Sanders: "This legislation revolutionizes primary healthcare in America."

[cali]

Yeah, yeah. I know. You anti-legislation folks know so much more than stupid old bernie.

Sanders' Healthcare Revolution
posted by Katrina vanden Heuvel on 03/23/2010 @ 4:22pm

Senator Bernie Sanders had it just right when he said of the healthcare legislation signed Tuesday morning, "This legislation revolutionizes primary healthcare in America."

And it does so in large measure because of the Senator's long-term and tenacious fight to ensure that all Americans have access to primary care (see here and here).

The historic bill signed today by President Obama includes provisions Senator Sanders long advocated for, including $10 billion over five years to expand, construct and operate community health centers. It also increases the investment in the National Health Service Corps to train more primary care doctors and other health care professionals. Another $2.5 billion for health centers operations is in the reconciliation package.

All told, the legislation will double the number of health center sites nationally over the next five years from 7,500 to 15,000. The number of patients served by these facilities will rise from 20 million today to about 40 million by 2015. That means most Americans will have access to primary care, dental care, mental health counseling, and low-cost prescription drugs on a sliding-fee scale so that no one is turned away. Since 18,000 Americans die annually due to their inability to afford insurance or care, these facilities are literally life-saving changes in our health care system.

The $1.5 billion allotted for loan repayments and scholarships through the National Health Service Corps will add more than 17,000 primary care doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and mental health professionals in medically underserved areas. This is critical since today over 56 million Americans--both insured and uninsured--have difficulty even finding a doctor in their communities.

<snip>

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut/544502/sanders_healthcare_revolution

[Dappleganger]

1. Socialist!

I love me some Bernie!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. How many posts before someone calls Bernie a sellout or a corporatist?

Bonus points for the first person to accuse him of being DLC.

[cali]

3. nah, no one here is stupid enough to call bernie DLC

mostly that crowd will studiously avoid posting in this thread while they busily unrec it.

[zipplewrath]

4. CHC is nice but

Let's be serious for a minute. The folks dying and going bankrupt aren't going to be "saved" by a CHC. It will be good for vaccines and early detection, but the seriously ill won't be saved by these. And they will be predominately in high volume urban areas, which are already served by medicaid and a general population of doctors.

This bill doesn't ensure that people will be able to afford health CARE. It assures that they will be forced to BUY health insurance. And even in that, it leaves exceptions for those of meager means who will be classified as the most risky. But that exception merely means they won't be forced to buy insurance. Not that they'll still get health CARE.

[cali]

6. of course they will be. do you not understand that a lot of the

people dying are dying because they don't have any primary care? People are absolutely saved by primary care.

but of course you know so much more than bernie about it.

:rofl:

[zipplewrath]

9. I'm not sure what you mean

I presume you are making allusions to early detection. Early detection is wonderful, but one must also receive the treatment, and the CHC's aren't going to be doing much of that. I'm not disputing Sen. Sander's happiness with CHC's, but it isn't some sort of panacea for health care. Especially for those who have the kinds of issues that tend to bankrupt them.

[cali]

10. of course people receive treatment from CHCs

from everything from diabetes to high blood pressure and heart disease and MS. Those conditions untreated kill thousands and thousands every single year.

You have no idea what you're talking about. It's just sad.

[Swede]

37. Cali,it's another sore loser with their profile hidden.

Lots of those around lately.

[Winterblues]

8. It is a MAJOR start

Early detection will cut the death rate from preventable ailments drastically. That is MAJOR

[Beetwasher]

5. These CHC's Are One Of The Best Parts Of The Bill

For all the people screaming "B-b-b-b-b-b-ut this is INSURANCE reform, NOT health care reform!". These CHC's are DIRECT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE for over 20 million additional people. That's 20 million more people who will have access to actual care.

[Richardo]

7. ...and the timing coincides well with the effective date of most of the provisions in 2014.

I heard a doctor on NPR last night wondering how the preventative HC system could handle 32 million more patients - there's your answer, Doctor. He was assuming 2010 level of resources 5 years from now, I guess.

[zipplewrath]

15. Yes, some health care

They are very nice and all. Mind you, they aren't going to necessarily be in the areas of greatest need. And there is no established right to health care either. For those who can access them, and have the conditions they can address, it will be nice. But these kinds of facilities are not going to deal with the intensely sick and injured. (do like some of their mental health care offerings though).

[Beetwasher]

17. You Don't Have A Fucking Clue What You're Talking About

But your bitterness sure is delectable! :rofl:

[zipplewrath]

19. Okay

I keep trying to engage the supporters of this bill. All they want to do is laugh and swear.

[Beetwasher]

20. You're Not Trying To Engage, You're Spouting Your Bitter Bullshit

And we're calling you on it.

[zipplewrath]

21. Yup

Yeah, that's right. I'm not making any legitimate points at all. That's why my posts are full of profanity and cartoons. I don't explain my positions nor engage in discussion at all. I mean, why should I. It's a discussion forum.

[Beetwasher]

22. No, You've Made Not One Legitimate Point. Not A Single One

In this thread, you've made not one valid point. You've merely pissed and moaned and moved the goalposts and claimed that hypothetically these CHC's MAY, POSSIBLY not cover every single person who needs coverage based upon your idiotic pre-conditions and definitions of what actual coverage is and who needs it.

It's bitter crap.

[zipplewrath]

23. Okay

You're right. I should adopt your friendly tone and demeaner. You've found so many ways to cheerfully express your point of view. How "winners" can be so darned unhappy about winning is really hard to fathom.

[Beetwasher]

24. Don't Mistake The Fact That I'm An Asshole For Me Being Unhappy

I'm a very happy asshole.

[zipplewrath]

26. And an eloquent one as well

I can see why you participate in discussion forums. You are obviously so skilled at it.

[Beetwasher]

30. Well Then, Whats yr Excuse?

[zipplewrath]

31. Self improvement

Actually publicly discussing ones own ideas helps one refine them. But only when people actually engage you in discussion.

[Beetwasher]

32. Well, Hate To Break It To You, But You Fail

Miserably.

[zipplewrath]

33. You don't know where I started

When ya start low ya got know where to go but up!

[Beetwasher]

34. I Got News; You're Digging Down

Up is the other way.

[zipplewrath]

35. You forget the world is round

Dig down long enough, you're going up.

[dflprincess]

25. It's all they have

because there is so very little in this bill to be happy about they have to attack anyone who reminds them of that.

Sanders' insistence the CHCs be included is one of the few bright spots, but it could and should have been passed as a separate bill not tied to this scam to save the for profit insurers.

CHCs are great, but they often have a high staff turnover and you lose continuity of care which is important for all patients but especially for those who have chronic conditions. They can aid in early detection and will help cut the rate of complications and early death from some conditions, especially those that can be treated with an office visit. But if that screening test comes back indicating you need more serious follow ups like a surgical biopsy or eventually chemo or radiation you may still be out of luck because then you'll still have to rely on your for profit insurer.

The other thing being ignored about CHCs is that their fees operate on a sliding scale. If your income is too high to get any subsidy (or much of one) for your insurance and you can't afford to see a doctor because your "coverage" has out of pockets that are too high chances are you won't qualify for reduced cost help at a CHC and you still won't be able to get care.

[zipplewrath]

27. Yes, they are nice

And people will be helped by them. But I object to the suggestion that the core issue that was worthy of the last years worth of delayed efforts on other issues was having more CHC's.

[cali]

28. you're just making shit up now. it's pathetic and embarrassing.

CHCs save lives. More and better funded CHCs will save thousands more. Clearly you don't give a shit about that.

[dmallind]

11. But he's not a REAL liberal! He's a corporatist stooge! NT

[Matariki]

12. Senator Sanders' contribution to the bill is a great one.

kudos to him.

[Scurrilous]

13. K & R

:thumbsup:

[cali]

14. kick

because this will save thousands and thousands of lives.

[DevonRex]

16. Poor Bernie just doesn't get it, with his limited intellect and all.

:sarcasm:

[Major Hogwash]

18. It sure as the hell does.

Bernie is a great man, a great Senator, and I would like to meet him just to tell him thanks in person.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. IMHO, this and covering young adults on their parents policies are 2 of the best

parts of this bill. The drug part of the Medicare is another as long as they get the drug rates reduced as much as they claim they will.

There might be other parts but until numbers are worked up and fully disclosed, I am just shaking my head. Reasonable to one person (especially privileged persons) might not be reasonable to others.

[Mike 03]

36. Kick. I wish I could rec, but the post is over 24 hrs old. NT