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Pennsylvania Looks at Universal Health Care. Scott L. Tyson M.D. Pediatrics South Pennsylvania House of Representatives February 27, 2007. Universal Health Care means 100%. Incremental steps - who do we leave out and why? Giant step - leave no one out, but do we have the political will?.
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Pennsylvania Looks at Universal Health Care Scott L. Tyson M.D. Pediatrics South Pennsylvania House of Representatives February 27, 2007
Universal Health Care means 100% • Incremental steps - who do we leave out and why? • Giant step - leave no one out, but do we have the political will?
Different approaches to Universal Health Care • Employer based - pay or play? • Individual mandates - those who can afford private insurance must buy insurance • Public financing (single payer)
How Should We Decide? • Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Pennsylvanians • Getting Value for our Money • Framework for Lasting fix • Predictable Costs • Easy to Understand
Private Insurers? • Include them? • Major middleman in health care financing • Multiple payers, increased bureaucracy • 15-25% administrative overhead • Exclude them? • Major administrative savings • Bulk purchasing • Stronger cost control • Universal coverage
Do you think it's the government's responsibility to make sure that everyone in the United States has adequate health-care? Quinnipiac University Poll, Feb. 22, 2007
Are you willing to pay more in federal taxes to provide health care to all Americans? Quinnipiac University Poll, Feb. 22, 2007
GM retiree cost is $60 Billion! Source: Wall St. Journal, March 11, 2004
GM Lays Off 30,000 Source: NY Times, Nov. 21, 2005
Ford Cuts 25,000 Jobs Source: USA Today, Jan 2006
Chrysler is in trouble due to health care • Chrysler faces $21.1 billion in future retiree health care liabilities . . . and the majority of the obligation is not funded. The massive liability is one of the key hurdles DaimlerChrysler is seen facing as it tries to sell its US unit. Wall St. Journal, Feb 26, 2007
Financial Accounting Standards Board Rule #158 • Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans • Requiring an employer to recognize the … status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position . . . • Starts Dec. 15, 2006
Standard and Poor 500 have $321 Billion Health Care Liability! Source: Wall St. Journal, June 6, 2006
$1 Trillion Public Retiree Obligation Source: USA Today, May 18, 2006, Reuters June 13, 2006
Gov’t Sticker Shock-$600 Billion to $1.3 Trillion Wall St. Journal, Nov. 9, 2006 Source: WSJ, Nov. 9, 2006
Only 100% Universal Health Care • Discounts future health care costs • Dramatically eliminates retiree health liability on balance sheet
Allegheny County vs. Quebec malpractice premiums, 2004 Source: PA Medical Society, Canadian Medical Protective Assoc, US Dollars, 2004
Allegheny County vs. Quebec by high malpractice specialties, 2004 Source: PA Medical Society, Canadian Medical Protective Assoc, US Dollars, 2004
Possible Reasons for Less Malpractice Fees in Canada • Access to preventative services for all • Under universal coverage, all future health care costs covered by health care system
12 Phila. hospitals have closed from 1994-2003 Source: Delaware Valley Healthcare Council
Despite a Full Hospital . . . . Phila Inquirer, Feb. 17, 2007
We Have A Health Crisis in Pennsylvania • 900,000 - 1.3 million uninsured • More Hospital Closures • Inadequate SCHIP funding • Impending retiree health benefit crisis • Inadequate funding of public health workforce
Independent analysis for California shows single payer saves billions $8 billion Lewin Group, Jan. 19, 2005
Independent analysis for Conn. shows single payer saves $500 million, adds 6-11,000 more jobs Universal Health Care Foundation of Conn., Jan. 30, 2007
Independent analysis of single payer for America would save a trillion dollars! National Coalition on Health Care, Aug 1, 2005
Single Payer Health Insurance • Universal Health Care • Saves the most money • Fixes Distortions in Health Care Financing • Solves the Malpractice Crisis • Quality is Directly Proportional to Funding
Government is the “swing” vote Business People Government