Network urges action on national health campaign

By Terry Mizrahi, Co-Chair, and Bert Weinert, Health Care Policy Network
(April 1993)

The Health Care Policy Network of the New York City Chapter NASW is waging a national health campaign which is generating wide-spread enthusiasm.

Coordinated by a host of organizations and groups around the region, the Network is connected to the national effort for a universal, comprehensive, public, single pay system of health care. With President and First Lady Clinton committed to health care reform, we have a real opportunity to influence the health care agenda.

Bills introduced in the US Congress by Senators Inouye and Wellstone, Representatives McDermatt (S 491) and Conyers (HR 1200) have gathered a growing number of co-sponsors and supporters. Every social worker, every agency, and all the people served by them, should immediately urge both Senators D'Amato and Moynihan and members of the House of Representatives to become advocates for this essential reform of the nation's health care. If your House member is already a sponsor, he/she should be encouraged to take a leadership role in signing on their colleagues, seeking media coverage, and speaking to the public on the benefits of a single payer system.

To date, the Clintons appear to be supporting managed competition, not a single payer universal system. Write, and have colleagues and clients write to President and Mrs. Clinton, to US Senators and to Congressmembers, as well as to cabinet officials and staff, calling upon them to support Senator Wellstone's American Health Security Act of 1993 (S.491) and Senator Inouye's bill developed by NASW. That is the message being delivered by members of the Health Care Policy Network's Speakers Bureau to audiences throughout the New York area. Social Work Month has provided a wonderful forum to spread the word. The HCPN has reached more than 1000 social workers and friends in these past few months alone.

A public single payer system is the most practical and certain way to assure access, quality and cost containment. Responding to the vast majority of Americans who want basic overall health reform, these single payer bills cover all US citizens and legal residents. They provide for all services, including in and out patient, long term care, prescription drugs, dental and vision care, mental health and substance abuse treatment. Health education, preventive and primary care are emphasized. There are no co-payments, no deductibles, no means tests, no out-of-pocket expenses. Patients have free choice of providers.

Annual budgets for hospitals and nursing homes are negotiated, as are all professional fees. The system is paid for through a combination of payroll and progressive income taxes (90% of the people will be paying less than or the same as they are now and receiving more in return). Tax loopholes will be closed and private insurance premiums will be eliminated. The system replaces most private health insurance and Medicare and Medicaid. The logic is clear: immunization of children helps them remain healthy and also saves large amounts of money that would otherwise be expended for future illness. High quality pre and postnatal care, pediatric and primary family care will have the same results in the long run.

The single payer coalition is active in Washington, DC and around the country. In New York City, the NASW Health Care Policy Network in coalition with New York State Health Care Campaign, Jobs with Justice, and others are devising strategies for action. Rallies, receptions with Senator Paul Wellstone and public demonstrations at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and insurance companies that profit from health care are being scheduled.

Become informed, get involved and be ready to participate in future action. Join the Network's team of speakers; organize support for NASW's single payer legislation in your agency, take to the road as an advocate to provide everyone with a health security system.

For more information about the Network, call Terry Mizrahi (212) 452-7112 or Jerry Beallor (212) 796-4185. Call Bert Weinert, (212) 416-8329, if you want a speaker on the National Health Care Campaign or want to be trained as a speaker.