Podcasts about improved medicare

In honor of more than 200 podcast episodes and the New Year, we're running one of our oldies but goodies about the medical tourism phenomenon - Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way? How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover? Could you save by going to another country for treatment? The skyrocketing cost of care and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad. Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country. That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions? Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

In honor of more than 200 podcast episodes and the New Year, we're running one of our oldies but goodies about the medical tourism phenomenon - Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way? How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover? Could you save by going to another country for treatment? The skyrocketing cost of care and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad. Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country. That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions?

This time on Code WACK!   In honor of more than 200 podcast episodes and the New Year, we're running one of our oldies but goodies about the medical tourism phenomenon -  Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way?  How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover?  Could you save by going to another country for treatment? The skyrocketing cost of care and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad.  Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country. That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions? Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

Carolyn Harding with Bob Krasen, Sandy Bolzenius and Will Perkins, volunteer organizers with the Columbus Community Rights Coalition and Leads on the recently released White Paper Study, The Risks to the Greater Columbus Water Supply from Oil and Gas Production. In retirement, Bob Krasen became an activist for SPAN Ohio in 2006. The organization wants "Health Care for All Ohioans" and/or Enhanced and Improved Medicare for All. He joined the Columbus Community Rights Coalition in 2014 because he figured there was no point in trying to get health care for all, if we were going to be poisoned by our drinking water. We need both clean water and health care for all. Sandy Bolzenius is a local community rights activist, the facilitator for Move to Amend (Central Ohio), an Army veteran, and a former international teacher who has lived in Europe, Africa, and Asia. she holds a doctorate in History from the Ohio State University, and is the author of Glory in Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took on the Army during World War II (University of Illinois Press, 2018). Sandy believes that a just, fully inclusive and sustainable world for all is not only possible, but within our grasp--so long as People (not Big Money) are deciding our public policies. Will Perkins was born and raised in Columbus. He was a member of the first graduating class of Columbus Northland High School and went on to graduate from both Columbus Technical Institute and Ohio Dominican College. He spent his career in printing and graphic arts, ranging from printing press operator to plant manager, and finished his printing career as manager of the in-house printing and mailing operation at Ross Laboratories, a division of Abbott Laboratories. He is realizing a life goal by spending his retirement years involved in community activism with a focus on endeavoring to improve our planet for future generations. In February of 2021 the Columbus Community Rights Coalition (CCRC) reached out to the Columbus Water Department asking for a copy of the Columbus Source Water Protection Plan to review and ascertain whether Columbus was testing for oil & gas production and waste contaminants in the Columbus Metro water supply, serving over 1,200,000 people and 20+ communities. The CCRC White Paper team received only 3 out of the 9 sections of the Columbus Source Water Protection Plan. Undaunted you took on the material provided, researched publications, peer reviewed scientific studies, conferred with water, soil and map scientists, to write, The Risks to the Greater Columbus Water Supply from Oil and Gas Production - White Paper. www.ColumbusBillofRights.org GrassRoot Ohio - Conversations with everyday people working on important issues, here in Columbus and all around Ohio. Every Friday 5:00pm, EST on 94.1FM & streaming worldwide @ WGRN.org, Sundays at 2:00pm EST on 92.7/98.3 FM and streams @ WCRSFM.org, and Sundays at 4:00pm EST, at 107.1 FM, Wheeling/Moundsville WV on WEJP-LP FM. Contact Us if you would like GrassRoot Ohio on your local station. Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/GrassRootOhio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassroot_ohio/ All shows/podcasts archived at SoundCloud! https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../grassroot-ohio/id1522559085 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ/ Intro and Exit music for GrassRoot Ohio is "Resilient" by Rising Appalachia: https://youtu.be/tx17RvPMaQ8 There's a time to listen and learn, a time to organize and strategize, And a time to Stand Up/ Fight Back!

It is well documented how much more cost effective a Medicare for All system would be in the aggregate. But do you want to know how much money per year a Medicare for All system would personally save you? Listen to Dr. James Kahn, explain the calculator he developed to help you figure that out. Plus, we invite Dr. Fred Hyde and healthcare consultant, Kip Sullivan, back to answer the feedback you sent us on the topic of Medicare (dis)Advantage.Dr. James Kahn is an expert in policy modeling in health care, cost-effectiveness analysis, and evidence-based medicine. He is an Emeritus Professor of Health Policy, Epidemiology, and Global Health at the University of California, San Francisco. He is also past president of the California chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. He recently launched the Medicare for All Savings Calculator, which compares what individuals or families currently spend to what they would pay under Improved Medicare for All.If you compare 70% of our healthcare spending to total healthcare spending in any other wealthy country around the world, we're already spending more in public money than any other country spends in total. I like to say we're already paying for universal healthcare, we're just not getting it.Dr. James KahnWhy the American people do not wake up and demand that their members of Congress come to their town meetings back home— run by the people, where they talk all about this health care shenanigans— and send their Senators and Representatives back to Washington with instructions to support the kinds of single-payer that was illustrated in H.R.676 two years ago…HR676 is the gold standard, and it should be reintroduced in the next Congress so that people can rally around it.Ralph NaderDr. Fred Hyde is a consultant to hospitals, medical schools and physicians, as well as to unions, community groups and others interested in the health of hospitals, health care facilities and organizations. Dr. Hyde is also the publisher of a daily health policy newsletter called DCMedical News.A problem aside from the extraordinary cost of our medical care system is its complexity. I'm not surprised that your listeners have questions. I have questions, and I've been in the field fifty years. I teach graduate students in hospital operations and healthcare finance, and, trust me, everyone has questions when it comes to their own coverage… Complexity is itself an issue. And we live in a society where there are a good deal of middlemen who undertake to smooth over the complexity of our society, and make a buck doing so.Dr. Fred HydeKip Sullivan is a Health Care Advisor with Health Care for All Minnesota, and has written several hundred articles on health policy. He is an active member of Physicians for a National Health Program, which advocates for universal, comprehensive single-payer national health insurance.It is impossible to give you a dollars and cents comparison of the costs of Medicare Advantage with either Medicare alone or Medicare with supplemental coverage. And the reason it's impossible is: you don't know what you bought from Medicare Advantage until you need it.Kip Sullivan Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way? How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover? The skyrocketing cost of treatment and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad. While the COVID pandemic slowed international travel, in 2019 nearly 2 million Americans sought health care abroad, a number that is projected to grow. Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country. That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions?

Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way? How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover? The skyrocketing cost of treatment and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad. While the COVID pandemic slowed international travel, in 2019 nearly 2 million Americans sought health care abroad, a number that is projected to grow. Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country. That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions? Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

Need surgery but your $7,000 deductible is in the way?  How about major dental care that your insurance doesn't even begin to adequately cover?  The skyrocketing cost of treatment and rising insurance premiums are driving some Americans to seek affordable health care abroad. While the COVID pandemic slowed international travel, in 2019 nearly 2 million Americans sought health care abroad, a number that is projected to grow. Many medical tourists get high quality, affordable health care abroad. However, some have problems. It's essential to thoroughly research the risks and benefits before pursuing medical care in another country.  That being said, how much could you save? And what's the experience like? To find out, we spoke to Michael Djavahery, a Los Angeles-based life coach, trainer, speaker, author, and master hypnotist. In this episode Michael shares his experiences, including how much money he saved, traveling to the Philippines and Malaysia, to be treated by highly-qualified, internationally accredited doctors and dentists. If the U.S. had Improved Medicare for All, would that have influenced Michael's decisions? Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

Carolyn Harding and today I'm talking with Dr. Alice Faryna and Bob Krasen with SPAN Ohio, an organization working for improved Medicare for All in Ohio! Dr. Alice Faryna, M.D. served in private practice in Marion, OHio, at the Neighborhood Health Center; VA hospitals and in Academic medicine at Wright State University. Her last full time job was as medical director for Part B Medicare in Ohio and West Virginia. That is what convinced her that the Medicare program should be expanded to cover all ages, but with improvements to eliminate co-pays and deductibles which can be done at a cost less that our current privatized system. Bob Krasen is a former clergyman in Cleveland; he worked for non-profits in Columbus, including United Cerebral Palsy; American Red Cross Blood Services; and Vision and Vocational Services; until retirement in 2006. He has been involved in SPAN Ohio ever since, and is now Coordinator in Central Ohio, promoting Medicare for All on the National and State levels. I'm turning 65 in November and since last November I've been getting a lot of mail, emails and texts about Medicare. I'm confused, I assumed Medicare was an automatic enrollment, but I'm hearing it's not that easy. I need help. So let's break this down for everyday folks- and for those of us skeptical of the spin and possible booby traps. How does one best sign up for Medicare? SPANOhio.org GrassRoot Ohio - Conversations with everyday people working on important issues, here in Columbus and all around Ohio. Every Friday 5:00pm, EST on 94.1FM & streaming worldwide @ WGRN.org, Sundays at 2:00pm EST on 92.7/98.3 FM and streams @ WCRSFM.org, and Sundays at 4:00pm EST, at 107.1 FM, Wheeling/Moundsville WV on WEJP-LP FM. Contact Us if you would like GrassRoot Ohio on your local station. Check us out and Like us on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/GrassRootOhio/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassroot_ohio/ If you miss the Friday broadcast, you can find it here: All shows/podcasts archived at SoundCloud! https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753 GrassRoot Ohio is now on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../grassroot-ohio/id1522559085 This GrassRoot Ohio interview can also be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ/ Intro and Exit music for GrassRoot Ohio is "Resilient" by Rising Appalachia: https://youtu.be/tx17RvPMaQ8 There's a time to listen and learn, a time to organize and strategize, And a time to Stand Up/ Fight Back!

What essential coverage could Improved Medicare for All offer seniors that they can't get through Medicare? And what's California up to when it comes to healthcare reform...another commission? Really? Host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), share updates from the Golden State and talk about how we can trigger the political will for change.

What essential coverage could Improved Medicare for All offer seniors that they can't get through Medicare? And what's California up to when it comes to healthcare reform...another commission? Really? Host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), share updates from the Golden State and talk about how we can trigger the political will for change.

What essential coverage could Improved Medicare for All offer seniors that they can't get through original Medicare? And what's California up to when it comes to healthcare reform? Another commission? Really? Host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), share updates from the Golden State and talk about how we can trigger the political will for change. 

New from Code WACK, Making Medicare Even Better? The Promise of Improved Medicare for All by Nurse Talk

What was healthcare like for American seniors before we had Medicare? How has Medicare helped keep retirees out of poverty? What are the gaps in Medicare today and how would Medicare for All be different? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), California's largest, grassroots senior advocacy organization, in a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Medicare as it is today, and what we can do to make it better.

What was health care like for American seniors before we had Medicare? How has Medicare helped keep retirees out of poverty? What are the gaps in Medicare today? How would Medicare for All be different? Join host Brenda Gazzar and Jodi Reid, executive director of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), California's largest, grassroots senior advocacy organization, in a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Medicare as it is today, and what we can do it make it better. 

Air Date 3/23/2021 Today we take a look at the American Rescue Plan and discuss what it does, where it falls short and whether it could signal the end of an era.  Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com  Transcript MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) MERCHANDISE! REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! CHECK OUT OUR BOOKSHOP! EPISODE SPONSORS: Unf*cking the Republic Want to advertise/sponsor the show? Details -> advertisecast.com/BestoftheLeft SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Biden's 'American Rescue Plan' May Ultimately Be Seen as the End of the Reagan Era Part 1 - The Bradcast - Air Date 3-11-21 President Biden today signed his American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID rescue and relief package that history may someday regard as the long-overdue end of the four-decade old Reagan Era. Zero Republicans in the House or Senate voted for it. Ch. 2: In Rejection of Austerity, Democrats Push Forward Landmark $1.9 Trillion Relief Package - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-10-21 We speak with economist Stephanie Kelton, author of "The Deficit Myth," about how the bill could help cut child poverty in half and provide a historic economic boost to the poorest people in the United States. Ch. 3: End of Conservative Era? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 3-15-21 Are we leaving Reagan and Nixon behind for a new FDR era? Is America waking up to the horrors of Reagan and Nixon? Ch. 4: Biden's 'American Rescue Plan' May Ultimately Be Seen as the End of the Reagan Era Part 2 - The Bradcast - Air Date 3-11-21 President Biden today signed his American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID rescue and relief package that history may someday regard as the long-overdue end of the four-decade old Reagan Era. Zero Republicans in the House or Senate voted for it. Ch. 5: Help Is On the Way - OFF-KILTER with Rebecca Vallas - Air Date 3-12-21 To break down the major income-boosting elements in the ARP Act, and a look at what families can expect to receive in economic relief— Seth Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a former advisor to President Obama for tax policy. Ch. 6: The End of Trickle-Down Economics Joe Stiglitz on the "Transformational" $1.9T American Rescue Plan - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-12-21 Biden has signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, Democrats are hailing as the largest anti-poverty bill in a generation. “This is transformational,” says economist Joseph Stiglitz. “It says, 'We are actually going to live up to our aspirations" Ch. 7: What's In Biden's Relief Bill - The Majority Report w Sam Seder - Air Date 3-13-21 Highlighting the change in political philosophy that this relief bill demonstrates as well as understanding the 'stickiness' of good policy that helps people Ch. 8: Prof. Richard Wolff Imagining a Real American Rescue - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 3-11-21 Prof. Richard Wolff explains that this relief bill is not a giant giveaway, it's a small downpayment on returning what is owed to the poor and working classes for the upward redistribution of wealth over the past 50 years Ch. 9: Stimulate This Beyotch - Unf*cking the Republic - Air Date 3-19-21 An analysis of the outcome of the relief bill and what it says about our country's ability to govern itself thoughtfully. And alsop swearing. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 10: No, the relief bill won't cause inflation (with Austan Goolsbee) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 3-9-21 Moderate Democrats and Republicans alike repeated one common criticism—that infusing so much money into the economy would cause inflation. Austan Goolsbee, past Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, explains why those fears are misplaced. Ch. 11: Prof. Richard Wolff Imagining a Real American Rescue Part 2 - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 3-11-21 Prof. Richard Wolff explains concierge doctors and the privatization of everything. VOICEMAILS Ch. 12: Universal earned income benefits - Scott Ch. 13: No Payments to Families with Children - Rich FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 14: Final comments on child welfare programs and perverse incentives EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE The goal is "Improved Medicare for All" and we must keep pushing for it, but if you need help right now, you should know... NY Times: "The American Rescue Plan [...] would increase government subsidies to health insurers for covering recently laid-off workers and those who purchase their own coverage." NY Times: "The first step of the federal upgrade should be ready by April 1: Healthcare.gov, where people sign up for insurance in 36 states, will start showing prices that reflect the new policy." Need Health Insurance? A Guide to New Options Under the Stimulus. (NY Times) Obamacare’s About to Get a Lot More Affordable. These Maps Show How. (NY Times) Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman  MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions): Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr  Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent SHOW IMAGE:  Image Description: In foreground, a gravestone with the words "R.I.P. Reaganism" and in the background, part of a stimulus check from the U.S. Department of Treasury. Credit: Composite design & text by Amanda Hoffman. Grave image (Pixabay), Stimulus check image (Pixabay)   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com SUPPORT THE SHOW Listen Anywhere! Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com ​ ​ ​

This past weekend, new members of Congress voted for the speaker of the House. Given the slim majority of Democrats, progressives urged members of Congress who ran on a platform of Medicare for All to negotiate a floor vote for the Medicare for All bill in exchange for their support for Nancy Pelosi. Given the recession, pandemic, the millions who have lost their health insurance, growing support for Medicare for All and this rare opportunity of holding political power, the floor vote was seen as an important demonstration that progressives in Congress would fight for the people's interests this year. The campaign went by the hashtag #ForceTheVote. I speak with Nick Brana of the Movement for a People's Party about the campaign and next steps to win National Improved Medicare for All. For more information, visit PopularResistance.com.

Dr. Ed Weisbart, pointperson for Physicians for a National Health Plan Missouri talks with Kay Tillow about the need for an Expanded and Improved Medicare for All program in our country.

Mimi Signor, a retired hospital staff nurse at a large urban hospital in St. Louis, Missouri drops by to help us understand single payer healthcare. Mimi has been a member of the Missourians for Single Payer (MOSP) since 1991, and served several roles within MOSP including president. She has organized key leaders in the entire state as MOSP works to educate people about the vital need for Improved Medicare for All and to work for its implementation. She addresses questions like, “What if I like my current insurance-based healthcare?” Or, “Won't hospitals lose money if we implement Medicare for All?” Having been on the front lines of “Single Payer Healthcare” for many years, Mimi has a solid understanding of the issues and shares her valuable insight in this podcast.

Join Nurse Talk Radio and Progressive Voices for a conversation with RN and Co-President of National Nurses United, Deborah Burger. National Nurses United is the largest organization of nurses in the U.S. with over 150,000 members. Deborah shares with us "the 2018 state of the nurses’ union", which includes successful workplace safety and RN to Patient ratios state and national legislation and the way forward to Expanded and Improved Medicare for All.

Laugh, learn and listen to Nurse Talk Radio on Progressive Voices Tune In. You can download the PV APP @www.progressivevoices.com. This week on the show.... Executive Director for Healthcare NOW, Ben Day. Ben talks about the mission of his organization and the national campaign for Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. And our Healthcare in America segment includes a $69 billion-dollar wedding announcement by CVS and Aetna and another outrageous Kaiser Health News bill of the month. All this and more...

Our guest for this podcast is RN and Co-President of National Nurses United, Jean Ross. Jean is a frequent guest on Nurse Talk and in her capacity of Co-President of the nation’s largest organization of nurses, she travels throughout the country and world working on behalf of RN’s and their patients for safer hospitals, safe patient staffing, collective bargaining and Expanded and Improved Medicare for All in the U.S. Jean recently accompanied NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo to the U.K. to visit with Labor Leader Jeremy Corbyn at The World Transformed festival in Liverpool.

The national movement for improved Medicare for All is gaining momentum, which means that we have the real potential to win a national universal public health insurance and means that our opponents will double down on preventing this. We speak with Dr. Carol Paris, outgoing president of Physicians for a National Health Program, about how the single payer healthcare movement has changed in the Trump era and where it needs to go. We also cover recent news, including the successful anti-racist actions in DC, the recent verdict against Monsanto and an update on the UPS worker fight for a contract. Visit www.ClearingtheFOGRadio.org. For a more in-depth discussion of the movement for national Improved Medicare for All and specifics on ways the opponents are fighting back, subscribe to Clearing the FOG on Patreon and receive our bonus show, Thinking it Through. Visit Patreon.com/ClearingtheFOG.

Listen NowAccording to a recent Kaiser/Washington Post survey 59 percent of Americans support Medicare for All (M4A).  Per a March New England Journal of Medicine poll 61 percent of physicians said single payer would make it easier for them to deliver cost-effective, quality health care.   Currently, before the House is legislation titled the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" with over 120 sponsors.  (The legislation has been introduced every session since 2003.)   The House has recently also formed a Medicare for All caucus with 70 Democratic members and if the Democrats win back the House this November they have promised M4A hearings.  The Senate has a parallel bill, the "Medicare for All Act of 2017," currently with 16 cosponsors, several of whom are potential 2020 presidential candidates.  Though there is, again, substantial criticism of M4A, e.g., CMS Administrator, Seema Verma, recently denounced it as "government run socialized health care" (an odd complaint since that is exactly what the current Medicare and Medicaid programs are).  Because of the disruption, dismantling or sabotage of the ACA under the Trump administration and moreover because health care continues to be ever increasingly unaffordable (and bankrupt, the Medicare Part A Trust Fund is now projected to be insolvent in 2026), as is frequently phrased, M4A is, again, on the table. During this 37 minute conversation Professor Friedman provides a general definition of Medicare for All healthcare, how it would be financed and how savings be derived and what amount.  He explains what is current public opinion, what are credible criticisms of M4A and what promising single payer efforts are underway in the states.   Dr. Gerald Friedman is Professor and Undergraduate Program Director of Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  Prior to, he worked as research staff for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.  Professor Friedman is the author of multiple books and articles on labor relations and healthcare economics.  He has been a correspondent to television and media outlets, a consultant to labor unions and has drafted funding plans for campaigns for single payer health insurance in several states including New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oregon and Washington and a federal plan for the US.  He serves on the Board of Advisers to the Business Initiative for Health Policy.  Professor Friedman earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia College and his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

Here's a Nurse Talk Mini Podcast with a business and personal case for Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. Check it out.

This has been a tumultuous time for health care in the United States,. The Affordable Care Act has plateaued in the number of people that it covers, leaving 29 million out altogether and tens of millions more who are under-insured. The Republican's attempt to move our health system further towards privatization flopped due to public pressure. And meanwhile, the house bill HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act is gaining co-sponsors rapidly and Senator Sanders has committed to introducing a companion bill in the Senate. We speak with Dr. Robert Zarr, the past president of Physicians for a National Health Program and a practicing pediatrician about why now is the time for National Improved Medicare for All and what we must do to win. For more information, visit www.ClearingtheFOGRadio.org.

As President Trump and Congress repeal the failing “Affordable Care Act” it becomes even more critical that people organize to make National Improved Medicare for All the only politically viable replacement. To that end, a new coalition called Health Over Profit for Everyone (HOPE) has formed to use all of the tools necessary to finally solve the healthcare crisis in the United States. Our guests are Dr. Carol Paris, the current president of Physicians for a National Health Program, and Russell Mokhiber of Single Payer Action. The four of us were part of the National Mobilization for Healthcare Reform, which organized national days of protest for Medicare for All in 2009-10. For more information, visit www.ClearingtheFOGRadio.org.

We are now 5 years into the national healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act. The deadline for purchasing insurance this year is Feb. 15. Although more people have health insurance, we have not changed the healthcare system in the United States. The same problems of lack of access to care because of cost, medical debt and bankruptcy  and poor health outcomes continue. Dr. Robert Zarr, the new president of Physicians for a National Health Program, joins us to talk about the current healthcare system and the newly introduced HR 676 Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act in Congress that would create a single payer health system. We also speak with Ellen Schwartz of the Vermont Workers Center about their work to push for a universal healthcare system at the state level. For more information, visit www.ClearingtheFOGRadio.org.