreatNotTrick action that took place at medical schools across the country to highlight the need to remove private insurance companies from the system to guarantee that everyone receives needed care.

The Courier-Journal covered the story.  The link is here.  Press coverage was organized by KSPH PR Director, Charlie Casper.

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L to R WAVE-TV reporter interviews medical students Mallika Sabharwal and Lyn Jones.  Jones spoke of going without coverage and care.  Her untreated infection led to serious and lasting consequences for her health. She urged that everyone be covered through single payer.

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Med student Rina Perlin speaks with Dr. Garrett Adams, past president of Physicians for a National Health Program.  Rina said she dressed as a ladybug because “Private insurance bugs me.”

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Med student Michael Gasser addressed the crowd.

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L to R Dr. Garrett Adams with medical students Justin Watkins, Mallika Sabharwal, and Rina Perlin.  Watkins spoke of the great advantage to his family when his first two children were born in Canada.  When his third was born in the US, the drug essential for his wife’s care cost $1,000 instead of the $200 they paid under Canada’s single payer system.

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Medical student Sarah Van Gaasbeek spoke to the group.

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Barbara Casper, MD, Internal Medicine, spoke of her concern for those who cannot afford their care.  Peter Esch, MD, is an advisor to the UofL SNaHP.

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Mallika with Charles Kodner, MD, Family Medicine, who also spoke.

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Edgar Lopez, MD, pictured with Tom Moffett, Louisville legendary social activist.  Dr. Lopez practices at a free clinic in Butchertown.  He told of ear drops needed by a patient who could not afford them because the cost was over $200.  He said that the same drug is available in Ecuador for $10.  He called for an end to the gouging by the pharmaceutical companies.

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Christian Davis Furman, MD, Geriatric and Palliative Care, spoke of the efficiency of the VA and Medicare.  She is pictured here speaking with Peter Esch, MD.

 

“Let’s treat our patients, not trick them with private insurance”

Barbara Casper, MD, speaks with Epiphany Social Justice Committee

On October 25, 2016, Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care presented a program for the Social Justice Committee at Epiphany Church.  Dr. Barbara Casper spoke of the crisis she sees daily as too many patients are unable to afford care or delay care because of the cost.

Charlie Casper, Public Relations Director of KSPH, narrated a showing of a single payer power point that shows US standing in outcomes and the advantages that would result from a single payer system of health care financing.

The group participated in animated discussion with particular concerns for the costs of premiums, drugs, and deductibles for their families and neighbors.

More than half of the group signed up to stay in touch with KSPH.

The power point presentation or the movie “Fix It” is available to any group that is interested.  Just contact KSPH at nursenpo@aol.com or 502 636 1551.

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U of L Med Students Plan Single Payer Event, “Treat not Trick”

Medical Student Mallika Sabharwal, President of the University of Louisville Chapter of Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP), has announced that the group is planning an event for 12 noon on Monday, October 31, 2016, as a part of #TreatnotTrick actions for single payer at medical schools across the country.

Sign the petition
Please sign on to their Single Payer Petition here  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/louisville-supports-single-payer and join physicians, med students, and the community at the event:
Monday, Oct. 31 at 12 noon, 
U of L Health Science Campus Quad
500 South Preston, 
between Muhammad Ali Blvd and East Chestnut St, 
U of L Medical School, downtown Louisville
Speakers will begin at 12:15 pm and include:
Physicians
Dr. Barbara Casper, Internal Medicine
Dr. Christian Davis Furman, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
Dr. Charles Kodner, Family Medicine
Students (all second year medical students)
Michael Gasser
Lyn Jones
Sarah Van Gaasbeek
Justin Watkins
SNaHP states:
“Despite living in an era of great potential in the fight against disease and death, Americans continue to be haunted by health care profiteers. This Halloween, hundreds of medical and health professional students around the country will call on candidates and elected officials to abolish private health insurance, and to replace the health insurance industry with an expanded and improved Medicare-for-all.
Further info: malsabharw@gmail.com
Barbara Casper, MD, with med students Mallika Sabharwal & Rina Perlin
Barbara Casper, MD, with med students Mallika Sabharwal & Rina Perlin

U of L Medical Students Host Single Payer Event

        On  September 7, 2016, at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, members of SNaHP (Students for a National Health Program) hosted first-year students at an Education and Advocacy lunchtime discussion on the concept of a single payer system.
        Drs. Edgar Lopez and Garrett Adams, both members of Physicians for a National Health Program, assisted with a slide presentation and Q&A.  Dr. Adams cited poll results that indicate growing physician support for a publicly funded plan to cover everyone.  The students raised questions on the social determinants of health, disparities in delivery of care, and on the recent surge in the price of medications—including the EpiPen. Seventeen students attended, including current president Mallika Sabharwal and past president Brandi Jones.
        SNaHP chapters nationwide are gearing up for a major event on October 31, 2016,  #TreatnotTrick:
“Despite living in an era of great potential in the fight against disease and death, Americans continue to be haunted by health care profiteers. This Halloween, hundreds of medical and health professional students around the country will call on candidates and elected officials to abolish private health insurance, and to replace the health insurance industry with an expanded and improved Medicare-for-all.
SNaHP Sept 7 2016
SNaHP Sept 7 2016
 L to R Mike Gasser, Harriette Seiler, Brandi Jones, Shuchi Satpathy, Garrett Adams, Mallika Sabharwal, Edgar Lopez

Single Payer Activists at KFTC Annual Meeting

On Saturday, August 27, 2016, Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care traveled to General Butler State Park to participate in the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Annual Meeting.

KSPH leaders Harriette Seiler (orange top), Jill Harmer (white T shirt), Charlie Casper (blue shirt) and Mark McKinley led the single payer discussion.

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Single Payer discussion at lunch at the KFTC Annual Meeting.

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Jill Harmer and Mark McKinley at KFTC.

Letter | Gov’t not to rely on private insurers

The Aetna Insurance Company is claiming it is losing money as a participant in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  It is instructive how the Des Moines Register reacted to this news in a recent editorial.  An excerpt from the Iowa newspaper follows:

“Government should not rely on private insurers. Aetna announced last week that it was reducing participation in health insurance exchanges created by the ACA.  It will sell plans in only four states next year, including Iowa, down from 15 this year. This follows similar market exits from UnitedHealth Group and Humana.

This is yet another reminder of why government should not rely on private companies to deliver health insurance to Americans.  History has repeatedly shown this a costly, dangerous and unsustainable idea.  Yet politicians refuse to listen to history.

When Medicare was created in 1965, the goal was to insure seniors through a program administered by the government. In traditional Medicare, Uncle Sam directly pays providers for health services.  The program is reliable, predictable and has low administrative costs.

In a July 5 letter, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini informed the Justice Department that if it sued to block Aetna’s deal to acquire Humana Inc., the insurer would reduce its presence in exchanges.  The Obama administration says such a merger would increase consumer costs.

‘If the deal were challenged and/or blocked we would need to take immediate actions to mitigate public exchange and ACA small group losses,’ he wrote.

Is that a warning?  A threat?  And how is the Obama administration supposed to respond?

Americans’ access to health insurance should not depend on the profit margins, business dealings or mergers of for-profit companies. Not in Medicare. Not in Medicaid. And not in exchanges created by health reform law.  Instead of funneling tax dollars to private companies, government is better equipped to administer insurance.  It is not beholden to stockholders.  It does not seek to turn a profit.  And it will not abandon the responsibility of providing health coverage to Americans.

Expansion of Medicare covering all citizens of every age would solve lots of existing problems and give us as a nation better health.”

David Ross Stevens

Borden, Ind. 47106

Letter | Aetna CEO doesn’t get sympathy

The Courier-JournalAugust 22, 2016

No one should cry for Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini over his claim of losses in the Obamacare exchange plans. Bertolini raked in $27.9 million in total compensation in 2015.

Just last May, he was positive about the Affordable Care Act, stating that Aetna’s losses were nothing in comparison to the $2 billion Aetna would have had to spend to acquire those customers without the health care law.

Since Obamacare passed in March 2010, Aetna’s stock has soared 270 percent. Cigna and Humana have risen about the same. UnitedHealth Group, which is also pulling out of the exchanges, is up 371 percent. During that time the S&P 500 Index has increased only 99 percent.

Under the ACA, the insurers are getting billions each year to subsidize their insurance plans. No matter how much money we throw at these companies, the market will never work to fix our health care system.

No other industrialized country in the world allows private insurers to control their health care. Those countries have better health outcomes than the U.S. while spending, on average, about half as much per capita as the U.S.

Fixing health care means we must move to a single payer system as proposed by Congressman John Conyers in HR 676. We will save both lives and money.

Kay Tillow
Louisville 40203

William David MacCool 1942 – 2016

On August 3, 2016, Dave MacCool passed away at his home in Louisville.  He worked tirelessly in the single payer movement, serving as one of the top officers of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care and carrying more than his share of the load through dozens of marches, programs, films, power point presentations, speak outs, and more.   When the nation finally wins universal health care, Dave’s name will be inscribed on the honor roll of those whose work made it happen.

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Dave MacCool carrying banner across the bridge on the candlelight walk from Jeffersonville.

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Dave MacCool with Medicare for Everyone sign during a demonstration at Humana Headquarters.

 

He is survived by a family he cherished, his wife Nancy, a son, Christopher, a daughter, Kathleen and his brother, Rob.  Funeral service will be at 11 am Tuesday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church , 2822 Frankfort Avenue, with a reception to follow the service. Visitation 4-7 pm Monday at Pearson’s, 149 Breckenridge Lane.  Memorial donations may be made to Pitt Academy, 7515 Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40222.

Obituary in the Courier-Journal.

 

Kentuckians Light Up the Night to Celebrate Medicare and Demand its Expansion to All

On Wed. July 27, 2016, Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care celebrated Medicare’s Birthday on the Big Four Bridge above a concert attended by thousands. Using homemade letters made from corrugated plastic and LED lights, they spelled out “Happy 51st Medicare, Improve It, Expand It To All, HR 676.”

See the video taken by Dr. Edgar Lopez.

A view from below.

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A view on the ramp of those who raised up the light.

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A close up of some of the letter carriers.

The crowd loved the show and the message.  Leafletters led by Jill Harmer and Bill and Debbie Mahan passed out over 800 flyers which read:

Happy Birthday, Medicare!
Love it.  Improve it.  Expand it to all!

Across the country people are celebrating Medicare’s 51st Birthday by calling for protection of Medicare, improvement of its benefits, and expansion to the entire population.
We call for passage of HR 676, national single payer legislation, known as Expanded and Improved Medicare for All.  This bill would add dental, drugs, long term care—in fact all medically necessary care—and remove all co-pays and deductibles.
HR 676 would end the privatization that threatens Medicare, extend the benefits to people of all ages, and assure that no one goes without care because they cannot pay.
Better care for all—while saving billions.  Join us to make it happen!
Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care,
Mtgs. 1st & 3rd Thurs. 5:30 pm, Board Rm. Mezzanine, Library, 301 York St. www.pnhp.org, www.kyhealthcare.org, nursenpo@aol.com,  502 636 1551.

Free single payer presentations or movie “Fix It” available.