Promoting The Minnesota Health Plan One plan, one payer Guaranteed health care for all Minnesotans

1. PromotingThe Minnesota Health PlanOne plan, one payerGuaranteed health care for all Minnesotans

2. Our Current Systemand The Myths and Facts about Single-Payer and the Minnesota Health Plan

4. Problems with our current system • The system is fragmented and complex • Leading to patchwork health care • Leading to high administrative costs • Staggering costs • Leading to ever-increasing number of uninsured and underinsured people

5. Definitions • Universal health care • Access for all to health care • Doesn’t specify how • Single-Payer System • Publicly-financed, privately owned • Medicare-for-all • A type of national health insurance • Socialized Medicine • Publicly-financed, publicly owned

6. Paths to Universal Health Care • Individual Mandate • Individual is legally required to “own” insurance • Building on the current system, expansion of public and private • Universal access to health insurance • Single Payer • Government-financed health plan for everyone • Reforming the current system • Universal access to health care

7. “Individual Mandate” “Let them buy insurance.”

8. What is health care? • A commodity? • A social good?

9. What IS “single-payer?” • One plan • One payer • For all

10. Single Payer Myths • We can’t afford it • It will be government run • Health care will be rationed!

11. Myth “We can’t afford it” Reality: We cannot afford NOT to do this. Single payer has proven cost controls: • Administrative efficiency • Bulk purchasing of medications and supplies • Budget setting for hospitals and physician fees

12. How would total costs change under a single-payer system? • Savings • Administrative: 10% - 15% • Bulk purchase of drugs and equip: 3% • Increases • Increased utilization: 10-12% • Net change in total spending • Zero

13. Colorado Blue Ribbon Health Care Commission - Aug. ‘07 • Colorado Health Services Single-Payer Program • # uninsured: 0 • Cost: - $1.4 billion (that is SAVINGS!) • A Plan for Covering Colorado (Individual Mandate) • # uninsured: 106,500 • Cost: + $1.3 billion (that is EXTRA cost!)

14. Myth: “Free” health care will break the bank! • Reality: • “Consuming” health care is not like consuming groceries.

15. MYTH“Government is inefficient.” Reality: Government financed Medicare is the most efficiently run health care program in the US.

16. Insurance Overhead International Journal of Health Services 2005; 35(1): 64-90

17. Myth: “My taxes will go through the roof.” Reality: • Taxes already finance 60% of our total health care bill. • For all but the most wealthy, the increase in personal income tax would be more than offset by the elimination of out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles, co-pays, premiums, medications).

18. How much is tax-financed? OECD, 2006 & Health Affairs 2002; 21(4): 99

19. Myth “Quality will suffer” Reality: Government currently funds most breakthrough medical and pharmaceutical research.

21. Myth“Health care will be rationed” Reality: We ration health care more than any other industrialized country.

22. Difficulties getting necessary care

23. What does Paul Krugman, the 2008 Nobel prize - winning economist think? • So what will really happen in American health care? Many people in this field believe that in the end America will end up with national health insurance . . simply because nothing else works. • But things may have to get much worse before reality can break through the combination of powerful interest groups and free-market ideology. • Paul Krugman, New York Review of Books, March 23, 2006

24. “If done right, health care in America could be dramatically better with true single-payer coverage.” -Ben Brewer, WSJ, April 18, 2006 • “[single-payer] is an idea that's so easy to slam politically yet so sensible for business that only Republicans can sell it! …it may take a Republican President to bless the socialization of health spending we need.” • -Matt Miller, Fortune, April 18, 2006 CNBC / MSN Money • “Think, as a small business, how you could benefit from a single-payer system: you wouldn’t lose potential employees to larger firms that offer more attractive health benefits; health insurance costs would cease to be a line item in your budget. A serious illness befalling you or an employee wouldn’t be a company-wide financial crisis. You might even save money.” • -Joseph Antony, CNBC / MSN Money, Winter 2003

25. Unique features of single-payer • Choice of provider • Not linked to employment • Funded based on ability to pay • Huge administrative savings and ongoing cost control • Planning • Publicly accountable

26. State or federal? • State • The Minnesota Health Act • National • The National Health Insurance Act, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All (HR 676)

27. Rep. John Conyers, Rep. Keith Ellison, and John Kolstad, MUHCC, at a Single-Payer Forum

28. 64% of Minnesota PhysiciansFavor Single Payer Survey of MN Physicians 2006 N = 390 Source: Albers J, Oberg C., Hart J, Allison K, Peterson-Lathrop B. MN Medicine 2007;90:36-40

29. Physicians for Single Payer!Minnesota and National

30. The Minnesota Health Actcreates the Minnesota Health Plan • A single-payer plan for the state of Minnesota • SF 118/HF 135 • Sen. Marty, Rep. Bly • 68 Minnesota legislators have signed

31. Minnesota Health Plan • Eligibility- all MN residents • Benefits-comprehensive medical, dental, mental health • Funding-premiums based on ability to pay • Governance- publicly accountable Board

32. Minnesota Health PlanYes, We Can!

33. MN Health Fund • Money In: • Funded by government, businesses, and individuals • Individual premiums based on ability to pay • Money Out: • The Minnesota Health Fund directly pays all providers for services (either fee-for-service or budget)

34. Quality and Planning Minnesota Health Plan • Office of Health Quality and Planning • Ombudsman for Patient Advocacy

35. SF 3780The “health bill” that passed in 2008 • Public health investment (maybe!) • Interoperable medical records and electronic drug prescription program • Health Care Homes (voluntary) • Modest expansion of Minnesota Care • Report Cards for Providers

36. Join!

37. For more information www.gmhcc.org www.mnhealthplan.org www.muhcc.org

38. Thank you to Lisa Nilles MD for developing this presentation