Union members, local leaders, residents and hospital workers came out Sunday to show their support for Long Island College Hospital, which is operating under the threat of closure.
Last week, a judge issued a temporary restraining order against the hospital’s operator SUNY Downstate, preventing the closure temporarily. That suit was brought by the nurses and healthcare workers unions, and advocates see momentum going in their favor.
“We’re here to highlight the crisis of medical debt in this country,” explained Elizabeth Oram, a nurse practicing in Chelsea. She and dozens of her medical colleagues participated in the daylong event, called Life or Debt.
White-coated and scrub-wearing professionals gathered in the park and in nearby Judson Memorial Church, offering medical education and advice, and repeating their mantra, “Healthcare is a human right.”
A coalition of groups associated with Occupy Wall Street took to the streets of midtown Manhattan on Thursday evening calling for the abolition of the for-profit health care system in the United States and the creation of a government-run single-payer system.
NY Times –
“For-profit health care does not work,” (Jill Furillo, executive director of the New York State Nurses Association) said. “People in the Assembly listened to us, and so did Gov. Andrew Cuomo.”
Mr. Berger scoffed at that idea and said the governor’s office pushed hard for the measure, dropping it only when the chairman of the Assembly’s Health Committee, Richard N. Gottfried, a Democrat from Manhattan, would not budge.
“Nurses, caregivers and patients should be the ones making decisions about patient care — not hedge funds and private equity investors.” – Anne Bové, a registered nurse at Bellevue Hospital and one of the elected leaders of the New York State Nurses Association
Join us at the next Healthcare-NOW! NYC meeting.
We will be discussing plans for the annual lobby day on Tues. May 21st, gaining endorsements for New York Health, and more!
Healthcare-NOW! NYC Meeting
Thursday, March 28th, 6pm
220 5th Ave, 2nd Floor
Manhattan
Subway: F/M to 23rd St; N/R to 23rd or 28th St
Let us know you’ll be coming at hcn.nyc@gmail.com.
What started as a temporary first aid tent along the Occupy Eugene movement in October 2011 became the Occupy Medical clinic in February 2012.
“What we are trying to do is show Oregonians what it looks like to have single-payer,” she says, a system in which the government pays for all health care costs. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have, how much insurance you have, what your background is, if you need help -you get help. That’s it .”
Join Strike Debt, Healthcare for the 99%, Occupy Town Square, and MANY others on March 23 for a day of free healthcare, radical education and a march to highlight community hospital closings.
In response to our broken and 
bankrupt health care system, Strike Debt’s Rolling Jubilee initiative has just made a big announcement: Strike Debt has bought and abolished $1 Million in medical debt. They are using this “buy” to highlight the profound inhumanity and inequality of our medical payment system and to create a vision of a world where healthcare is truly treated as a right.
@Washington Square Park
9:30am – all day: Free education, legal advice, performances and music
2pm – 5pm – Rally & March to highlight community hospital closings
@Judson Church
9:30am – 1:30pm: Health Fair w/ medical practitioners donating services
5:30pm – 7pm: Continuation of health fair
This action is part of a week of actions all around the country declaring a Healthcare Emergency: It’s a Matter of “Life or Debt”.
Contact: rjaction@strikedebt.org
Hashtags for the action: #lifeordebt #M23 #strikedebt
In Solidarity with Strike Debt & Healthcare for the 99%
THURS, MARCH 21 – It’s time to take our message to the streets –
U.S. Healthcare – It’s a Matter of “Life or Debt”.
Join Strike Debt, Healthcare for the 99% and allies for an important day of action!
4PM – Assemble in Bryant Park
4-5PM – RALLY & Speak-Out
5PM – MARCH!
Facebook Event: Strike Private Health Insurance – March and Rally
Full Sheet Flier, 1/2 Sheet Flier, Spanish Flier
Hashtags for the action:
#lifeordebt #M23 #strikedebt
JOIN US on Saturday, March 23 – Life or Debt: A Day of Free Healthcare & Education
Today, when you buy health insurance, you’re making a bet that doesn’t pay off. And it’s not just a bet with money, it’s a bet with your life. In response to this broken system, Strike Debt’s Rolling Jubilee initiative has taken action: we have purchased and abolished $1 Million of medical debt.
These actions are part of a week of actions all around the country declaring a Healthcare Emergency: It’s a Matter of “Life or Debt”.
Call to action: http://strikedebt.org/lifeordebt
Contact: rjaction@strikedebt.org
Hashtags for the action: #lifeordebt #M23 #strikedebt
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Contact:
Gottfried:
Mischa Sogut, (518) 455-4941, Sogutm@assembly.state.ny.us
Perkins:
Tom Briggs, (518) 455-2441, Tobriggs@nysenate.gov
Universal Health Care for New York Introduced
“New York Health” Single Payer Bill Provides
Comprehensive Coverage Regardless of Income
A plan to provide all New Yorkers with comprehensive health care coverage has been introduced in the State Legislature. “New York Health,” a universal health care bill, replaces insurance company coverage, premiums, co-pays, and limited choices of providers. Instead, it would provide publicly-sponsored coverage with a benefit package more comprehensive than most commercial health plans, with full choices of doctors and other providers. The bill, A.5389/S.2078, was introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried and Senator Bill Perkins and is co-sponsored by 83 other legislators.
Gottfried and Perkins were joined at the Albany press conference today by Laurie Wen, Executive Director, Physicians for a National Health Program–NY Metro; Dr. Paul Sorum, former Chair of the Capital District chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program; Vito Grasso, Executive Vice President of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; Lisa Blodgett, New York State Nurses Association; Doug Bullock, First Vice President of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor; Rev. Frances Rosenau, Associate Minister at the Westminster Presbyterian Church; and Mark Dunlea, co-founder of Single Payer New York and Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of New York State.
New York would be the second state to pass groundbreaking legislation providing for a single-payer health plan. Vermont was the first, in 2011.
“President Obama said, ‘No American should ever spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies.’ But it shouldn’t be just our golden years,” said Assembly Member Gottfried.
“Healthcare should be about health, not profit. I applaud Assemblyman Gottfried for recognizing this as the lead sponsor of the single payer bills over the years along with my former colleague Tom Duane, who previously carried this important legislation and recommended that I continue to sponsor it. For some this may be a new issue, but this idea has been around for years and its time has more than come,” said Senator Perkins.
No one would have to give up their preferred doctors or other providers. Instead of individuals and employers paying high premiums, deductibles and co-pays, the coverage would be funded through a graduated tax on income, based on ability to pay. New Yorkers would be covered for all medically necessary services including primary, preventive, and specialist care; hospital; mental health; reproductive health; dental; vision; prescription drug; and medical supply costs.
“Health care should be a right, not a privilege. Coverage should be driven by the needs of patients, not insurance companies and stockholders,” Assembly Member Gottfried said. “You and your doctor work to keep you healthy. New York Health will pay the bill.”
“I have always advocated that your health is your wealth. Affordable health care demands broad bipartisan support. I’m proud to sponsor this important bill and look forward to working with my colleagues and the governor to see it become law,” Senator Perkins added.
For most people, New York Health will represent a net income savings compared to the current, regressive system of insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
Single payer models have dramatically lower administrative costs than private insurance. In 2009, the New York State Department of Health and Insurance Department found that a single-payer system would provide universal coverage at a lower total cost than plans relying on private, employer-based coverage.[1]
* * * * * * *
“With single payer, New York manufacturing would be more competitive with the western European countries and Canada that have had universal health care for decades. Single payer would be a big boost for unleashing creativity and entrepreneurship by permitting bright young students to start their own businesses without having to choose work in particular industries simply for health insurance.” –Wayne Bayer, Public Employees Federation Executive Board Member and Delegate to the Albany and Troy Labor Councils
“Right now, five New Yorkers die every day due to lack of health care, and many go bankrupt from medical bills. That is unacceptable and inhumane. A universal, publicly financed health care system would save lives AND money. It’s a win-win situation for patients, physicians, and our economy.” –Laurie Wen, Executive Director, Physicians for a National Health Program – NY Metro
“High health care bills are one of the main reasons that 3 million New Yorkers have to use emergency food programs annually. Unfortunately, the new Federal health insurance mandate will still leave many New Yorkers without access to affordable, quality care. We need a state single payer health care bill to make sure everyone is covered.” –Mark Dunlea, co-founder of Single Payer New York and Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of New York State
“A single payer system is the only reform that will actually address the enormous cost of redundant administrative requirements by providing one uniform public plan offering the same level of quality care for all New Yorkers. It also includes a collective bargaining component to empower physicians to better advocate for patient safeguards and ensure that there is deference to clinical decision making by physicians.” –Vito Grasso, Executive Vice President of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians
“What physicians want, above all, is to provide all our patients regardless of their insurance with the health care we and they think they need. Please, New York State legislators, adopt this bill and allow us to take care of our patients rather than their insurance companies.” –Dr. Paul Sorum, former Chair of the Capital District chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program
Join Strike Debt for a Week of Action to Declare a Healthcare Emergency: It’s a Matter of “Life or Debt”
March 16-23
In the U.S., healthcare is a bankrupt system run on debt:
These debts are literally killing patients, students, providers and communities. They deepen the already entrenched inequalities that divide races, classes, and genders. Our healthcare system doesn’t make us well; it prolongs our illnesses in the name of profit.
In reaction to this system, Strike Debt’s Rolling Jubilee initiative will make a big announcement in March. We have bought and abolished a large amount of medical debt. Though this will provide real relief to thousands of people who need it, it is only crumbs in light of the 70 million who still owe money on medical bills.
We want to use the attention this debt buy will generate to highlight the profound inhumanity and inequality of our medical payment system and to create a vision of a world where healthcare is truly treated as a right. We demand the cancellation of all medical debts and a radically transformed healthcare system based on everybody’s need for wellness – not just the 1%’s desire for wealth.
Strike Debt is calling for a week of education and organizing culminating in a day of action in New York City on Sat, March 23.
If you’ll be in New York, save the date. Stay tuned for updates.
If you won’t be in New York, join us in bringing this action everywhere! Wherever you are:
Some helpful slogans and messages:
Hashtags for the action: #lifeordebt #M23 #strikedebt
Contact: rjaction@strikedebt.org
