Coming Events :

PNHPWW April 15th Monthly Meeting
7:30pm, Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus
South East Conference Center, Room C


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April Calendar

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Join the Photo Petition
Let your Representatives and Friends know you believe Health Care is a Human Right!
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State Organizations
advocating for
Health Care
is a Human Right
...
-Health Care is a Human Right - Washington
-Vermont Workers Center
-Health Care for All Oregon
-Maine People's Alliance
-Whole Washington

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Organizations advocating for single payer, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All in Western Washington

-Health Care for All -WA
-United for Single Payer
-Progressive Democrats of America
-Health Care is a Human Right - WA
-United for National HealthCare - Bellingham
-Socialist Alternative
-Washington Community Action Network
-Backbone Campaign
-Whole Washington

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Coalition Partners



Health Care is a Human Right -
Washington

Get Activist's Toolkit


Washington Against Nuclear Weapons

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Information

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Dr. Gerald Friedman's economic analysis of how a state single plan would affect our state


Right click to download Hi-Resolution copy

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New WHST PowerPoint


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It's Time to Add Your Voice

Since 1987, Physicians for a National Health Program has advocated for reform in the U.S. health care system. A large part of our work involves educating health professionals, and others, about the benefits of a single-payer system - including fewer administrative costs and providing comprehensive health insurance for all residents of the United States.

Send Message to Joe Biden to Support Improved Medicare for All

On March 30th, Joe Biden said that Medicare for All has nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. What about the millions who avoid heatlh care due to unaffordable costs (the bail out does not cover costs individuals may have to pay for treatment)? What about the millions losing their employment and employer-sponsored insurance? Not an issue if we all had M4A. You can send a message to Sen. Biden to urge him to reconsider and support improved Medicare for All here - https://go.joebiden.com/page/s/contact-us

PNHPWW's Monthly meetings have been cancelled for the foreseeable future due to the need for social distancing to protect ourselves and our patients. PNHP has a comprehensive web page about the pandemic. Click here to see the latest info.

PNHPWW February 19th Meeting

Big Money Agenda: Democracy on the Brink

Our Monthly Meeting got off to a rocky start with technical glitches - the auditorium audio wasn't working so we used a backup speaker with poor quality. So we don't have a recording or video of the meeting and the ZOOM was hookup poor. Shouldn't happen again - 

Anyway, we showed the movie "Big Money Agenda: Democracy on the Brink" that details why Americans are sicker than they should be, poorer than they ought to be, and less safe than they deserve to be. The documentary explores the effects of money in politics, dark money, Citizens United, the politician/lobbyist revolving door as well as common sense solutions that will get our democracy back on track. It supports limiting political contributions, PACs, and calls for public funding for elections. You can watch it online here -  https://vimeo.com/265697192

After the screening, Cindy Black, Executive Director of "Fix Democracy First," discussed current legislation in the state legislature that will help counteract the effects of money's pollution of politics. You can visit the website to see the excellent work they are doing, sign up for email updates, find out about ways to get involved, as well as contribute (501(c) 3 & 4 (tax-deductable), and become a member.


Recent News
Dale Heisinger, MD, PNHP member, retired pediatrician and Chairman of the San Juan Co. Board of Health, reports the BOH passed a resolution supporting Medicare For All  that was sent to all of our state and federal legislators.

Students for a National Health Program Sign-On Letter request
"SNaHP has written a Letter of Resolution testifying to the physician experience on the front lines our failing medical system and why we view Medicare for All as the sensible solution. We’d like to ask all willing medical students and physicians to sign our Letter of Resolution, which declares Health Care is a Human Right and calls on legislators to act on the demands of their constituents. Using this support we have acquired several meetings with representatives and senators and hope that they will be encouraged to co-sponsor the Medicare for All bills H.R. 1384 or S. 1129. We currently have 840 signatures and have held eight meetings with House members." Click here to link

Past Events:
January 20th - MLK, Jr Birthday Celebration - Garfield High School workshop and march. PNHPWW participated in the workshop on Justice in Health Care and marched with our banner.

Presentations on Improved Medicare for All - Jan 22 to Elizabeth Warren volunteers; Jan 28 - Partners in Health Engage; Feb 7 - Seattle Surgical Society Annual Meeting.

Future Events:
March 18th - PNHPWW Monthly Meeting - Swedish/Cherry Hill, 7:30, SECC, Rm C. Program to be determined.

For the latest news on health reform legislation - check PNHP articles of interest and opinion - or research a topic by clicking on the Google Custom Search image below:

PNHPWW December 18th Meeting - Monthly Report

Updated PNHP Slides for 2019
General Discussion

Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein presented the annual update on their extremely valuable set of health care reform slides at the recent PNHP Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. In our December 18th meeting we took a close look at some of these slides - the ones relating to 1) "Racial Disparities and Immigrant Health" presented by John Kearney, 2) "Un-Insurance and Under- Insurance" by Charles Heaney, and 3) "Traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage" plans by Sherry Weinberg. We all need to have a good understanding of these issues in the coming election year - a time of tremendous opportunity to move forward to Expanded and Improved Medicare for All as championed unwaveringly by Rep. Pramila Jayapal.

You can view and/or download all the slides here (scroll down the page)  

You can watch the meeting on YouTube here - https://youtu.be/HNeBjuBSd78

Recent Opinion on the Public Option:
Nation Magazine features an essay by Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein - "The "public option" on health care is a Poison Pill" - that lays out the facts and reasoning why the public option and the other "Medicare for some" plans that do not eliminate private insurance, as espoused by many of the presidential candidates, will delay us from getting where we need to be = health justice for all.

PNHPWW November 20th Meeting

PNHPWW August 21st Meeting
Union Organizing in Community Clinics - Valentina Warner, MD

PNHPWW June19th Meeting 

How We Win - National Improved Medicare for All

Health over Profits for Everyone (HOPE) describes an in-depth strategy analysis on how the single payer movement can win National Improved Medicare for All (NIMA).
PDF; Word.docx

HOPE recently sent a letter to Rep. Jayapal regarding the need for transparency in updating HR 676 before it is introduced in February.

Medicare for All legislation in the House - HR 676 ("updated" version to be introduced in the 2019 Congress), Senate - S 1804, and "Faux Single Payer legislation." and what would be essential for a state single payer plan::

1. HR 676 vs. S1804 - Analysis and Recommendations
2. Table of side-by-side Comparison of Medicare for All Public Plan Proposals
3. Aligning House And Senate Single-Payer Bills - Removing Medicare's Profiteering Incentives Is Key
4. Essential Elements of State Single Payer
5. Section by Section draft of Updated Medicare for All - Jayapal bill
6. Proposed Top Five Policy Improvements in Updated Medicare for All - Jayapal bill - Chart

Dr. Geyman's books:

Common Sense: US Health Care at a Crossroads in the 2018 Congress (pamphlet_

Crisis in US Health Care: Corporate Power vs. Tho Common Good looks at how, over the last 60 years, our health care system got to be where it is now - how it changed from a system devoted to patient care to one devoted to maximizing revenues.

The Human Face of Obamacare - Promises vs. Reality and What Comes Next shows the human face of the ACA as the stories of real patients and their families best illustrate continuing problems of our health care system. It also shows how many of the promises made by the Obama administration have not been kept. 

How Obamacare is Unsustainable - Why we need a Single-Payer Solution for All Americans documents where the ACA fails and the fix we need.

Health Care Wars - How Market Ideology and Corporate Power Are Killing Amercians examines how our market-based system benefits the 1% at the grave expense and suffering of the 99%.

"Breaking Point - How the Primary Care Crisis Endangers the Lives of Americans" documents the crisis in primary care in the US and what we must do about it.

John's Web Site

	Other News: Still working to make our PNHPWW social media more useful. Please submit/share important info, articles, events to/on our Facebook site - https://www.facebook.com/pnhpww PNHPWW YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx_TkWg9tFnCKGnO9F-iEeQ - Single payer coalitions: 1) HOPE - Health Over Profit for Everyone – http://healthoverprofit.org; Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HealthOverProfit.org/; Twitter - https://twitter.com/H_O_P4E Launched Feb 1st. focused on organizing for national SP legislation HR676. Initiated by Margaret Flowers, Kevin Zeese and others. Website with valuable information about advocacy and events. Holds regular national conference calls at 9 pm Eastern/6 pm Pacific. These calls are open to everyone, but you must register to receive a number. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE CALL. These calls will provide political updates, educate about National Improved Medicare for All, discuss strategy and plan actions to change the political culture in the United States so that NIMA is the only politically viable solution. 2) Campaign for Guaranteed Healthcare - launched on 1-26-17 by Healthcare-Now! – “a fight back coalition that will carry out a nationally-coordinated, large-scale and militant campaign to fight for single-payer healthcare”. https://campaignforguaranteedhealthcare.org Whole Washington is single-payer organization in WA. It is “a grassroots coalition of healthcare professionals, activists and organizers with a common belief that healthcare is a human right, and Washington should be doing more to provide the best level of care to all residents.” It is behind the 2019 Legislation in the Senate - SB 5222. For info - https://wholewashington.org Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WholeWashington/ There are 15 Annual PNHP Meeting slideshows of the plenary presentations and workshops that you can review and use the information for local activities, presentations, LTE’s etc. You can see the list of slideshow topics with links to them by clicking here. Suggested Reading : “Health Reform in the Trump Era: A Big Step Back, But Possibilities for Bigger Steps Forward” – Woolhandler and Himmelstein , Nov 16, 2016. "Fix It: Healthcare at the Tipping Point" This powerful documentary that takes a look at how our health care system is damaging our economy, suffocating our businesses, discouraging physicians, and negatively impacting on the nation's health while remaining unaffordable for a third of US residents. Film producer Richard Master, founder and owner of MCS industries, produced the film. He faces relentless annual cost increases to provide health insurance for his employees. "Fix It" is a result of his journey to find a solution to the dysfunctional US healthcare system. You can watch the full movie for free here Recent Literature of Note 10-Point Plan to Stop Trump and Make Gains in Justice and Equality (word - PDF) - George Lakey Rand Study - "A Comprehensive Assessment of Four Options for Financing Health Care Delivery in Oregon" - PDF Washington Post article by PNHP’s Himmelstein and Woolhandler -  “Repealing the Affordable Care Act will kill more than 43,000 people annually - The impact of Republicans' war on Obamacare is likely to be worse than anyone expects” The Public Option is Back - Don McCanne's Comments - Sept 16, 2016 Structural Racism and Supporting Black Lives — The Role of Health Professionals -  NEJM, October 12, 2016 Affordable Care Act: imploding and beyond repair - John Geyman. MD - The Hill, Oct 21, 2016 Physicians Proposal Released The updated Physicans Proposal was released May 5th via the American Journal of Public Health. Several PNHP leaders were involved in the writing. More than 2,200 physicians have endorsed it so far, including 111 in Washington State. You can download the PNHP press release here The full text is available here and PNHP has released a Summary and Fact Sheet. Students for a National Health Program at University of Washington   Students for a National Health Program at the University of Washington (SNaHP-UW) brings the movement for universal healthcare through a national single-payer system to campus. SNaHP-UW seeks to educate and organize undergraduate and graduate students from health science, law, economics, political science, and beyond to add their voices to the growing chorus of healthcare professionals and students calling for healthcare for all. The chapter's web page describes coming events   Video on Single Payer for Washington State PNHPWW member Mark Hickling has produced a 12 minute video describing the US health care system and those of other developed nations in a down-to-earth way that we can use in our advocacy with friends and family. This video is great for opening a meeting or houseparty. You can watch this on YouTube by clicking here or on the photo. If you'd like a DVD copy ($5 for materials and postage), send a request here. Click to watch new short single payer video for Washington State For the latest news on health reform legislation - check PNHP articles of interest and opinion - or research a topic by clicking on the Google Custom Search image below:     The information You Need to Remain Up-To-Date on Health Care Reform: Sign up for Don McCanne's Quote of the Day For invaluable daily current health care reform information and analysis read PNHP Senior Staff Policy Analyst Don McCanne's Quote of the Day Listserve free subscription http://two.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/quote-of-the-day   Opinion and Information "Fixing Obamacare: Move to Single Payer" - Joe Martin - Seattle Times LTE - 4-2-15 “What Happened in Vermont: Implications of the Pullback from Single Payer” - Steffie Woolhandler, MD, and David Himmelstein, MD, -Jan, 2015 “Lesson On The Struggle For Health Care As A Human Right: What happened in Vermont where a so-called single payer proposal died?”- Margaret Flowers, MD, in Populare Resistance, Jan 2015 Backgrounder on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Healthcare - Margaret Flowers, MD Stephen Kemble, MD - The Business Case for Single Payer - March, 2014 Powerpoint Dr. Arnold Relman, Outspoken Medical Editor, dies at 91" - New York Times obituary Health Care for All Oregon Speakers Resources - Powerpoints, Tips, References, Logistics, Friedman & other videos Why Oncologists Should Support Singe-Payer National Healthy Insurance - Ray E. Dragon, MD and Lawrence H. Einhorn, MD 10 Things Unions Need to Look Out for When Bargaining Under Obamacare - Labor Campaign for Single Payer Healthcare A Perspective on the Relationship between State and National Single Payer Work.doc - Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein- PDF Obstacles to State Based Reform: Vermont - slideshow - Dr. Marvin Malek Immigrants and the Human Right to Health Care - National Economics and Social Rights Initiative People of Color and the Human Right to Health Care - National Economics and Social Rights Initiative Women and the Human Right to Health Care - National Economics and Social Rights Initiative Obamacare and the New Deal - Michael Lind, Comment Don McCanne What Kind of a Problem is the ACA Rollout for Liberalism - Michael Konczal Strategy and Creativity for Grassroots Power (video) - Bill Moyer, Backbone Campaign A close look at ACA Exchanges-Paul Criag Roberts Funding HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act - How we can afford a national single-payer plan - Gerald Friedman, Phd Peter Bohmer's notes on Social Movements - Word.doc - PDF Roadmap to State Single Payer - Public Citizen ACA vs Single Payer - Accessibility, Affordability, Cost Control - PNHPWW Real Danger of Obamacare: Insurance Company Takeover of Medicine - Nomi Prins Some thoughts on What's Ahead - Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein It's Time for Single Payer - Dr. James C. Mitchiner Will Pay for Performance Backfire?; Insights from Behavioral Economics - Woolhandler and Ariely Medicare Overpayments to Private Plans, 1985 - 2012 - Hellander. Woolhandler, Himmelstein The Nuts and Bolts of Medicare Premium Support Proposals - Kaiser Foundation Committee Responsibilities - Health Care for All Oregon Minnesota Single Payer Economic Study - The Lewin Group Funding a National Single-Payer System - Gerald Friedman - Prof Economics, U. of Massachusetts-Amherst "Occupy" and US Health Care - Dr. Mary Obrien The Wyden-Ryan Plan: Deja-vu All Over Again - Uwe Reinhart Sustaining the Movement for the 99% - Steering Committee of the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer A Difficult Pill to Swallow - Margaret Flowers, MD Privatize Medicare? No Thanks! - Dr. James Mitchner Why won't Corporate America Support Single Payer Medicare for All - Mark Dudzic Ryan turns Knife on Medicare, Medicaid - Dr. Margaret Flowers Pay Much Attention to the Insurers Behind the Curtain - Wendell Potter Medicare for All is the Solution - Robert Reich Stop the Bipartisan Assault on Medicare - Support the People - Claudia Chaufan What Happened to Social Justice in Health Care Reform? - Arthur Sutherland
	What You Can Do To Help: *Join the Campaign to Pass HR 676 and HR 1200 by sending an email to pnhp.westernwashington@comcast.net. We'll keep you posted with important updates and actions *Lobby your members of Congress Tell your representatives that you support HR 1384 and that they should too. You can use this email form or - better yet - call their office *Write an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor You can find tips, templates and examples by clicking here *Speak out about the single-payer solution Educate yourself about single-payer using the resources & materials -here and here. Bring materials and talk to your church, labor, community or other group about the singlepayer solution.
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