SENATOR KUEHL ANNOUNCES INTRODUCTION OF SB 840 (Socialized Medicine for All Californians)

Word and Brown Legislative Alert ^ | 2-24-2005 | Word and Brown Legislative Alert

[Nachum]

At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23, on the South Steps of the California State Capitol, State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-23) announced her introduction of SB 840 the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA) to the California Legislature. Senate Pro Tempore Don Perata has joined as a co-author as have Senator Deborah Ortiz, chair of the Senate Health Committee and Assemblymember Wilma Chan, chair of the Assembly Health Committee who are both principle co-authors. The bill will cover every Californian with comprehensive health insurance and guarantee their right to choose their own physician, while containing healthcare cost inflation. By slashing the administrative costs of health insurance and utilizing California’s purchasing power to buy prescription drugs and medical equipment in bulk, CHIRA will save an estimated $25 billion, in the first year alone, in statewide healthcare spending. Senator Kuehl was joined by principle co-authors, Senator Deborah Ortiz, Chair of the Senate Health Committee and Assemblymember Wilma Chan, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee.

CHIRA is based on a model put forward, in a study released this January, by the Lewin Group, an independent firm with 18 years of experience in healthcare cost analysis. Senator Kuehl, along with State Senate President Pro Tempore, Don Perata, helped to present the report, on January 19, at which time Senator Kuehl pledged to bring legislation based on its findings.

According to the Lewin model, it is possible to insure all state residents with full coverage that includes medical, dental, vision, hospitalization and prescription drug benefits, and that is based on a high standard for quality, by streamlining the process of reimbursement. Means-based premiums, assessed according to income and payroll, would replace all premiums, deductibles, co-pays and out of pocket expenses. The vast majority of individuals, families and businesses that pay for insurance would save money while receiving better coverage. “Everybody knows that healthcare costs are out of control. The system is broken and tinkering won’t fix it,” said Senator Kuehl. “We’re beyond the point of cosmetic surgery. What we need is a cure.”

“Half of the personal bankruptcies in this country are related to medical expenses,” the Senator continued, “and most of the people bankrupted have insurance when they get sick. Californians just can’t rely on their insurance when they get sick or injured. There are too many holes and deductibles in the plans they buy, and if they lose their job, they lose their benefits.”

A new report from Boston University concluded that about 50% of health care spending is wasted on unnecessary clinical and administrative costs, insurance company profits, and excessive pharmaceutical prices in the U.S. Spending on health care now consumes about 15.5% of our nation’s projected economic growth (GDP), yet Americans are not receiving superior health care. “We don’t need to spend more”, stated Senator Kuehl, “we need to be much more efficient with the statewide healthcare budget we already have and now we have the evidence to show that we can do it.”

“With more than 6 million uninsured Californians and health insurance premiums growing at double-digit rates, we must find a way to provide all Californians with affordable and safe health care coverage,” said Senate Health Committee Chair Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento. “I believe Sen. Kuehl’s single-payer legislation provides a sound plan for crafting comprehensive healthcare coverage, especially for the uninsured and those who cannot afford spiraling medical and prescription drug costs.”

Said Assemblymember Chan, “Health care premiums continue to rise; the number of working Californians without health insurance continues to grow. We need a health plan that covers all Californians, promotes quality, preserves choice, and costs less. The California Health Insurance Reliability Act does all that.”

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!!

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Did I hear you say that the co-author of this piece of trash is none other than that veritable CHAMPION of 'Nanny-Government', State Senator Deborah (...I'm from the GOVERNMENT, AND I'm here to "HELP" you...) Ortiz...??? Isn't she the same Ortiz who has brought us so MANY wrong-headed bills, like her thankfully-failed attempt to impose a soda-pop tax to "keep people from getting fat"...???!!!

WHY am I not surprised...???

   
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(Please FReepmail if you want on, or off, this list. I certainly have no desire to increase anyone’s stress-level. Thanks!!!)

[Seadog Bytes]

"What's *just* has been debated for centuries but let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn *belongs* to you – and why?" – Walter Williams

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[Seadog Bytes]

RE: Now its simply a matter of arguing the next expansion of government health care ought to be for "the children."

Let's HOPE not...!!!

"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." – Abraham Lincoln

[SierraWasp]

So... What happens when they run out of OPM, like today's CA!!!

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Confidentially... Then, I suspect, they'll be coming after you and me.

[MeekOneGOP]

..... Deborah (...I'm from the GOVERNMENT, AND I'm here to "HELP" you...) Ortiz...??? Isn't she the same Ortiz who has brought us so MANY wrong-headed bills, like her thankfully-failed attempt to impose a soda-pop tax to "keep people from getting fat"...???!!!

hahahaaaa! What stupidity. That reminds me of this ignoramous Leticia Van de Putte (Van de Puke, Van de Puta?), Texas 'RAT Senator that came up with the idea/bill to check school kids for fat along with testing. The point was to try to reduce obesity.

Here she is, btw:

[MeekOneGOP]

Oh, she's also the Senator that lead the 'RATS that fled Texas to New Mexico during the attempted obstruction of Redistricting here in Texas in 2003. Make the the FAILED attempt!

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Ha, Meek!   I think YOU win this round. (I'll just have to go looking for a less-complimentary pic of OURS!)   All I could find were THESE...

Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles)
 

[Seadog Bytes]

Oh yeah, and here's another pic of our illustrious state Sen.
Deborah ('Bigger-gov't-is-always-better) Ortiz...

[RJL]

SENATOR KUEHL ANNOUNCES INTRODUCTION OF SB 840 (Socialized Medicine for All Californians)

Tennessee was in good financial shape when they passed TennCare.

A few years later IIRC TennCare was taking up 30% of their budget and they had to get rid of it.

California is in debt and overflowing with illegal aliens... Gee, I wonder how this will turn out?

[RJL]

According to the Lewin model, it is possible to insure all state residents with full coverage that includes medical, dental, vision, hospitalization and prescription drug benefits, and that is based on a high standard for quality, by streamlining the process of reimbursement.

I’m always amazed, where does America find people like the folks at Lewin?

With their plan, Lewin could have started their own medical company and almost everyone in California would have voluntarily joined.

Every single person at Lewin would have been far wealthier than Bill Gates and Sam Walton combined, but no, for the good of the public, they chose to only be paid a small amount for their plan and will allow the state of California to take the money and the credit. All hail the Lewin plan!

/Sarcasm

[Former Republican]

This will NEVER happen because there is too much money to be made in the insurance and drug industries. It's so very easy to manipulate the drones into blocking this just by tossing out some buzzwords like Socialized Medicine.

Well I for one don't worry about it. Although I am uninsurable because I take Coumadin I don't worry aboutit. At some point we will reach critical mass and too many people will be uninsured and the system will collapse. THEN you will see this happen.

Conservatives are IN FACT the greatest allies to Single-Payer health care systems. They will oppose ANY reform that could stave off the collapse by calling in Socialized medicine and cry about waiting lists and rationing. (We have that now folks)

The longer you put off even modest reforms means the greater the corrective measures you have to take.

What's the number 45 million unisured Nationally now. Do we go to 55 million 60 million????

And remember about 50% of the population has some form of GOVERNMENT Heathcare NOW. OH MY GOD call FOX News and Rush! Yeah 50% of are either: over 65(medicare), Poor (medicaid/Medical), military, or federal/state employee.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Although I am uninsurable because I take Coumadin I don't worry aboutit. At some point we will reach critical mass and too many people will be uninsured and the system will collapse. THEN you will see this happen.

This is idiotic. Lots of people take Coumadin and get insured (why are you using this old drug anyway - it's gone generic).

The left are the ones trying to give away healthcare to uninsured illegals now. Plus you support the trial lawyers by blocking tort reform. I'll bet you missed the news about Doctors Co. in Texas cutting prices by 14% because of tort reform in that state.

Most of the "facts" in this article are pure baloney. This plan is just another vote-buying attempt from the left.

[dozer7]

??????
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[SweetCaroline]

....sorry, I was bumping where I stopped reading so I could go back!