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Rad Template 2:May 5/27/08 12:19 PM Page 9 Rose Ann DeMoro Executive Director, CNA/NNOC Moment of Opportunity How California's SB 840 can jumpstart single-payer healthcare for the entire country as the 2008 California legislative session heats up and the presidential contests get into full swing, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment to make healthcare history. The time has never been better to win a universal, single-payer healthcare system both nationally and in California. California legislators earlier this year rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's market-based reforms, which would have simply forced Californians to buy more insurance policies that many are finding aren't worth the paper they are printed on. Just ask the mother of Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old who died after Cigna refused her a liver transplant. Or the family of Nick Colombo, another teen who got insurance approval for his cancer treatment only after his brother and CNA/ NNOC staged a huge protest of PacifiCare. Nationally, worries about healthcare costs and access consistently rank among the public's top domestic issues in this year's presidential race, along with the recession which for so many is directly related to the healthcare crisis. What both the presidential campaign and the debate in California over the past year have emphatically demonstrated is that the patience of the American people has run out on the healthcare crisis—a point clearly evident in the polls. Surveys show that 60 percent of Californians and a majority of Americans support a government-run program that guarantees access to healthcare for everyone. And frustration is focused on aspects of the crisis across the board: cost, access, and quality. Contrary to John McCain's view, it is not just cost—as evidenced by the overwhelming response to our CheneyCare campaign, the amazing support for our fight for Nataline and Nick, and the thousands of pleas we've received from other Americans asking for our help. Their message is loud and clear: we need a single-payer system. As many of you know, under a single-payer system, everyone—individuals, employers, and the government— M AY 2 0 0 8 contributes to a fund that is used to directly employee healthcare costs of California busicompensate private providers for healthcare nesses by 16 percent. Sen. Kuehl, to her tremendous credit, has services. Insurance companies, who now act as middlemen between providers and persevered each year despite these vetoes. patients but skim up to a third of every "Frankly, the governor is irrelevant," said healthcare dollar on expenses such as admin- Kuehl at a rally last year. Kuehl, who also sponistration, advertising, and exorbitant CEO sored our first-in-the-nation safe staffing ratios salaries, would be obsolete. The government legislation, firmly believes that the will of the would have the power to negotiate fair prices people will be carried out if we flex our politiwith providers and drug companies. And, cal muscle. And as nurses on the frontlines of most importantly, every resident would be healthcare, we should and can lead the charge. There is no time to waste. This year's verautomatically covered and receive a single, high quality standard of care. Nobody would sion of SB 840 is alive and kicking, currently in be left out because the risks would be spread the assembly appropriations committee and expected to once again hit Schwarzenegger's out among the country's entire population. The campaign to win single-payer in Cali- desk later this fall. Our focus over the next few fornia is not new. With CNA/NNOC as main months will be to lobby California's legislators sponsor and member RNs taking the time to to pass SB 840 and encourage them to muster write, call, visit lawmakers, or attend a rally, SB up the political courage to initiate a gubernato840, a state bill authored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl rial override if needed. We must also unite with that would establish such a system, has already our community and labor allies in this fight, twice won passage, in 2006 and 2007, from both particularly the groups Health Care for All-Calbranches of the California Legislature. But ifornia and the California School Employees Schwarzenegger, who not only depends on the Association. Both organizations have steadfasthealth insurance industry for campaign dona- ly supported single-payer and refused to buy tions but personally believes that you deserve into the idea of reforming insurance companies. only the healthcare that you can afford, vetoed A win in California would also bolster HR 676, it despite thousands of letters from ordinary the federal bill now pending that would enact Californians and nurses asking him to stand up single-payer for the nation. Now is the time for all of us to take action. to the insurance corporations. This year, we can build California's patient Tell your representatives in no uncertain revolt by not only passing SB 840 again, but terms that you want them to not only pass SB by organizing to win the two-thirds legisla- 840, but override the governor's veto. Enlist your family, friends, neightive vote we need to override bors, church, parents' associSchwarzenegger's likely veto. To view a list of ation, and kids' soccer league It is surprising that our hospitals SB 840's principal to help. Contact us if you'd are so far behind our nurses in authors and like to participate in legislaseeing the benefits of a single-paycoauthors, visit tive visits or on a deeper level. er system. They would no longer www.leginfo.ca.gov, Let's not repeat the mistakes have to haggle with insurers for search under the of the past and fritter away payment, worry about closures, bill number, and this extraordinary moment of and instead be able to provide qualclick "status." opportunity to jumpstart the ity care for those with the most movement to guarantee health for ourselves need, not just those with the ability to pay. A thorough financial analysis of the legis- and future generations. I lation also shows that it would save working Californian families between $500 and Rose Ann DeMoro is executive director of $3,000 per year, and that it would lower the CNA/NNOC. W W W. 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