Sicko is a 2007 American political documentary film by filmmaker Michael Moore. Investigating health care in the United States, the film focuses on the country’s health insurance and the pharmaceutical industry. Moore compares the for-profit non-universal U.S. system with the non-profit universal health care systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba. Watch it, free, here:
Posts
Recent Report Ranks U.S. Healthcare Dead Last
In a recent Single Payer Radio program, Kay Tillow, Harriette Seiler, Hamza Jamal, Evan Hawthorn, and Paul Hoppe of Kentuckians for Single Payer Healthcare discuss the poor ranking of our healthcare in this country based on a Commonwealth Fund report comparing 10 industrialized nations.
Goal: Compare health system performance in 10 countries, including the United States, to glean insights for U.S. improvement.
Methods: Analysis of 70 health system performance measures in five areas: access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, equity, and health outcomes.
Key Findings: The top three countries are Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, although differences in overall performance between most countries are relatively small. The only clear outlier is the U.S., where health system performance is dramatically lower.
Conclusion: The U.S. continues to be in a class by itself in the underperformance of its health care sector. While the other nine countries differ in the details of their systems and in their performance on domains, unlike the U.S., they all have found a way to meet their residents’ most basic health care needs, including universal coverage.
The state of Reproductive Rights in Kentucky
Ona Marshall and Drs. Ed Marshall and Alecia Fields, experts on reproductive rights in Kentucky, discuss the status of those rights on this episode of Single Payer Radio, hosted by Paul Hoppe and Drs. Mike Flynn and Eugene Shively.
Forward Radio · Single Payer Radio | Women’s Reproductive Rights in Kentucky | 9-16-2024
Kentuckians for Single Payer reached out at the Pride Festival
On Sep. 14, 2024, Harriette Seiler, Paul Hoppe, and Dave Shuler staffed the KSPH booth to distribute flyers and get petitions signed. They report an enthusiastic reception by the public. Our thanks to the Louisville Workers Brigade for generously sharing their booth with us.
We Need Volunteers to Staff the Single Payer Healthcare Booth at Louisville Pride Festival!
Join Kentuckians for Single Payer Healthcare at the Louisville Pride Festival on Saturday, September 14th from 11 AM to 7 PM and help us advocate for a healthcare system that puts people first. A Special Thanks to The Louisville Workers Brigade for sharing their Booth.
As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Educate attendees about the benefits of single-payer healthcare.
- Gather signatures in support of our campaign.
- Network with like-minded individuals and organizations.
To volunteer, Complete our Form:
Or please contact:
- Harriette Seiler
- hm.seiler@gmail.com
Let’s make a difference together
Enhanced Medicare for All a Hit at the World Fest
Labor Day weekend Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care staffed a booth at the World Fest. Enthusiastic supporters lined up to sign the petition urging candidates and elected officials to “boldly support national single payer health care legislation.”
Photo: Jill Harmer uses her fluent Spanish to explain Medicare for All.
As they signed they told their stories. One couple decides each year whether or not they can afford to buy insurance or take the chance of going without. They currently have an ACA plan purchased on the Exchange that costs them $1,400 monthly for the two of them and their daughter.
A woman in a Medcaid/Medicare Advantage plan related how her insurer denies the physical therapy she desperately needs.
People loved the “Enhanced Medicare for All” bumper stickers and the T-shirts.
Check out the photos in Harriette Seiler’s album:
Help us spread the Single Payer Word at WorldFest 24 on the Belvedere August 30-September 2
We need volunteers to hand out literature and talk to people about our movement to fix our broken healthcare system. We have confirmed that we have a booth on the Overlook at the Belvedere in a big tent with other informational groups. We would like to cover as much of the schedule as possible. Please click on the link to volunteer: https://kyhealthcare.org/event-registrations
Sign up for one or more shifts:
Sat., Aug. 31; 11am – 1pm, 1pm – 3pm, 3pm – 4:30pm, 4:30 – 6pm
Sun. Sep. 1; 11am – 1pm, 1pm – 3pm, 3pm – 4:30pm, 4:30 – 6pm
Your help is so appreciated.
The 22nd WorldFest on the Belvedere will take place this Labor Day Weekend starting Friday, August 30th through Monday, September 2nd, 2024. This incredible 4-day International Festival is the most diverse, inclusive and equitable event in the region featuring more than 70 musical acts across three stages, a “Global Village” representing more than 20 countries, a “Parade of Cultures”, over 40 food vendors, a children’s activity zone and more than 100 booths featuring crafts and merchandise from a variety of cultures.
Opioid Overdose Deaths in Kentucky Could Be Reduced Drastically By Changing State Laws
Kentucky Legislature Impedes Access to Opioid Addiction Treatment
I hosted a SinglePayer Radio program recently with Dr. Pat Murphy, nationally known pain management treatment and addiction specialist that prompted me to write this post. With Kentucky having the 7th highest drug overdose rate in the country, our state legislators have the power to relax the antiquated Buprenorphine (Suboxone) dispensing rules due to the monumental elimination of the federal X-waiver requirement for Physicians in January of 2023. Kentucky is one of only 7 states that have not done so and it seems there is little interest in doing so. Dr Murphy believes Gov Beshear, through his Executive Authority, could possibly reverse some of these barriers to this life changing and life saving treatment. If we send emails to our state representatives as well as Gov Beshear, we may be in a position to save the lives of many Kentuckians. <Click here if you need a template>
Medicare Birthday at the Schnitzelburg Dainty Contest, the Bounce Pickleball Courts, and the Wednesday Concert
In late July at the John & Will Gage concert at Bounce Pickleball Courts, at the Germantown Dainty Festival, and the WFPK Wednesday concert, KSPH volunteers distributed over 400 Medicare Birthday flyers and were welcomed by folks who said “I’m with you on this!”
Our thanks to our KSPH recording secretary, Harriette Seiler (yellow hat), who prepared the flyer and braved humid 90’s to take the message to the public.
There is new hope. The people want Enhanced Medicare for All!
Join Us for Medicare Birthday 2024 in Kentucky
It’s a tradition! Kentuckians celebrate Medicare’s July 30 Birthday every year and call for an Improved Medicare for All so that everyone will have healthcare as a birthright.
* A few years ago we lit up the sky at the Big Four Bridge above a concert of thousands.
* We’ve delivered cupcakes to Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and John Yarmuth.
* We’ve marched across bridges.
Each time more learn of the wonders and possibilities of a publicly-funded health plan and of the need to enact a national non-profit single payer plan—an Enhanced Medicare for All.
Join us this year as we distribute flyers.
(We’ll also have bumper stickers and petitions.)
There are two opportunities to be a part of it:
1. Sunday, July 28, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at 1515 River Shore Drive, Goodbounce Pickleball Court, Louisville, just before the free Will and John Gage Concert that is from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Bring chairs if staying for the concert; food truck is there with food and drinks on sale.
2. Wednesday, July 31, at 5:00 pm as the gates open for a free concert beneath the Big Four Bridge. The concert begins at 6:00 pm. https://www.lpm.org/waterfront-wednesday
You’re invited to be a part of spreading the message and the hope of a more healthy, humane future for our country. Let us know you’re coming. Call Kay at 502 636 1551 or email nursenpo@aol.com.
If you’re not in Louisville, we invite you to set up your own celebration. Let us know and we’ll send the flyers.
On Tuesday, July 30, in advance of the 8:00 pm soccer game, we could distribute flyers at the Lynn Family Stadium. https://www.loucity.com/news/2024/04/21/loucity-to-host-germanys-eintracht-frankfurt-in-july-30-friendly/ Let us know if you’d like to do that.
Happy 59th Birthday, Medicare.