CMS Update

 

                              “The Winds of Change Are Blowing”

 

     Although only 70 names appear on our petition, we know that our readers number in the hundreds.  We have heard from Victims of doctor “errors” who tell us of their fear of reprisals from the medical community if they sign. Hard to believe that this is our America.  Send us your emails with a few paragraphs describing your story of those “errors.”  We will take them to Washington. We prefer to know your name and state but that choice to identify yourselves is yours alone.  No name speaks volumes.
     In the meantime, this has been a wonderful week for CMS.  Congressman John Conyers, Jr., from Michigan, reached out and invited us to meet with him at his hotel in New York City.  This courageous and certainly unique Congressman has been pushing for a National Health Plan for years.  Next month in the 108th Congress he will unveil his draft of that bill.  It will be universal “Single Payer” for all.  The unemployed, the non-insured, the poorly insured will all be included. No one in America will be left out!  It will be a great day. It can only happen, however, if every American gets behind Congressman Conyers and writes and calls his congresswoman or congressman and tells them to support this bill.  The People must take back their government and let their voices be heard.  If we don’t get National Health Insurance, the downward spiral in healthcare will continue. And in a few more years, few of us will be able to afford it.  Indeed, the quality now is so poor that we shouldn’t want what’s in place, anyway. We know how dangerous the current system is.

     It is with great pleasure that the CMS website is the first grassroots organization to post the draft of Congressman Conyers’ bill.

     Keep checking our website for further information on our activism.  Send us your email with your thoughts and suggestions to pearlkorn@aol.com

 

                                                                    Pearl Korn

                                                                    Elizabeth LaBozetta

                                                                    Stephanie Speken

                                                                    Ralph Speken

                                                                    Rosario Zisa

 

 Draft of The United States National Health Insurance Act

(“Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Bill”

*To be introduced by Cong. John Conyers, 108th Congress)

 

 

Who is Eligible

 

·        The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes an American national health insurance program by creating a single payer health care system. The bill would create a publicly financed privately delivered health care system that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories.

 

·        Every person living in the United States and the U.S. Territories would receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and id  number once they enroll at the appropriate location. Social Security numbers may not be used when assigning ID cards. No co-pays or deductibles are permissible under this act.

 

    Benefits/Portability

 

·        This program will cover all medically necessary services, including primary care, in patient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices.

 

                                        Conversion to a Non-Profit Health Care System

·        Private health insurers shall be prohibited under this act from selling coverage that duplicates the benefits of the USNHI program. They shall not be prohibited from selling coverage for any additional benefits not covered by this Act; examples include cosmetic surgery, and other medically unnecessary treatments. For- profit HMO’s and other health care providers incorporated before 2003 may participate in the program, but only until 2003.

 

                 Cost Containment Provisions - Reimbursement

 

·        The National USNHI program will annually set reimbursement rates for physicians, health care providers, and negotiate prescription drug prices after negotiations with physicians, providers, and drug companies; this includes fee for service, global budgets, and salary ranges. The national office will provide an annual lump sum allotment to each existing Medicare region, which will then administer the program. The national office will consult with regional and state health care professionals on the above activities.

 

·        State Directors of the National Health Insurance program, appointed by the Governors of each state, will work with the regional Medicare For All offices to coordinate the reimbursement of physicians and providers through a state based electronic reimbursement system. Former private sector companies and agents that worked in billing and reimbursement who contracted their services with the Medicare Program shall be given first preference to perform similar work in the USNHI program.

 

 

Funding & Administration

·        The United States Congress will establish annual funding outlays for the United States National Health Insurance Program through an annual entitlement. The USNHI program would operate under the auspices of the Dept of Health & Human Services, and be administered by the new expanded and improved Medicare program. All current expenditures for public health insurance programs such as S-CHIP, Medicaid, and Medicare will be placed into the USN7HI program.

·        A National USNHI Advisory Board would be established, which would include representatives from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Medical Association, AMA, The American Public Health Association, The Centers For Disease & Control, The Agency For Health Care Research & Quality, AHRQ, the Physicians Payment Review Committee, and nursing organizations in order to ensure input from health care professionals and patients who “work on the ground” in the health care field.

 

Funding For The Program

·        7% payroll tax. 2% progressive income tax. 2% health tax on individuals who make over a million dollars in income each year. 2% percentage “corporate health tax.” A $1.10 tax on cigarettes, (30 billion dollars in revenue), and the closing of various corporate tax loopholes.

·       
The United States National Health Insurance Act would save approximately $100-I 50 billion dollars annually in over-all health care costs from reduced paper work and administration. A middle class family of three would pay about $739.00 in out of pocket costs per year, versus the $7,000 dollars per year paid out in monthly health insurance premiums and out of pocket costs.

 

For more information, contact Joel Segal, legislative assistant, Rep. John Conyers, at 202 225-5126, or e-mail Joel. Segal@maiihouse.gov