Healing and Justice: Is Just, Equitable, TRULY Universal Health Care Possible in Pennsylvania?

1. Healing and Justice:Is Just, Equitable, TRULY Universal Health Care Possible in Pennsylvania? June 2008 Adapted from Power Point presentation Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders Health Care Task Force

2. What makes health care an issue for the faith community? • We must be better stewards of our resources • Disparities raise justice issues • Our religious traditions call us to speak out

3. “Crisis? What crisis?” • The latest technology • The best trained doctors • First-rate services Yes, we have cutting edge research and services… FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ACCESS

4. “Yes. There is a crisis!” • We spend more than any other nation • Many people are completely uninsured • Many more are underinsured

5. Many others are just one step away from disaster… • A catastrophic illness • …or an accident • …or disability • …or job loss • …or natural disaster

6. After graduation, Joe stayed in his college town and got a job at a local skateboard shop – but no benefits. He was without medical coverage when he had his skateboarding accident. Joe – a young adult

7. After the divorce, Ellen lost coverage for herself and her baby. The “well-child care” that is so important is not free for the uninsured… let alone if something serious happens to Ellen or Marcus. Ellen – a single mom

8. Domingo has worked in the fields of California for 34 years. He has raised his children and paid his taxes and been a good member of the community. But he has never had health care coverage. Domingo – a farm worker

9. Our system is wasteful of resources • Administrative costs can be up to 30% • Drugs are expensive and overused • Medical technology is not evenly distributed • Preventive care is not promoted • Emergency rooms are used for primary care

10. Rising costs Uncompensated care Providers charge more Insurers charge more Employers shift costs or drop coverage It’s a vicious cycle • Uncompensated care costs more • Government reimbursement is flator declining • More people become uninsured • Providers refuse Medicare/Medicaid patients

11. But just how big is the problem? • 47 million uninsured • Too little care too late • Unpaid medical bills • Uninsured in working families • Significant inefficiencies

12. Our system is broken and needs reform “Who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

13. All creation is sacred As people of faith we believe… God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

14. We are called to love and compassion As people of faith we believe… Justice, and only justice you shall pursue. Deuteronomy 16:20

15. We are called to be good stewards As people of faith we believe… Fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…over every living thing. Genesis 1:28

16. So, we are called to action • Access to appropriate health care for ALL • Responsible stewardship of health care resources

17. What does the religious conscience demand? Justice—coverage that is: • universal • continuous • affordable for individuals and families • affordable and sustainable for society • able to enhance health and well-being by promoting access to high-quality care

18. What does the religious conscience demand? Stewardship • meets the needs of individuals and neighborhoods across our land • not allocated based solely on wealth, population, or other arbitrary determinant

19. What does the religious conscience demand? Safeguards • Health care coverage must be for EVERYONE

20. The time is right for comprehensive, quality, affordable care that is publicly administered and privately delivered… • People who work for a living should be able to take family members to a doctor (not to mention themselves) • No one should have to think twice about changing jobs or starting a business for fear that they can’t get health insurance • No one should pay more or be excluded from coverage for “preexisting conditions”

21. The time is right for comprehensive, quality, affordable care that is publicly administered and privately delivered… • No one should have to worry about loss of savings or bankruptcy because of medical care costs • Doctors and patients should be making decisions about patient care, not insurance companies • Employers should not be forced to eliminate or curtail health care coverage because they have no control over costs

22. There is one proposal in Pennsylvania that will provide coverage for EVERYONE • The Family and Business Health Security Act (SB 300; HB 1660) • a publicly administered system that maintains individual choice of comprehensive, privately delivered, doctor and patient centered, health care

23. Family and Business Health Security Act—Features… • Provides coverage for all Pennsylvanians—independent of age, employment, or preexisting conditions • Requires contributions from all businesses (10% of payroll) and employees (3% of wages) • No deductibles or co-pays • Would cover a comprehensive range of services (preventive, dental, vision, and mental health) • Portable--coverage would follow anywhere in PA with same plan/coverage for all • Administered centrally

24. Family and Business Health Security Act—Features… • Shared responsibility--Funding from businesses and individuals, Medicare, Medicaid, and tobacco taxes • Replaces the current malpractice system • Includes proposal to reduce medical errors • Includes K through 12 health education curriculum • Preserves right of patients to choose doctor • Funds a 21st Century digital record system

25. What Would Adoption of the Family and Business Health Security Act mean? • EVERYONE would have health coverage • EVERYONE would have comprehensive care • Full and unlimited medical, dental, prescriptions, durable medical equipment, home nursing, mental health, vision, substance abuse, hospice, long term care, emergency transport, physical and occupational therapy

26. What Would Adoption of the Family and Business Health Security Act mean? • Greater efficiency • One comprehensive plan reduces billing and collection overhead for insurers, doctors and hospitals • Patients can choose their own doctors • Many “managed care” plans limit choice of doctors and often interfere with the patient-doctor relationship by limiting care options for doctors

27. What Would Adoption of the Family and Business Health Security Act mean? • Employer and employee predictability • Employers could budget knowing exactly what their health care costs would be from year to year • Employees • can change jobs or retire without jeopardizing their own or their family’s health care coverage • no longer need worry about deductibles, co-pays, or payment for denied services

28. The Family and Business Health Security Act shatters the myths about publicly administered health care… • We can’t afford it—but we can’t afford not to have it! • Innovative technologies would be squashed • It’s socialized medicine • Government can’t do anything right

29. Health care reform What will you do? • Health care is everyone’s problem • It is everyone’s sacred obligation • There is something everyone can do to contribute to the solution

30. Participation—resources Pennsylvania Council of Churches www.pachurches.org www.uhcan.org www.faithfulreform.org

31. Participation—resources • National Issues Forum Health Care in America: How Can We Make it More Affordable? (published: 2008) Free Download: www.nifi.org/discussion_guides/ detail.aspx?catID=12&itemID=10587 • Vision & Voice: Faithful Citizens & Health Care Free Download: www.visionandvoice.org

32. Questions and answers