In fact it's even better than advertised. The Dems and the President did a great job in spite of the 100% GOP obstruction.
This HCR Bill: 45,000,000 Get CHC-Single-Payer Vermont Health Care
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/22/818060/-This-HCR-Bill:-45,000,000-Get-Single-Payer-Vermont-Health-Care45,000,000 get CHC-single-payer care =vs.= 3,000,000 P.O. tickets ??? -- Cummon folks.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
Ted Kennedy's existing CHC program expands along lines developed by Bernie Sanders and Ben Cardin.
The single best thing to happen for America's working poor since food stamps:
-- 14,000 nationwide Community Health Clinics
-- Expand CHC capabilities to match VHA technology
-- 45,000,000 people served
-- $$$$$ to attract 20,000 primary care physicians, nurses, etc.
-- Drugs at VHA prices
-- Dental care
-- Patient billing scaled to income
-- No profit motive.
-- 40% saving for chronic care.
-- 1/5th the cost of Emergency Room treatment.
-- Care separated completely from money.
Alan Frumin, the Senate Parliamentarian, showed last April that non-budgetary insurance sections would not qualify for reconciliation. Filibusters would doom any Senate P.O.
Harry Reid concealed Sanders-Cardin till the last hour, then popped it into the Senate HCR Managers Amendment.
-snip-
The Sanders press release hits the main points:
-- A $10 billion investment in community health centers, expected to go to $14 billion when Congress completes work on health care reform legislation, was included in a final series of changes to the Senate bill unveiled today.
-- The provision... would provide primary care for 25 million more Americans.... (with language broadening coverage in response to rural needs where the clinics can be the sole local health resource for communities.)
-- (This) will help bring about a revolution in primary health care in America and create new or expanded health centers in an additional 10,000 communities.
-- The provision would also provide loan repayments and scholarships through the National Health Service Corps to create an additional 20,000 primary care doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and mental health professionals.
-- Very importantly, Sanders also said the provision would save Medicaid tens of billions of dollars by keeping patients out of emergency rooms and hospitals by providing primary care when then needed it.
-- The investment would more than pay for itself by saving Medicaid $23 billion over five years on reduced emergency room use and hospital costs, according to a study conducted by George Washington University.
-- Sanders is also working with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to improve language already in the bill to provide waivers for states that want to provide comprehensive, affordable health care and curb rapidly-rising costs for money-making private health insurance companies. The waivers could clear the way for a state-run, s1ngle-payer system.
-- Sanders has worked with House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) to include $14 billion in the House version of the legislation. (Which had already been done.)
The system of Federally Qualified Health Centers began four decades ago under pioneering legislation by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Community health centers now provide primary health care, dental care, mental health counseling and low-cost prescription drugs for about 20 million Americans. Open to everyone, the centers care for patients covered by Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance as well as those who have no insurance.
In Vermont, eight (FQHC) health centers and 40 satellite offices provide primary health care to more than 100,000 patients regardless of their ability to pay. Sanders said that with the additional health care funding it was very likely that new centers would be established in Addison County, Bennington County and perhaps Windham County VT.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
