Are you ready to be bankrupted? Hospitals are big time lobbyist here. Check this out.

Metro Briefs

Council supports bill for universal health care

The Louisville Metro Council this week passed a resolution in support of a national bill calling for universal health care for Americans.

The council endorsed House Resolution 676, introduced by Democratic Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, which would expand Medicare and create a "single-payer" health-care system, publicly financed and privately delivered.

Under the proposal, people would have access regardless of employment, income or health. Each year, the program would set reimbursement rates for health-care providers and negotiate the cost of prescriptions.

Many say the controversial proposal isn't likely to become law. Although opponents agree that the problem of the uninsured must be addressed, they say a national system would drive up taxes, stifle medical innovation and lead to waits for services.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...10/1008/NEWS01

Take a look at what this bill is from Conyers' Website.


The United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676
(“Expanded & Improved Medicare For All”)
*introduced by Reps. John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich, Jim McDermott and Donna Christensen

"National health insurance is not only the best answer,
it is the only answer to eliminating health disparities."
Representative John Conyers, Jr., State of the Black Union 2005

In 2003, Rep. Conyers first introduced HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act. Under HR 676, Medicare would be extended and improved so that all individuals residing in the United States would receive high quality and affordable health care services. They would receive all medically necessary services by the physicians of their choice, with no restrictions on what providers they could visit. If implemented, the United States National Health Insurance Act would cover primary care, dental, mental health, prescription drugs, and long term care.

Brief Summary of HR 676

The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes an American national health insurance program. The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans will have access, guaranteed by law, to the highest quality and most cost effective health care services regardless of their employment, income, or health status.
With over 45-75 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under- insured, the time has come to change our inefficient and costly fragmented non health care system.

Who is Eligible

Every person living in or visiting the United States and the U.S. Territories would receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and ID number once they enroll at the appropriate location. Social Security numbers may not be used when assigning ID cards.
If you can spare an email tell my Louisville Councilman what you think and write your Congress critters for sure.

bob.henderson@louisvilleky.gov