Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare--Update

From our friends in Western PA. A wonderfui accout of their efforts. If you want more information about what they are doing, please contact Sandy Fox at sm2fox@yahoo.com (412) 421-8233

I want to update you on a couple of recent events.

First, on Thursday October 26th the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) had it's annual Public Action, which was held at Petra International Ministries in the East Hills. An estimated 700 people attended. Issues presented included single-payer universal healthcare, dedicated funding for mass transit, local workforce development, safe and affordable housing, and civil rights for immigrants. The single-payer issue was presented first. I discussed the problem of the uninsured and underinsured, the solution of single-payer, and barriers to this solution (influence of insurance and pharmaceutical industries; ideological differences, i.e. those who believe healthcare is a privilege, not a right; and fear of change). State Senator Jim Ferlo, who had originally planned to attend and give brief comments in support, was unable to attend due to an unexpected call back to Harrisburg for a vote on lobbying legislation (which passed--yea!). Chad Kluko (Democratic candidate, US House of Reps, 18th Congressional District), Titus North (Green Party candidate, US House of Reps, 14th C.D.), and a representative from Mike Doyle's office (Democratic incumbent, US House of Reps, 14th C.D.) responded to the question "Are you willing to support a single-payer model of healthcare reform?" Each was given 30 seconds to elaborate and gave strong statements of support for federal single-payer legislation, referring to HR 676, the US National Health Insurance Act introduced by Rep. John Conyers. I noted to the audience that Melissa Hart, Tim Murphy, and Jason Altimire had declined the invitation to attend. The Governor arrived later and was asked the same question by Rev. Welch, the President of PIIN, along with questions on two other issues. Rev. Welch preceded the question with a statement to the Governor that "The answer to all three questions is 'yes.' The Governor said he supports national single-payer healthcare reform. He expressed doubt that the state legislature would pass single-payer legislation, but indicated that if they did, he would sign it. He also said that in the meantime, he would recommend alternative healthcare reform measures, which he did not elaborate upon.

Second, on Tuesday October 31st, the Pennsylvania Commission for Women sponsored a presentation at Magee Women's Hospital called "WOMEN OF THE CABINET SPEAK OUT: The Status of Women's Health in Pennsylvania--Where We've Been and Where We're Going." The moderator was Leslie Stiles, Executive Director of the PA Commission for Women. The panelists were all from the Governor's cabinet, as follows: Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Secretary of the Dept. of Aging; Rosemarie Greco, Director of the Office of Health Care Reform; Diane Koken, Insurance Commissioner; and Estelle Richman, Secretary of the Dept. of Public Welfare.

I was pleased by the turnout from our group (about 10 -12), the Western PA Coalition on Single-Payer Healthcare. Thank you to all who came. We strategically scattered ourselves throughout the audience. Estimates vary of how many were in the audience, from 100 - 140, almost all women. Our presence was especially important given the message of the panelists and moderator, which said to me that this group is very much out of touch with the struggles of many families and individuals trying to get the healthcare they need. A few highlights:

Leslie Stiles, the moderator, paid homage to Highmark with her remarks "We are grateful to Highmark... wonderful corporation...", applauding their work on the Education Kiosk for healthcare prevention that Ms. Stiles was touting, noting "Education is the key to healthcare prosperity." A corporate representative from Highmark, who was in the audience, was identified for special recognition.

Diane Koken, the Insurance Commissioner, presented lower figures for the number of uninsured in PA (900,000 or 8% of the state pop. vs the almost 1, 400,000 or 11% of the state pop. that the Kaiser Family Foundation reports from the latest Census Report). Ms. Koken did note their numbers differ from other statistics, and while she did not elaborate on how her figures were arrived at, she expressed pride at the lower rate of uninsurance in PA relative to other states, stating "We are moving in the right direction." She also expressed satisfaction at the passage of the "Cover all Kids" legislation and the lower waiting list for Adult Basic (now 60,000). She noted that one of the functions of her job is to evaluate what level of insurance company surplus is acceptable and to approve increases in health care premiums. She spoke at length about the increase in healthcare costs, which she attributed to a "number of interactive factors." To reduce costs, Ms. Koken focused primarily on reducing medical errors, improving quality of care to save money, making information on healthcare prevention more available ( e.g., smoking cessation; diet, exercise, and nutrition), and shopping for healthcare and health insurance.

Rosemary Greco, Director of the Office of Health Care Reform, stated "We cannot have accessible, affordable, quality health care unless..." we make people accountable for their healthcare. She indicated that they recently completed their work with four advisory panels of 101 Pennsylvanians who looked at the healthcare problem and recommended to her Office that "we start with kids;" help small businesses; reduce hospital errors; "in our schools... healthy children initiative;" and consider utilization of advanced nurse practitioners in underserved areas to improve access to healthcare.

After about an hour and a half of listening to the moderator and panelists, the audience was allowed to respond. Ginny Eskridge, from our group, was the first one called on and quickly indicated her displeasure with the message and endorsed single-payer universal healthcare as the solution we need. In response, a signifcant amount of loud clapping erupted from around the room--a gratifying moment! The panelists seemed surprised and continued to be as the comments continued. I believe they expected affirmation, not disagreement, with their plans to address the healthcare problems. I was called upon next, and also expressed my distress with a number of their remarks, noting the lack of medication and mental health coverage with Adult Basic, and the Insurance Commissioners' comments encouraging people to shop for insurance. I disclosed my own difficulty obtaining any other insurance than the Highmark plan I have due to preexisting conditions and cost, noting that 60% of my salary already goes to paying for insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. I further noted that Highmark had cut all of my family's medication coverage and first added, then increased, our deductibles. The Insurance Commissioner later responded back that she did not mean to shop for health insurance, that she meant other type of insurance (not true, given her statements about making sure you have coverage for long-term care, etc.). I also expressed my opinion that Highmark's 2.8 billion dollar surplus exceeded reasonable limits and that the best way to reduce cost was to institute a single-payer system. I stated that at the PIIN event the week before, in front of 700 people, the Governor said he supported a national single-payer system and that he further said he would sign legislation for a state single payer bill if it came to him. I imagine this was news to his staff, though Rosemarie Greco commented that yes, she knows the Governor is supportive of this. Estelle Richman said it would take 7,000, not 700, to push this and that healthcare is not near the top of the list of priorities for the American people. To my shock, she said terrorism is the number one concern of people today, and listed the economy, and other factors before healthcare (which, if my memory serves me correctly, she put at 5th or lower). (Frankly, she sounded an awful like Senator Santorum at this point.) Ginny and I both spoke of our disagreement with this from the audience, but Secretary Richman was adamant. (In my opinion, the War in Iraq is at the top of the list for many, followed by domestic concerns, with healthcare at or near the top of this list). After I spoke, Allen Kukovich, Director of the Governor's Southwest Regional Office, who had been sitting in the front row center of the auditorium, got up, came over to me, gave me his card, and told me to call him so we could meet and talk. (I plan to.) Meanwhile, another person was called upon to speak, and the moderator expressed gratitude for her remark to "change the tone" of the conversation. Rosemary Prostko, also with our group, was called upon towards the end, and commented on the difficulty for consumers in getting information on healthcare costs.

When the event ended and we left the auditorium, the panelists gathered near a small group of us and Rosemarie Greco approached. I spoke with her and recommended they have an advocate for single-payer on their advisory panel. She said that part of the process is over, at which point I asked her if they would continue to have consumer involvement as their shaped their plans. She responded with some hesitation but said yes. I gave her my card, though I don't expect her to contact me.

I have to say that the encounter with these members of the Governor's cabinet was a learning experience. Regardless of whether we have a Democrat or Republican in office, we need to continue to advocate and press for single-payer reform. Currently, the only party that has adopted single-payer reform as part of its platform is the Green Party. So we have our work cut out for us. In many ways, Estelle Richman is right--the more people that come out for single-payer, the more likely we are to get it, and we need to continue to build our numbers. In the meantime, our 300+ people at the Hearing in May, the 700 at PIIN's Public Action this October, and the hard work we have done in between, HAS made a difference. The difference in US Rep. Mike Doyle's statements before the Hearing, at the Hearing, and at the Public Action (as read by his representative), is testimony to that, as well as the growing support from other elected officials and candidates.

My best to you all. Thanks for your patience if you have read this far. Let's hope for good news with this election and continued growth in our movement as we work for single-payer universal healthcare reform!