National Nurses United

NewsBriefs 6/11/06 8:28 AM Page 8 NewsBriefs Universal Healthcare Gains Support in Washington, Sacramento CNA/NNOC RN Manny Punzalan points to the largest health insurance company in America, Wellpoint. "While millions go without insurance, Wellpoint's top five executives made more that $3,000 per hour for the last three years." pending federal bill that would provide Medicare-style healthcare services to all U.S. citizens is unlikely to pass this session, but support for the idea of national healthcare is growing. In late May, 68 cosponsors had signed on to Rep. John Conyers Jr.'s (D-Mich.) Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, also called HR 676, up from only 40 in the last Congress. Meanwhile, Conyers and his cosponsors are launching a potentially national education campaign. Supporters held in May a town hall meeting in Pittsburgh for people to share their "healthcare horror story," and teach-ins, demonstrations, speakers, and press conferences across the country are scheduled June 7. The bill calls for primary care and prevention, emergency care, prescription drug coverage, long-term care, mental health services, non-cosmetic dentistry, substance abuse treatment, chiropractic services, and vision care for all citizens, with no copay. But the political climate on Capitol Hill still isn't right for the perennial measure. "We don't expect it to move at all," said Alexia Smokler, legislative assistant to Conyers. Bill cosponsors are meeting this summer to discuss strategy for the next congressional session, when the future of HR 676 may be a little brighter. In California, Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) and 39 coauthors are pushing a A 8 REGISTERED NURSE similar bill for the state, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (SB 840), of which CNA/NNOC is the primary sponsor. The bill would provide hospital, surgical, and mental services, dental and vision care, prescription drugs and medical equipment, substance abuse programs, hospice care, health education, translation services, and transportation to services for all California residents. SB 840 has made its way through the assembly health committees and policy committees over the last year, and its next step is the appropriations committee. Kuehl introduced another bill, SB 1784, earlier this year to find ways to fund these healthcare services. "That the nurses are taking it on is a very important thing," Kuehl said. She explained that because the public trusts nurses, especially on healthcare issues, their support is key to the public support that makes it easier for legislators to vote yes. Supporters of the bill see it as the first step toward a national single-payer system, because it would establish California as a testing ground. —miranda everitt Legislative Update SB 1204 by President Pro Tem Sen. Don Perata This (VNR) about state rulemaking that rolled bill requires all hospitals to implement "Zero- back improvements to RN-to-patient staffing Lift" policies and lift teams. California's nurs- ratios and protections for meal-and-rest ing workforce is aging while patient acuity and breaks. The VNRs, prepackaged videos conobesity is rising. It is imperative that we pro- taining suggested lead statements for TV news anchors, statements by tect our nurses and other healthcare workers from injury, and [CALIFORNIA] top state labor agency officials, and testimonials from selected provide patients with safe and appropriate care. According to injury informa- members of the public (a business owner, a tion reported to the Office of Statewide Health business manager, and a private sector Planning and Development by California's employee), were found by the court to be hospitals, we lose approximately 2,700 nurses essentially propagandizing and not providing a year to back injuries. These are losses we balanced information to the public, in violacannot afford. SB 1204 will save millions in tion of Section 8314. This bill codifies the workers' compensation costs and protect reg- court's ruling. Status: Pending hearing in Assembly istered nurses and other healthcare workers Judiciary Committee from debilitating back injuries. Status: Pending SB 840 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl The California Health hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee. Insurance Reliability Act would provide fiscalS B 7 4 0 b y S e n . G l o r i a R o m e r o In December, a ly sound, affordable health insurance coverage Sacramento judge ordered the state's Depart- to all Californians, provide every Californian ment of Industrial Relations to remove from the right to choose his or her own physician, its website and stop distribution of fake and control health cost inflation. Status: Assemdepartment-produced video news releases bly Rules Committee W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G JUNE 2006

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