NJSIUC Position Paper
For HR 676 One Plan, One Nation Campaign and
Regarding Health Care for America Now, “The Trojan Horse”
On July 8, 2008, a coalition of organizations called Health Care for America Now (HCAN) announced a campaign for healthcare reform. A spokesperson for the group stated that they plan to run a multi-million dollar ad campaign and will promote affordable health care reform that offers a mix of public funding and private insurance.
The New Jersey State Industrial Union Council (IUC) will not advocate continuing the for-profit system, and allowing the Insurance Companies unabated control and power over the people of New Jersey and this Country. The HCAN coalition is trying to fool many of you who also work with us to promote single payer non-profit health care as embodied in HR 676, The National Insurance legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers. This is not the time to compromise our principles on HR 676, what we all consider to be the Crown Jewel of healthcare plans.
I read Ray stever’s op-ed in the Times of Trenton today, and agree completely. However, I think you fail to address another problem. Physicians today are reimbursed by Medicare at approximately 30% on their charges. If Medicare payments were raised to 75-80% of billing, almost every physician, instead of fighting reform, would sign on the dotted line. The advantages of reduced paper work, decreased personal to handle claims forms, with more money coming back for their work would be a win-win for everyone. Fraser Lewis, M.D.