Comments for The Social Medicine Portal http://www.socialmedicine.org An Alternative to Corporate Health Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:23:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on MASSACHUSETTS: Doing the same thing and expecting different results by Sophia Constantino http://www.socialmedicine.org/2010/02/26/uncategorized/massachusetts-doing-the-same-thing-and-expecting-different-results/comment-page-1/#comment-6341 Sophia Constantino Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:23:10 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=4138#comment-6341 Thank you Dr. Fox for your comments. The data I have used for the blog, however, paints a different picture in terms of satisfaction with the Massachusetts plan than the one you suggest. I invite you to look at the sources linked in my blog for evidence that many residents are very unhappy, because the plan, while working for the relatively healthy and employed, sorely fails the sick, the lower-income, and those thrown to the ‘individual market’. I am sure you will agree that the measure of successful reform is not whether it works for those who do not need the system or are better off, but for those who need it and may be in vulnerable positions. Also, the sources I cite also indicate that the proponents of the Massachusetts plan decided, unwisely in the opinion of many, including mine, to leave the issue of cost control for “later”. As a result of this, the state promised more than what it could actually achieve, and as costs of health care continue to rise, because the profit motive in the sale of insurance policies was let untouched, the system has reduced services, enrollment, and subsidies. As an aside, I am not surprised that The New York Times and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation support the Massachusets plan, as they have been supporting the Democrats’ plan, which includes a mandate and is essentially a “clone” of Massachusetts. But a universal obligation to purchase a for-profit policy is not a universal right to health care, by a long shot. And I have yet to see a single policy reason why these prestigious institutions dismiss a single-payer system. As for Single Payer, my hope lies in the power of the people, in their capacity to create a movement similar to the civil rights movement to enact REAL change in health policy. Thank you Dr. Fox for your comments. The data I have used for the blog, however, paints a different picture in terms of satisfaction with the Massachusetts plan than the one you suggest. I invite you to look at the sources linked in my blog for evidence that many residents are very unhappy, because the plan, while working for the relatively healthy and employed, sorely fails the sick, the lower-income, and those thrown to the ‘individual market’. I am sure you will agree that the measure of successful reform is not whether it works for those who do not need the system or are better off, but for those who need it and may be in vulnerable positions.

Also, the sources I cite also indicate that the proponents of the Massachusetts plan decided, unwisely in the opinion of many, including mine, to leave the issue of cost control for “later”. As a result of this, the state promised more than what it could actually achieve, and as costs of health care continue to rise, because the profit motive in the sale of insurance policies was let untouched, the system has reduced services, enrollment, and subsidies.

As an aside, I am not surprised that The New York Times and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation support the Massachusets plan, as they have been supporting the Democrats’ plan, which includes a mandate and is essentially a “clone” of Massachusetts. But a universal obligation to purchase a for-profit policy is not a universal right to health care, by a long shot. And I have yet to see a single policy reason why these prestigious institutions dismiss a single-payer system.

As for Single Payer, my hope lies in the power of the people, in their capacity to create a movement similar to the civil rights movement to enact REAL change in health policy.

]]> Comment on Herndon Alliance’s misleading messaging leads to failure of health care reform by Laura http://www.socialmedicine.org/2009/08/24/health-activism/herndon-alliances-misleading-messaging-leads-to-failure-of-health-care-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-6334 Laura Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:29:24 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=3414#comment-6334 Alex, The current bills aren't real change, and Democrats aren't the left. Scott Brown's election is just another excuse for them to pass something acceptable to their big donors and future employers, rather than what people really want and what would really work to solve the health and health care problems we have. Alex,
The current bills aren’t real change, and Democrats aren’t the left. Scott Brown’s election is just another excuse for them to pass something acceptable to their big donors and future employers, rather than what people really want and what would really work to solve the health and health care problems we have.

]]> Comment on Herndon Alliance’s misleading messaging leads to failure of health care reform by alex http://www.socialmedicine.org/2009/08/24/health-activism/herndon-alliances-misleading-messaging-leads-to-failure-of-health-care-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-6329 alex Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:27:27 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=3414#comment-6329 i came across this older post while searching for the Herndon Alliance, actually, so Laura, you should be proud that your counterpoint rates so highly. but i also see it now, from the prism s/p Scott Brown's election, where the prospects for _any_ reform are precarious, as emblematic of how the left's lack of discipline and eagerness to find fault is short-circuiting our ability to make real change that makes a lasting difference in people's lives. we see it still now, where passionate House members have signed a letter vowing to oppose any bill that doesn't contain a public option; this might be ok if we had a unicameral legislature, but to me, again, just signals how the left has this talent for forming a circle and pointing our guns at one other, in a kind of protracted standoff scene from a Quentin Tarantino film. only the victims are real. i came across this older post while searching for the Herndon Alliance, actually, so Laura, you should be proud that your counterpoint rates so highly. but i also see it now, from the prism s/p Scott Brown’s election, where the prospects for _any_ reform are precarious, as emblematic of how the left’s lack of discipline and eagerness to find fault is short-circuiting our ability to make real change that makes a lasting difference in people’s lives.

we see it still now, where passionate House members have signed a letter vowing to oppose any bill that doesn’t contain a public option; this might be ok if we had a unicameral legislature, but to me, again, just signals how the left has this talent for forming a circle and pointing our guns at one other, in a kind of protracted standoff scene from a Quentin Tarantino film.

only the victims are real.

]]> Comment on Former WHO Director Halfdan Mahler on Alma Ata, May 2008 by Prof. Dr. Rashid Iqbal http://www.socialmedicine.org/2008/06/11/globalization-and-health/former-who-director-halfdan-mahler-on-alma-ata-phc-may-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-6317 Prof. Dr. Rashid Iqbal Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:22:47 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=90#comment-6317 I have been teaching Community medicine for the last 20 years and I have always been baffled why such a big conference's deliberations have not been implemented in letter and spirit. Dr. Mahler candidly explained that it degenerated in the same strereo type fashion as most of the other conferences are disintegrated and brushed under the carpet by callous and inhuman political leaders and other decision makers. Rashid Iqbal MPH&TH(Tulane University, USA) Chairman of Community Health Sciences Khyber Girls Medical college, Peshawar. Pakistan I have been teaching Community medicine for the last 20 years and I have always been baffled why such a big conference’s deliberations have not been implemented in letter and spirit. Dr. Mahler candidly explained that it degenerated in the same strereo type fashion as most of the other conferences are disintegrated and brushed under the carpet by callous and inhuman political leaders and other decision makers.

Rashid Iqbal
MPH&TH(Tulane University, USA)
Chairman of Community Health Sciences
Khyber Girls Medical college,
Peshawar. Pakistan

]]> Comment on MASSACHUSETTS: Doing the same thing and expecting different results by Aaron Fox, MD http://www.socialmedicine.org/2010/02/26/uncategorized/massachusetts-doing-the-same-thing-and-expecting-different-results/comment-page-1/#comment-6314 Aaron Fox, MD Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:44:06 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=4138#comment-6314 The Massachusetts election was not a referendum on mandates. There are vocal opponents to Massachusetts' mandate based "universal coverage," but the program is popular and people seem to be satisfied. To me, the election indicates that voters won't "pay" for something that they perceive will be of no benefit to them. Sad, but this seems to be the case. Single payer is a good plan, the volumes of research and powerful talking points speak for themselves, but what is the strategy for enacting it in the United States (especially when voters in a liberal state are voting Republican)? From the NYT on Jan 26th: A poll taken in Massachusetts after the election by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health found that a surprising 68 percent of those who had voted said that they supported their own state’s plan, including slightly more than half of those who had voted for Mr. Brown. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/opinion/26tues1.html The Massachusetts election was not a referendum on mandates. There are vocal opponents to Massachusetts’ mandate based “universal coverage,” but the program is popular and people seem to be satisfied. To me, the election indicates that voters won’t “pay” for something that they perceive will be of no benefit to them. Sad, but this seems to be the case. Single payer is a good plan, the volumes of research and powerful talking points speak for themselves, but what is the strategy for enacting it in the United States (especially when voters in a liberal state are voting Republican)?

From the NYT on Jan 26th:

A poll taken in Massachusetts after the election by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health found that a surprising 68 percent of those who had voted said that they supported their own state’s plan, including slightly more than half of those who had voted for Mr. Brown.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/opinion/26tues1.html

]]> Comment on How US students can get a free medical education in Cuba by bronxdoc http://www.socialmedicine.org/2008/03/23/how-to/how-us-students-can-get-a-free-medical-education-in-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-6295 bronxdoc Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:40:25 +0000 http://socialmedicine.org/?p=20#comment-6295 Dear John David, Thanks for your inquiry. There are no free medical schools in the US (although some of us think there should be). This posting is about a program for US students to study medicine under scholarship from the Cuban government in Cuba. If you are interested in this Cuban program, I would suggest you contact the Cuban mission in South Africa. Best regards, Matt Anderson Dear John David,

Thanks for your inquiry. There are no free medical schools in the US (although some of us think there should be).

This posting is about a program for US students to study medicine under scholarship from the Cuban government in Cuba. If you are interested in this Cuban program, I would suggest you contact the Cuban mission in South Africa.

Best regards, Matt Anderson

]]> Comment on The White House does not answer letters on Single Payer by Activist Wednesday: The Assumption of Bad Intentions « The Widdershins http://www.socialmedicine.org/2010/02/18/health-activism/the-white-house-does-not-answer-letters-on-single-payer/comment-page-1/#comment-6291 Activist Wednesday: The Assumption of Bad Intentions « The Widdershins Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:45:57 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=4153#comment-6291 [...] work and will have to depend on you!) Not so shockingly, Physicians for a National Health Program have not been invited, and neither have some Congressional single-payer advocates. But “progressive” [...] [...] work and will have to depend on you!) Not so shockingly, Physicians for a National Health Program have not been invited, and neither have some Congressional single-payer advocates. But “progressive” [...]

]]> Comment on “There is still time for real reform, Mr. President”: An Open Letter to President Obama on Health Care Reform by William Dakins http://www.socialmedicine.org/2010/01/28/us-health-care/there-is-still-time-for-real-reform-mr-president-an-open-letter-to-president-obama-on-health-care-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-6290 William Dakins Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:09:35 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=4115#comment-6290 STOP socialized medicine. Fix security and medicare Stop taking money from them to supplant Private saving,insurance co,pension funds. SSI and Medicare works repair it fix the holes stop the greed. STOP socialized medicine. Fix security and medicare Stop taking money from them to supplant Private saving,insurance co,pension funds.
SSI and Medicare works repair it fix the holes stop the greed.

]]> Comment on How US students can get a free medical education in Cuba by VERVOORN JOHN DAVID http://www.socialmedicine.org/2008/03/23/how-to/how-us-students-can-get-a-free-medical-education-in-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-6287 VERVOORN JOHN DAVID Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:47:23 +0000 http://socialmedicine.org/?p=20#comment-6287 am a student in University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Am offering Bsc. Human BIology. I want to no if i can get admission into any of your medical school for free or not and if yes what are the requirement that i should meet, since am not U.S. student. am also if you can send me news items of your medical schools day by day am a student in University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Am offering Bsc. Human BIology. I want to no if i can get admission into any of your medical school for free or not and if yes what are the requirement that i should meet, since am not U.S. student. am also if you can send me news items of your medical schools day by day

]]> Comment on Private health insurers concerned about the “stability” of the “private marketplace” in health care by Claudia Chaufan http://www.socialmedicine.org/2009/03/12/health-activism/private-health-insurers-concerned-about-the-stability-of-the-private-marketplace-in-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-6285 Claudia Chaufan Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:56:25 +0000 http://www.socialmedicine.org/?p=2194#comment-6285 Do you have Medicare or know anybody who does? Do you have Medicare or know anybody who does?

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