National Nurses United

NewsBriefs:May 7/3/08 12:46 PM Page 4 NewsBriefs Fed Up with Insurance, Thousands Across Nation Champion Medicare for All NATIONWIDE n the country's largest rally supporting single-payer healthcare reform in recent years, thousands of fed-up patients and consumers on June 19 protested the for-profit health insurance industry at its lobbying group's annual convention in San Francisco and in a dozen other major cities. Health insurers have been the most vociferous opponents of meaningful healthcare reform. Organized as a national "day of protest" by CNA/NNOC and other healthcare activists, demonstrators—which included groups as varied as caregivers, patients, seniors, union members, and students— thronged outside a conference for industry executives held by American's Health Insurance Plans. The crowd grew so large that it spilled across the streets and occupied every nearby corner. Asking "What is a life worth?," registered nurses, doctors, and patients were on hand to I 4 REGISTERED NURSE share stories about insurance company denials of care and to criticize the fundamental flaw of private health insurance: To maximize profits for shareholders, insurance corporations have an incentive to deny treatment in order to limit spending on patients. In addition, with many insurance companies setting different payment rates and policies, up to a third of each dollar spent on healthcare is now wasted on administration, billing, collection, and disputes and challenges. The American Medical Association in June released figures saying that physicians spend up to 14 percent of their revenue ensuring they are correctly paid by insurance companies for their work. "As nurses, too often we see patients whose health insurance policies, not their healthcare needs, determine the course of treatment," said Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, RN and a member of the CNA/NNOC Council of Presidents, at the rally. "As caregivers, our hands are tied by the insurance industry. We are fed up and letting them know we aren't W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G going to take it anymore." The solution to these endemic problems, said protesters, is adoption of a single-payer, Medicare-style healthcare system where a government agency collects money from taxpayers, businesses, and other sources and reimburses healthcare providers directly. A federal bill now pending, HR 676, would establish a single-payer system and enjoys 90 Congressional cosponsors, the most of any major healthcare reform measure in decades. Numerous labor unions, state labor councils, as well as local municipalities have also endorsed the measure, including the city and county of San Francisco. The morning of the protest, Mayor Gavin Newsom signed a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Tom Ammiano stating San Francisco's official support of HR 676. "Haven't the presidential candidates gotten the memo?" asked Ammiano about public opinion polls showing that a majority of Americans now support single-payer. "This is what the people want. Just do it!" JUNE 2008

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