Physicians' Report on the State of America's Health

Barak Obama announced in 2003 that he was for comprehensive, single payer healthcare to replace the current insurance company-driven model. However, from the time he began his run for president to now, he has reported favoring unspecified reforms to the current model, which his spokespeople report could insure more people at lower cost. Currently, the U.S. is far and away the number one nation in healthcare spending per capital at an unprecidented 20% of GNP, while ranked 36th in overall quality by the World Health Organizations. Single Payer activists, myself included, don't think this type of reform can possibly work to make healthcare accessible and affordable. I've heard reports that about half the bankrupcies and mortgage foreclosures nationwide have come after large medical bills, despite the majority of these people having healthcare policies.

So the push for Single Payer needs to start hard and fast now without any "grace periods" to cheerlead Obama or wait for him to do on his own what is right. State-level reform could eventually ease annual budget problems by lowering overall costs and improving access. State Senator Mark Leno will re-introduce SB840 - twice vetoed by Governor Schwartzenegar - this Winter. The federal bill is HR676, I believe put forward by Representative Dennis Kucinich within the past year. A recent survey reports about 60% of physicians and 70% of the general public curently supporting this type of national reform, figures which continue to rise.

In the first MP3, Dr. Richard Quint, a staunch supporter, comments on the political steps being taken by physicians to put forward these bills. then, Dr. Hank Abrons, a retired internal medicine physican details the political support around the bills. (10:47)