Gorilla in Waiting Room
I am pleased that Froma Harrop recognized the need to address our health care crisis (“Health Care Reform Must Start Now,” 12/15/08 TPP). I agree that “Now is precisely the time to strike” and “Health care is part and parcel of the economic crisis.” And who could argue with computerizing medical records and managing chronic illnesses?

However, Harrop blatantly ignores the 800-pound gorilla in the room which must be shown the door: health insurance companies. While she stresses that reform must be comprehensive (providing care for all medical necessities), she includes private insurers in the mix. Health insurance companies are a major part of the problem, not part of the solution. Cutting out the unnecessary middleman will eliminate the waste of 20 cents(+) on every health care dollar spent.

We’re all familiar with Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)’s public single-payer bill in Congress, HR 676. It would be fabulous if it had a chance of passing, but with no sponsors in the Senate and President-elect Obama clearly not committed to single-payer reform, its prospects do not look good.

A bright light does appear on the horizon, however. Here in Pennsylvania we have in our state House and Senate bills for a Pa. single-payer approach which will be reintroduced when the new legislature is seated in January. The nonpartisan legislation provides for publicly funded, publicly administered, privately provided comprehensive universal guaranteed health care for all. For about 3% of income from residents and 10% of payroll from employers, the system offers care with no caps, no deductibles, no co-pays and no limitations for preexisting conditions.

It can provide an economic stimulus, as well. Fewer consumer dollars go to health care expenses. Health care expenditures by school districts, municipalities, counties, and the state can be cut in half, saving those entities tons of money while providing comprehensive care to their employees (as well as all Pennsylvanians), lowering their bottom line and the amount of tax dollars they require.

The many supporters of the Pa. Family and Business Health Care Security Act are determined to make it become a reality in 2009. I invite my fellow Pennsylvanians and all other interested parties to join us in this effort. Please visit www.HealthCare4AllPA.org and health care related articles at www.CommonSense2.com to learn more about this lifesaving legislation.

Rosie Skomitz
Reading, Pa.