SEIU Participates in Congressional Roundtables on Health Care
Sen. Baucus recently held a series of roundtable discussions about health care reform over the last few weeks, and SEIU caregivers and leaders were there.
Two member leaders of SEIU Healthcare - Dr. L. Toni Lewis from New York, and Cathy Stoddart, a registered nurse from Pittsburgh - attended one of the roundtables.
Cathy Stoddart was encouraged by many of the senators' serious commitment to fixing health care:
Senator Menendez rocks! He did not mince words, which I think the American public are tired of. He asked straightforward questions and focused on the fact that the time is now - and that no one assembled was against reforming health care.
Senator Schumer was right on, too. He talked about the playing field for a public health insurance option vs. present private insurance plans. He talked about the lack of trust Americans have in private insurance companies and how they have been the gatekeepers of access to care; they are, in essence, rationing care for my low and middle income patients.
SEIU President Andy Stern also participated in the roundtable that day, and reminded those in attendance that this isn't some abstract debate. The health care crisis is affecting real people, like Pat DeJong from Montana:
Pat and her husband Dan were ranchers, but had a hard time finding affordable coverage, and were uninsured when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000. The medical bills piled up for Pat and Dan, eventually forcing them to sell the land they loved and that had been in Dan's family for generations. Dan succumbed to cancer, and Pat remains uninsured. We can and must do better for hardworking families such as the DeJongs.
He went on to layout our vision of health care reform:
1. Build on what works - but also build new alternatives for a changing economy.
About 160 million Americans get their coverage through their employer and, for many of them, it's a system that works well. But, for many others - especially small businesses, students, and retirees - employer-provided insurance isn't an affordable option. We need a public health insurance option that lowers costs across the board and gives everyone a path to affordable care.
2. Share responsibility for financing health care and promoting good health.
Employers, individuals, and government must all do their part to make sure we have a sustainable and affordable health care system that works for everyone. That included protections and tax credits for small businesses to help them remain competitive.
3. Establish a national standard for meaningful coverage.
Too many Americans find out the hard way that the real limits of their health coverage are buried in the fine print. Exemptions for chronic illnesses or catastrophic circumstances leave them without care when they need it most. Establishing a national standard of meaningful coverage would mean that every American would have the confidence of knowing their insurance affords them their right to adequate care.
4. Long-term services and supports must be covered for those who need them.
The safety net we provide to America's aging and disabled population is weak and full of holes. The very men and women whose hard work and ingenuity built this country deserve meaningful care in the twilight of life. Providing access to affordable care upfront will not only better serve our aging population, it will also save us money in the long run.
It's easy to get lost in the weeds when we start looking at facts and figures and budget outlays. Our health care system is huge, with lots of moving parts. SEIU caregivers and leaders are reminding Congress to think about all the real people whose everyday lives depend on what sort of future we write for health care.
