'Single Payer New York' to be founded on Sept. 13
Albany Catholic
August 6, 2008
ALBANY, N.Y. — On Saturday, Sept. 13, single payer advocates from across New York will meet here to form a new statewide organization. Our aim: to build an unbeatable movement for a single payer public system that would fully fund comprehensive health care, including prescription drugs, for all. We invite all single-payer supporters to join us!
Private insurance has no legitimate role to play in the care of patients. We believe it must be replaced by a public program of health financing. Under a single-payer health care system, we’ll spend our health care dollars on care, not on bureaucratic waste, profit-making and corporate gain.
Our grassroots movement has gained momentum in 2008. Healthcare-NOW and other groups organized a nationwide protest on June 19 in support of single-payer health care. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, the New York State Assembly, and a growing number of unions and central labor bodies have all endorsed H.R. 676, the National Health Insurance Act.
New studies found that a majority of physicians support national health insurance. And there is renewed support for single-payer among important groups like the League of Women Voters, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Presbyterian Church USA.
Looking ahead, health care will continue to be a central issue in the presidential election. And New York State, with a new governor and a changing Senate, has initiated an official evaluation and discussion of proposals for universal health care. Now is the time to strengthen grassroots activism in support of a single national, publicly-financed health care plan.
Already a wide diversity of groups and individuals across New York are working for H.R. 676, and also for a New York state-based single payer system. We have worked together spontaneously, organically, and successfully. We also work with many other groups that promote “universal health care” or “affordable health care,” but not necessarily single payer. We are appreciative of their efforts. But the evidence is convincing that single payer reform is crucial for our state and our nation.
A formal statewide grassroots coalition will allow us to share resources, local news, publications, speakers and more. We have much to learn from one another - and from other successful state-based single payer organizations. Together we can build a vigorous single payer voice in every county in New York State—and, ultimately, a new health care system.
Please join us!
New York State Nurses Association * Mike Keenan, President, Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO * Kathleen Scales, Executive Director, Capital District Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO * Healthcare-NOW * Health Care Work Group of Otsego, Delaware & Chenango Counties * Mark Dunlea, Executive Director, Hunger Action Network of New York State * Tompkins County Health Care Task Force * Senior Legislative Action Committee of Sullivan County * League of Women Voters of Saratoga County * Patricia Friedland, member, Healthcare-NOW * Rev. Cass Shaw, Albany Presbytery * Long Island Coalition for a National Health Plan * Citizens for Universal Healthcare, Kingston * Joel Schwartz, President, CSEA Local 446, Staten Island Council * Christy Staats, Clifton Park Single Payer Committee * Barbara Warren, Executive Director, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition * Jeff Vogel, Delegate Assembly member, 1199 United Healthcare Workers East / SEIU * New York Metro, Syracuse, Capital District, and Finger Lakes chapters of Physicians for a National Health Program * Douglas Delong, MD, Physicians for a National Health Program, Cooperstown * Richard Propp, MD, Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare, Inc. * Doug Bullock, 8^th District Representative, Albany County Legislature * Rochester Interfaith Health Care Coalition * New York Statewide Senior Action
SINGLE PAYER NEW YORK
Founding conference
Albany Medical College
Saturday September 13th
10am to Noon — Healthcare-NOW Roadshow, featuring Donna Smith of “Sicko”
Noon — lunch, please RSVP if you would like a box lunch
1pm to 4pm - organizing and strategy meeting
To join Single Payer New York, and for further details about September
13th, please contact one of the following:
Dr. Andy Coates pnhpcapitaldistrict @gmail.com
Rebecca Elgie healthylink@ earthlink.net
Mark Dunlea dunleamark@aol. com
Courtney Morrow pnhpmetro@nyc. rr.com