Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse Senators
An effort is underway to organize a large free health clinic in Arkansas or Louisiana to draw attention to the need for change in states with Democratic senators key to passing health reform legislation.
The idea was first proposed by MSNBC News anchor Keith Olbermann of "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" in his hour-long special comment last week calling for health reform. The comment, which is set to be re-broadcast this Friday, was inspired by Olbermann's experience caring for his ailing father, who is currently hospitalized. Said Olbermann:
I propose tonight one act with two purposes. I propose that we embrace the selfless individuals at the National Association of Free Clinics. You know them -- they conducted the mass health care free clinic in Houston that served 1,500 people. I want a health care free clinic every week in the principle cities of the states of the six senators key to defeating a filibuster against health care reform in the Senate.
I want Sens. Lincoln and Pryor to see what health care and poverty is really like in Little Rock. I want Sen. Baucus to see it in Butte. I want Sen. Ben Nelson to see it in Lincoln. I want Sen. Landrieu to see in in Baton Rouge. I want Sen. Reid to see it in Las Vegas.
I'll donate. How much will you donate?
On his show yesterday, Olbermann reported that more than 10,500 people have responded to his call so far, donating more than $817,000 to the Virginia-based nonprofit National Association of Free Clinics. That amount includes a $50,000 gift from Olbermann himself.
NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux told the Connecticut newspaper The Day that she is hoping to use the funds to hold a one-day clinic in either Arkansas or Louisiana within the next six weeks.
Both of those states have large populations of people who are uninsured. In the period 2007-2008, 19.2% of non-elderly residents of Arkansas and 21.9% of the non-elderly residents of Louisiana did not have health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts.org. That compares to 17.4% of the non-elderly nationwide.
At the same time, Arkansas and Louisiana also have Senators who have proven unwilling to support health reform that includes a public insurance option, seen as key to expanding coverage while holding down skyrocketing insurance costs.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) voted against public option amendments in the Senate Finance Committee, and her colleague Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) has also been reluctant to support the public option -- even though a recent poll found that a 55% majority of Arkansas voters favor it, along with 65% of Americans nationwide.
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) has also stated her opposition to a public option, telling a local Chamber of Commerce that she prefers "a private market-based approach to any health care reform." Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) opposes a public option as well.
Landrieu was recently the target of an ad campaign sponsored by a coalition of civil rights groups for her refusal to support a public option. The coalition -- which includes the NAACP, National Council of La Raza, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Campaign for Community Change -- says a public option is key to providing accessible and affordable health care to minorities, who suffer disproportionately from high rates of disease.
NAFC is hoping for a further fundraising boost from its scheduled appearance on today's Dr. Oz Show, featuring cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz. The hour-long special will show footage from the recent free clinic in Houston that drew more than 1,500 people.
In the meantime, Congressional leaders continue to work on health reform legislation. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee passed a reform bill sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that did not include a public option. That legislation must now be melded with reform bills passed by other Senate committees and then approved by the full Senate before being reconciled with reform legislation passed by the House of Representatives. Advocates of the public health insurance option are hoping to get it added back in during the long process ahead.
One of the key arguments made in favor of the public option is that it would provide competition to private insurers, who in many places around the country operate as near-monopolies. As Facing South has reported, many of the Senate Democrats on the Finance Committee who voted against the public option come from states with highly concentrated health insurance industries.
In Sen. Lincoln's state of Arkansas, for example, 75% of the health insurance market is controlled by Blue Cross Blue Shield, while in Sen. Landrieu's Louisiana Blue Cross Blue Shield controls 61% of the commercial market, according to a recent report from Health Care for America Now.
In another effort to bring greater competition to the health insurance industry, leading Democrats are pushing for an amendment to the health reform bill that would end the long-standing antitrust exemption for insurers. Created by the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945, the exemption now cedes regulatory control of the industry to individual states.
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re: Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse S
I am employed by a hospital in a small town in Arkansas, and we work with businesses/industries, schools,and senior groups with programs promoting good health. We charge only what our cost of screenings, immunizations, vaccinations cost us. We have made several attempts to get Blue Cross/Blue Shield to reimburse us for these services. They steadfastly keep refusing; for example we offer a biometric screening for $35, services that in a doctor's office would cost at least $250. They will reimburse for part of the screening at the doctors but not for the "on location" $35 screening. What kind of craziness is that?? Their answer to my repeated requests is that my department does not employ all Physician Assistants and Advanced Nurse Practiciners. Those advanced professionals are not needed to give shots, draw blood, or weigh people. That would only drive the costs through the roof. I use RN's, LPN's and non- creditionaled people. BC/BS is the giant gorilla in the room that runs Arkansas with an iron fist and needs to be brought down!!
re: Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse S
I am a health insurance agent in Utah and run two websites that sell insurance www.benefitsmanager.net and www.dentalinsuranceutah.com. I mention this because in Utah it would be great to have a guaranteed public option to put people that the private insurers will decline for health conditions. Plus the way Weiner discribes the public option, it will be priced competitively. So what this means in my industry (I've been at it 18 years) is that all my unhealthy clients that get charged more or declined can be put onto the public option now. All my healthy clients can stay on the private option. Hmmmmm follow me yet???? How long can the public option stay affordable?? Who is going to pay for the losses of a big sick pool of people....taxpayers?????
re: Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse S
I live in Arkansas and just heard that we will be getting the first free clinic in Little Rock! I hope Blanche Lincoln (who I hope will be gone after the 2010 elections) and Mark Pryor (ditto when his term is up) will be watching - and I hope they understand that the majority of Arkansans want a robust public option TO LOWER COSTS and PROVIDE CHOICES. There is another monster under our beds, Congressman Mike Ross, who is literally Mr. Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Corruption abounds in Arkansas, but hopefully good will overcome evil. Thank you Keith and the National Association of Free Clinics!
re: Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse S
Urgent!! Robert Reich on your healthcare http://bit.ly/SAQ7a
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith - Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ
Hollywood Supports The Public Option :-) http://bit.ly/3XLwPi
It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run MEDICARE like public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong MEDICARE like public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong MEDICARE like public option on day one.
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith - Working Class
ATTENTION!! Congress Has The Votes Needed To Pass A Public Option - TODAY http://bit.ly/TCq7O
Things You Can Do To Help NOW! http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2009/09/tired_of_watching_people_die_n.html
A majority of voters would rather have a Democrats only bill with a Public Option. Than a bipartisan bill without a Public Option.
A state based insurance plan is NOT!! a Public Option. Nor is it a Strong, National, Medicare like Public Option.
No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html
Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html
Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-health...)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty
Howard Dean on the Public Option http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SKfW2dUnow&feature=player_embedded
We're Number 37! in quality of health care http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4&feature=player_embedded
Twitter search (#welovethenhs #NHS #hc09 #hcr #healthcar #obama #p2 #topprog #) Check it out.
re: Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse S
My younger brother Jeff is the shame of the Degan family. He not only lives in France, he actually likes it there. He has a French wife and two gorgeous little French daughters. Honestly I think the guy is a closet commie. Back in August, in a letter to his fellow countrymen and women regarding health care, he ended it by saying:
"In short, in the US, you pay more, get less, and die younger than we do in Europe. What part of that don't you understand?"
Well, hey there! That's a danged good question! What part of that don't we understand? Why is it that so many of us have to be dragged, kicking and screaming like half-witted little preschoolers, into the brave new world of change? What the hell is the matter with us anyway? How can it be that such a huge number of Americans cheerfully join movements of mass stupidity and salivate on cue to the sound of Dr. Glenn "Pavlov" Beck's bell? It kind of makes you wonder, huh?
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
re: Free health clinics planned for states with reform-adverse S
I want to make a contribution to the National Assn. of Free Health Clinics but I can't find an address to sent it to. Could you probide info on wgheren I can make a contribution. Thamk You
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