Single Payer Health Care Back on the National Agenda

On February 3, 2015, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan, pictured below, introduced HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, into the 114th Congress. He was joined by 44 initial cosponsors including Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky. Since then four additional representatives have signed on, Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania, Zoe Lofgren of California, Joyce Beatty of Ohio, and Ted Lieu of California bringing the number up to 48.

You can see all the cosponsors of HR 676 here.

You can read HR 676 here.

Conyers’ Press Release on HR 676

PNHP News Release

America’s New Single Payer Majority by Rep. John Conyers

On January 19, 2015, Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care participated in the caravan celebrating the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Ron Hargrove.

Also on the King Holiday, members of KSPH took part in a celebration at Shawnee Presbyterian Church, 101 South 44th Street, Louisville, KY. The Rev. Ron Robinson, Shawnee’s pastor, serves on the steering committee of KSPH. Sponsored jointly by the church and the group Sowers of Justice, the service and workshops commemorated Dr. King’s call for non-violence, equality, and economic equity.

Garrett Adams, MD, led a health care workshop, stressing the need for a single payer system that would cover all medically necessary care for everyone in our country. There is a bill in Congress, HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, that would provide such coverage–cutting costs, reducing disparities and saving lives.

Workshop attendees shared insights and personal health care stories, agreeing that the current system remains inadequate. They indicated a wish to know more about single payer and suggested we continue our efforts to educate the public. In 1966, Dr. King referred to injustice in health care as “shocking and inhuman.” In 2015, he would undoubtedly remind us that there is still much work to be done.

On Monday, January 12, 2015, Jill Harmer presented the Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care power point show to Parents for Social Justice. Photo shows Natasha Pitcock and her daughter Olivia. KSPH offers the program free to any interested group–call (502) 636-1551.

The Louisville Student protest was one of 70 across the nation.

Photo of medical students at UC Davis

The nationwide protest was initiated by medical students in Philadelphia and San Francisco, and Physicians for a National Health Program assisted them with the publicity.

The story was covered by the Guardian, Huffington Post, and Rachel Maddow.

The action was endorsed by Students for a National Health Program, the student affiliate of PNHP.

Christy Duan wrote about why she participated in the protest.

Here’s one panorama of the actions on more than 70 medical school campuses.

Medical Students at UC Irvine

Louisville Single Payer Activists Volunteer for RAM Free Clinic in Morehead, Oct. 25-26, 2014

The line snaked through the pre-dawn darkness of a church parking lot. Hundreds, many wrapped in blankets against the chill, awaited the opportunity to see a dentist or doctor or to get a pair of glasses, all without any cost or questions. Their presence, in spite of Kentucky’s successful sign up of more than 500,000 in the exchanges, bore witness to the continuing unmet health care needs and the necessity to move the nation forward to single payer.

This was the October 25-26, 2014, Free Clinic, one of many that Remote Area Medical regularly sponsors in Appalachia and across the country.

“Wow, it looks like 3D,” exclaimed a young woman who peered through her new glasses for the first time. Check out RAM on The Daily Show.

Volunteers L to R: Kay Tillow, Louisville; Afeni Henderson, RN, Knoxville; Kathryn Hunt, Physical Therapist, Lexington; Lane Adams, Louisville; Garrett Adams, MD, Louisville; Harriette Seiler, Louisville. The Louisville participants are activists in Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care.

On October 15, 2014, Dr. Garrett Adams, Medical Director of the Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic and immediate past president of Physicians for a National Health Program, gave a lecture at Sewanee: The University of the South.

Dr. Adams’ lecture addresses the plight of America’s medically under-served, especially in Appalachia, how America’s wealth inequality affects the nation’s health and society, and the positive effects a publicly funded national health program could have on our society as well as our national health. Video.

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care participated in the first annual Kentucky Hemophilia Walk in Middletown’s Wetherby Park.

KSPH activists Jamie Beard and Harriette Seiler at the Hemophilia Walk

Braving the chilly weather, KSPH distributed over 200 flyers with information about single payer healthcare, noting that with the ACA, many individuals with bleeding disorders and other chronic conditions still find essential treatments too costly or not on their insurers’ formulary – a situation fully understood by hemophiliacs and their families. The flyer provided information on HR 676 and ways to join the movement locally.

Walkers were appreciative of KSPH’s presence, and over $30,000 was raised for the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation. All in all, it was a very successful event!

Jamie Beard at the start/finish line. Jamie won the award for raising the most money for the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation.

On Sunday, September 21, 2014, Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care joined a spirited crowd and their pets for the Louisville AIDS Walk, Fleur de Life.

KSPH distributed 400 flyers with a message noting that while health care reform helped some, many with AIDS and other conditions still find essential drugs too costly or not on their insurers’ formulary.

“Last July, 300 patient advocacy groups protested to Health & Human Services that those with chronic illnesses are still facing barriers to care,” the flyer continued.

On the Belvedere for the Louisville AIDS Walk

The flyer concluded by pointing the way forward:

“A bill in Congress, HR 676, Expanded & Improved Medicare for All, will provide care for everyone under a single payer, publicly funded system. All medically necessary care including dental & drugs will be covered–and you choose your doctor.

“No co-pays, no deductibles, no limited networks. No worry about medical bills! Monies now going to corporate profits will be available for care.

“We invite you to join this movement. Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays each month, 5:30 pm, Board Rm, Mezzanine, Louisville Free Public Library, 301 W. York.

“Learn more: www.kyhealthcare.org, www.pnhp.org. KSPH offers free presentations on single payer,(502)636-1551, nursenpo@aol.com.”

The walkers thanked us for being there and many expressed their agreement with single payer.

Lighting Up the Night from the Big Four Bridge

(Harriette Seiler’s photo album.)

Thousands attending a riverside concert on July 30, 2014, saw the message curving across the city skyline. Louisville joined dozens of cities in celebration of our nation’s best health program.

We must protect Medicare for it has lifted generations of seniors from poverty, made the hospitals of the South integrate because Medicare could not be collected by those who segregated, brought dialysis to all with kidney failure, and shown that this public program works efficiently and saves money.

Yet we must improve Medicare for even with it some cannot afford care–it does not cover dental, nor hearing aids, nor nursing homes, co-pays and deductibles are growing, some drugs are very expensive, and it is being privatized through the Medicare Advantage plans.

And we must expand Medicare so that every person, regardless of age, has health care. By passing HR 676, national single payer health care, we will secure Medicare, save billions, and make health care a human right.

The homemade, lighted letters arc across the sky. Photo by Eddie Davis

Medicare celebration soars above Louisville and the youthful crowd of concertgoers. Photo by Jean Marie Borger

At twilight on the ramp facing west. Photo by Eddie Davis

Lining up the letters on the lawn before ascending the ramp

Waiting on the ramp for the sun to set with the Big Four Bridge in the background and Jeff Boat in the distance

Spelling it out.

The message floats above the city lights–and the moon. Photo by Carrie Irwin.

Keeping it in proper order

The four big boards were heavier and harder to carry but Scotty Pulliam, Dr. Garrett Adams, Keith Rouda, and Mark McKinley rose to the task

Raising lofty aspirations–to improve Medicare and expand it to all by passing HR 676 bringing universal care to the nation

Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care is delighted to bring the first Light Brigade to Louisville. We thank Leslie Harris of the North Texas Light Brigade and the Overpass Light Brigade for the inspiration and the guidance. Thanks to all of the letter carriers who braved the difficult parking conditions to lift up the message. Thanks also to the lettermakers, Harriette Seiler, Peg Box, Dave MacCool, Betty Schmitt, Garrett Adams, Lane Adams, Jill Harmer, and Kay Tillow, who put the signs together from corrugated plastic and LED lights run by batteries.

Improve Medicare and Expand it to All–Pass HR 676!

July 30, 2014, will mark the 49th anniversary of Medicare, our only publicly financed, universal health plan, which lifted a generation of seniors out of poverty.

Congressman John Conyers has reserved 30 minutes on the House Floor for this. Dozens of events will happen, making this a national action!

We will have a special celebration in downtown Louisville that will take place on the evening of Wed. July 30, and will involve individuals carrying lightweight signs to spell out a message. We need 20 committed people for the signs–plus more to help us leaflet.

To help, please call Kay 636 1551 or Harriette 899-3861, or nursenpo@aol.com or hm.seiler@gmail.com

We can do this!

Rep. John Conyers speaking on HR 676 as he welcomes the participants in the May 22, 2014, National Single Payer Lobby Day

Video here.