Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/198072
NewsBriefs:JanFeb 3 2/28/09 12:56 AM Page 8 RNS LEAD THE FIGHT FOR SINGLE-PAYER RNs from Summit Medical Center in Oakland, Calif. (above) and Community Hospital of San Bernardino in Southern California call legislators in support of HR 676, a single-payer bill in Congress. NATIONAL na/nnoc registered nurses are seizing 2009 as a year of tremendous challenge, but also of historic opportunity and change, to persuade Americans that the time is long overdue to improve and expand Medicare to everyone, also known as single-payer. Unfortunately, the healthcare reform debate in Washington, D.C., and among lawmakers and the media, focuses on the wrong issues. Registered nurses know that the system must center on patient care: Does the system allow people to stay healthy, to access quality care when they get sick or hurt, and to receive equal treatment regardless of personal wealth? Does the system make the best use of healthcare dollars by spending the most it can on direct patient care instead of administration and profits for drug and insurance companies? Does the system work toward keeping our entire population, not just a few, healthy? Instead of using quality patient care for everyone as a touchstone, legislators and healthcare pundits are still stuck on private insurance, talking about "competition" between private and public plans, about reimbursement rates, about subsidies for C 8 REGISTERED NURSE coverage, and about technology as a panacea. A single-payer system is the only kind of structure proven to deliver the patient care Americans need. Registered nurses understand the private insurance system is hopelessly broken and that they must lead the movement to change debate and shape the solution. CNA/NNOC in January joined a coalition group called the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Healthcare, meeting in St. Louis, Mo., to discuss how to build the grassroots movement to W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G pass HR 676, federal legislation sponsored by Rep. John Conyers that would establish a single-payer healthcare system for the nation. At the conference, more than 150 labor leaders also launched the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer Healthcare, a group devoted to rallying union support for HR 676. At the same time, RNs have been organizing to let their representatives know they and their patients support expanding Medicare for all. In December and January, nurses hosted breakroom phone banks for coworkers to call in their support of state single-payer initiatives and HR 676 to their state and national legislators. If you are an RN who supports healthcare for everyone, help make it a reality by doing three things: write a letter to the editor of your city paper about why you support singlepayer healthcare, sign a postcard to President Obama for single-payer, and meet with your Congressional representative. Ask your nurse representative or labor representative how. JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2009