Healthcare-NOW

Protesters outside and inside White House health care forum in Iowa

By O.Kay Henderson for Radio Iowa— There were protesters outside and inside this morning’s White House health care forum in Des Moines. About 20 protesters stood on the street outside, waving signs and chanting. A psychiatrist from University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City stood in the middle of the group, wearing his white lab…

Protests at White House healthcare hearing in Iowa

By Kay Henderson for Reuters— DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) – The latest White House regional forum on healthcare drew protests and complaints on Monday along with a promise that government-run insurance was at least on the table for discussion. “Why are we having this shameful event?” said Mona Shaw, a political activist, at the start…

Action Alert: “National Lessons for Health Reform”

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, along with Healthcare-NOW!, is preparing for the third Congressional briefing in Washington, DC titled “National Lessons for Health Reform: An Examination of US Health Insurance.” Thanks to the phone calls, faxes, and emails, the last briefing on Feb. 25 had an unprecedented number of healthcare staffers in the…

Two UFCW Locals Voice Support for HR 676

Two United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) local unions have joined the growing list of labor organizations voicing support for HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). In South St. Paul, Minnesota, the Executive Board of UFCW Local 789 overwhelmingly endorsed HR 676 on March 10. The 7,000 member local…

Crisis = Opportunity for Single-Payer

Fiscal crises may force Obama to save costs via a single-payer plan. By Roger Bybee for Dollars and Sense— President Obama seems ready to proceed full-throttle toward a health care reform plan, but one that will keep private insurers at the center of the system. The plan, termed “guaranteed affordable choice,” would allow workers to…

RNs from Six States Rally for Single Payer Outside White House Healthcare Forum in Vermont

From Talking Points Memo— The White House may have hoped for a carefully structured discussion with a predictable and prescribed outcome that would fit smoothly into its desired agenda, but during the second regional forum on healthcare reform, the White House heard once again that other options are not only available but are also strongly…

How’s this for a stimulus — let’s give Medicare to everyone

By Andy Everman for MLive.com— Often we hear about how education (especially higher education) is crucial for economic development and job creation. Rarely do we get any credible specifics about how this actually works, even from our knowledgeable colleges and universities. In fact, can our colleges and universities demonstrate that they truly are sending out…

Does the Health Insurance Industry Have Congress In Its Pocket?

No one ever talks about dismantling the Fire Department, Police Department, or Postal Service because they’re models of a scary socialist project. Why should healthcare be any different? Quite simply, the health insurance industry stands in the way. And as the Real News Network reports, they’ve been lobbying hard to make sure that a for…

Single-Payer News from the Vermont Health Forum

Over 200 single payer advocates attended a rally initiated by Dr. Deb Richter, PNHP, outside of the White House regional forum, hosted by the Governors of Vermont and Massachusetts. These are some initial press reports: Hopes, Fears At Vermont Health Care Forum NPR Single-payer advocates plan to protest health care forum Rutland Herald Douglas, Patrick…

Douglas, Patrick co-host health care forum

By Anya Huneke for NECN.com— 48 million Americans. That’s the latest estimate of how many Americans are living without health insurance. President Obama has promised to reduce that number by expanding health care coverage in the U.S. Key players in the reform debate met to do some brainstorming in Burlington, Vermont, today. Two hours before…