AEA Healthcare Update

May 2008 Update

Support for a single payer system of national health care is gaining momentum throughout the Labor movement. Equity first endorsed the single payer concept - or government provided health insurance - in the early 1990's. Council resolved at that time to "… participate in the formation of a national coalition of labor organizations, health care suppliers and public interests groups…, the goal of which is the adoption and implementation of a single-payer, universal, comprehensive national health care plan."

With the defeat of President Clinton's health care initiative and a period of economic growth in which health care costs remained steady, the call for a single payer plan lost momentum, an interest which is now coming to the forefront again with health care costs rising out of control and over 47 million Americans unable to afford even basic coverage.

Health care advocates and Labor leaders are focusing their attention on House Resolution (HR) 676, Medicare for All, a bill introduced by John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) in 2003. HR 676 would provide universal health coverage by making every American citizen eligible for the Medicare system that is currently only available to people over 65.

None of the major Presidential contenders has endorsed HR676 as yet, but the Bill's supporters are encouraged by the fact that it has been inked by 400 union organizations including 103 Central Labor Councils or area Labor Federations and 33 state AFL-CIOs.

Equity's position in favor of a single payer system is consistent with the aims of HR676 and the Union is examining the Bill. At the same time, the Association is working with sister unions, advocacy groups and Government entities to improve the health care safety net at State and Local levels and supports incremental steps leading to National health care for all.

In the coming months, as the nation draws closer to the Presidential vote, this column will layout the various proposals for single payer and other reform proposals, take a look at each candidates' positions on health care and to report on the membership can help influence the nationwide efforts to reform health care.

April 2008 Update

In March, the Health Care Reform power point presentation was given to the Western Regional Board. The presentation was developed to make the health care debate understandable to the membership at large, demystifying basic terms and concepts predominant in the health care reform discussion.

At press time, the Central Regional Board presentation is scheduled for April 7th with a future date for the Eastern Regional Board still to be confirmed. Over the coming months, staff members, trained in the power point, will travel to liaison cities to give the presentation.

Following the lead of Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont, New Jersey legislators unveiled a proposal in mid-March that will require all residents to have health care coverage within three years. We are researching how this will impact our members who reside in New Jersey.

California School Employees have endorsed HR 676, a single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). HR 676, which has 88 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives in addition to Conyers, has been endorsed by 387 union organizations in 48 states, including 95 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 33 state AFL-CIOs.