{news} GP RELEASE Greens urge GAO, Congressional Budget Office studies on Single-Payer health care

Thu Jun 18 17:48:56 EDT 2009

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 18, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty at greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org

Greens call for new GAO, Congressional Budget Office studies on
Single-Payer health care

. Past federal studies on Single-Payer show it will provide universal
care while cutting costs, say Greens, who seek a nationally aired
debate on the merits of Single-Payer

. Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on
health care reform http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders and health care activists called
for new federal studies on the economic feasibility and impact of a
Single-Payer (Medicare For All, HR 676) national health care program.
The study should cover overall and ongoing costs and savings, not just
government spending.

Greens cited past studies from the General Accounting Office (GAO) and
the Congressional Budget Office in the 1990s showing that Single-Payer
would reduce the cost of health care while covering every American.
The Green Party will make health care reform and the demand for
Single-Payer a major focus of the party's 2009 Annual National Meeting
in Durham, North Carolina, July 23-26
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=222).

According to a 1991 GAO report, "If the US were to shift to a system
of universal coverage and a single payer, as in Canada, the savings in
administrative costs [10 percent of health spending] would be more
than enough to offset the expense of universal coverage." ("Canadian
Health Insurance: Lessons for the United States,"
http://archive.gao.gov/d20t9/144039.pdf).  More reports are archived
at pnhp.org (http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single_payer_system_cost.php?page=all).

"The overall savings we'd gain from Single-Payer will boost the ailing
economy and will cut bankruptcies by nearly two thirds," said Jody
Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States, who noted a
recent Harvard study showing that "Medical problems contributed to
nearly two-thirds (62.1 percent) of all bankruptcies in 2007"
(Physicians for a National Health Program press release, June 4, 2009,
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/june/illness_medical_bil.php).

"The 'public health care option' supported by Sen. Kennedy and many
other Democrats will leave the private insurance industry intact and
lead to increased health care spending, especially if mandates lead to
big taxpayer-funded subsidies for insurance and HMO companies and the
high overhead they add to health care spending.  We challenge Congress
and President Obama to consult the GAO and Congressional Budget Office
on the costs and benefits of Single-Payer," said Ms. Grage.

The Green Party has challenged Sen. Max Baucus and other Single-Payer
opponents to hold a public debate, broadcast nationally, with
Single-Payer advocates
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=221).  Sen. Baucus has
received more campaign money from the health insurance and
pharmaceutical industries over the last four years than any other
Democrat in Congress -- $413,000 since 2005, with only Republicans
John McCain and Mitch McConnell receiving more (http://www.Consumer
Watchdog.org).

Greens said that such a debate is urgently necessary because of the
lies and distortions about Single-Payer and health care reform coming
from the Wall Street Journal
(http://mediamatters.org/blog/200906160005), Conservatives for
Patients' Rights, and other opponents of health care reform.  See also
"Debunking Canadian Health Care Myths" by Rhonda Hackett, The Denver
Post, June 7 (http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12523427).

"Apologists for profit-making insurance companies are dishonestly
trying to paint Single-Payer as expensive and radical.  In fact,
Single-Payer is more fiscally conservative, because it'll eliminate
the high overhead of private insurance.  Secondly, Single-Payer allows
full choice of physician, which will restore the American tradition of
family doctors who get to know their patients' health care needs.
Instead of an insurance company or HMO bureaucracy restricting
treatment and referrals, Single-Payer will bring back the days when
patients and physicians made decisions about medical care," said
Justine McCabe, Connecticut Green, clinical psychologist, and
co-author of statewide Single-Payer bill, 1999-2000
(http://www.gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=35).

"And finally, under a Single-Payer plan, no one will suffer financial
ruin because of medical expenses," said Dr. McCabe.

"Unfortunately, President Obama and congressional leaders insist that
we all spend more money on health care, with taxes on health-care
benefits, to pay for 'reform' that would still leave tens of millions
uninsured and underinsured.  At the same time, they don't want
Americans to hear about the benefits of Single-Payer -- even though
they admit it would save money, cover everyone, and give us the right
to choose our doctors," said Angel Torres, co-chair of the Maricopa
Greens (http://maricopagreens.org), which held a Single-Payer rally in
front of the office of Arizona Rep. Harry Mitchell on May 30 to
persuade him to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 676.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
. Tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
. Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
. Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
. Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
. Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
. Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July
23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
. Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Audio clip: Lynne Williams, Green candidate for Governor of Maine,
speaks at a May 30 rally for National Health Care at the State House
in Augusta, introduced by Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green nominee for Vice
President http://www.asmainegoes.com/content/audio-maine-green-party-gubernatorial-candidate-lynne-williams

"Health Professionals Tell Congress They Want Single-Payer"
By Jeff Muskus, The Huffington Post, June 10, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/10/health-professionals-tell_n_213873.html

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

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