Dear Health Care Activists,

The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:

Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.

(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave). (Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month). 

Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for all MN and U.S.

Suggested items (yours' are welcome): 

-Welcome, intros, 

-Orientation, background

---

To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
From: joel@...
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 11:01:56 -0800
Subject: Fwd: [uhcan-mn] mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM

Note: forwarded message attached.

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
From: joel@...
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 11:08:00 -0600
Subject: [uhcan-mn] mtg,Mon,Jan7,7PM

Dear Health Care Activists,

The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:

Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.

(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave). (Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month). 

Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for all MN and U.S.

Suggested items (yours' are welcome): 

-Welcome, intros, 

-Orientation, background

       -MLK Day Jan 21
       -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum last month)
       -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network       

       -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
       Reportbacks:

       -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach

-MN Health Fund 

       -Personal Stories Project

See you there, bring a friend

joel

Please spread the word.

Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota

5th Annual Founders’ Day

Joel,

I will plan to show up tonight. I will let you know that I am not sure what
my availiability will be this Srping as I am in the last semester of my MPH
degree at the U.

Thanks,

Andrew Magill


On Jan 7 2008, Joel Albers wrote:

>Dear Health Care Activists,
>
>The next UHCAN-MN organizing meeting is:
>
>Monday, January 7, 7PM, Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Mpls.
>
>(Walker Church is 1 block from Lake Street and Bloomington Ave).
>(Note:  regularly scheduled  mtgs are now first Monday of each month).
>
>Bring your thoughts, ideas, actions for building the Movement for
>Health Care as a Human Right, a government funded single-payer for
>all MN and U.S.
>
>Suggested items (yours' are welcome):
>
>-Welcome, intros,
>-Orientation, background
>        -MLK Day Jan 21
>        -Building a grassroots media campaign (f/u from our Forum
>last month)
>        -Building the grassroots, labor, practitioner group etc network
>        -Legislation:MN Legislative session begins Feb
>        Reportbacks:
>        -Mobile Community Health Screenings/ Ed. Outreach
>        -MN Health Fund
>        -Personal Stories Project
>
>
>See you there, bring a friend
>joel
>
>

Joel,

Do you have copies of past press releases or letters to the editor which
UCA_MN has done to send me? Also as we discussed, if you can briefly
outline some major points that you would want containted in an MLK press
release or letter and email me I will get to work on that.

How far in advance should these be submitted?

Andrew Magill



On Jan 8 2008, Joel Albers wrote:

>Maura Lerner's front page article (State has healthiest hearts in the
>nation,Star Tribune, Sunday,Jan 6, 2008) states "Minnesota's progress
>outshines the rest of the country" . This refers to the American
>Heart Association's 2008 national report, in which Minnesota had the
>lowest rate of death from coronary heart disease in the U.S.: 90 per
>100,000 population, compared with the U.S. national average of 150 in
>2004. The credit for this is attributed to " healthy living and a top-
>rate medical system". It is important to note that Minnesota's
>coronary heart disease death rate is significantly higher than the
>national average of countries such as: France, Japan, Italy, and
>Spain (OECD data). The same can be said of Minnesota's infant
>mortality rate, which is higher than 29 other countries (OECD data),
>and other measures of health. All of these countries have implemented
>government-funded universal health care systems.
>
>
>Joel Albers
>Clinical Pharmacist, Health Economics Researcher
>Universal Health Care Action Network - MN
>Community/University Collaborative Research
>www.uhcan-mn.org
>email: joel@...
>phone: 612-384-0973
>address: 1520 10th ave South #2
>            Mpls, MN, 55404
>
>
>

Note: forwarded message attached.



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm
United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.
According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study’s authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.
A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.
Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.

Anyone care to comment on this article?

I care to comment..

Major thematic problems in the article:

1. They refer to people who actually are uninsured as being insured, e.g. currently uninsured who will be insured--on avg.--within 4 months.
2. Pedantic word games about use of the word “American,” "insured/uninsured."

 “Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions. Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million.”

That 45% figure might be distorted by the use of the “after job transitions” criterion. It might mean that the number of uninsured considered relates only to those who had and then lost job-related insurance. 45% sounds high anyways, and I suspect that there are some shenanigans at play regarding the “job” factor. I’ll assume that the figures are true (though I don’t think they are).

The 48 million uninsured statistic is a point in time measure. The number 48 million is consistent (roughly) from day to day, week to week, month to month within one year. That’s factored in the accounting to avoid reflecting an outlier figure at some point.

Taking at face value 45% of those uninsured are insured within 4 months, also means that as many—roughly—have become uninsured in that time period to equal—roughly—48 million uninsured at any given point in time. Question to the author Julia A. Seymour: Do those 45% have health insurance at the given point in time of the study or not? Author, yes those 45% are uninsured at the point in time of the measurement. Another way of looking at the uninsured is to measure how many are uninsured at some point in a given period of time, e.g. one year, two years, etc. I can’t remember if the time frame is 1 or 2 years, but the figure is roughly 80 million.

“The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance. Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.”

This is pedantry over use of “American.” The categories of people included in the 48 million aren’t merely included in the formal definition of  “American citizens.” It means—in linguistic minefields—residents and non-resident residents, those who live here, stay here for some semi-permanent period of time, i.e., not including tourists, whatever. People who have a “geographic existence” in America. Bogus jr. high word games. Everyone uses the word “American” all the time to refer to more than American “citizens” in multiple contexts when they really mean “American geographic existence.” Please. Question to author Julia A. Seymour: Do those 48 million consist of citizens, other “residents” and resident non-residents, or “geographic existence Americans?” Author, yes the figure includes all of those people and all of them are uninsured in America.

“The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance– meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.”’

Without further explanation, can’t say anything about that claim.

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. K. Couric "The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach"

The “employer” issue rears its ugly head again. Potential distortion here based on limited context.

Fact, the arithmetic of which I’ve spelled out in detail here several times previously but won’t do right now: 9 million Americans are eligible for employer plans but do not enroll. Of those 9 million, two/thirds (6 million) say the reason they don’t enroll is because they can’t afford it. Thus only 3 million Americans do not have employer insurance but could have it per being eligible and say they can afford it.  Those 3 million are 1% of Americans. Of 16% being uninsured overall, only 1 of those 16 percentage points say they can afford and could have employer coverage but turn it down. Of the rest of the non-employer eligible coverage uninsured, a vast majority says the reason they don’t buy it on their own is because they can’t afford it. This data here is national and also similar figures for MN.

“But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.”

The ability buy health insurance coverage is based on several factors other than income: 1. Ability to buy health insurance at all; for some people, no insurer will sell them an insurance policy based of the insurer’s “risk assessment” of the applicant’s likely health care expenses; mostly due to pre-existing conditions. I’m one of those. Due to pre-existing conditions, no insurer will sell me health insurance. 2. The cost of the health insurance itself. Affordability is based on the $ available to spend and the amount needed to be spent to buy something. The amount people have to spend doesn’t mean the cost of insurance is the same for all of them. 3. Family size affects costs. Single vs. 2 adults, 3-kid policy at same $60,000 salary isn’t an equal “affordability” situation. “Who ought to be able to afford” is their key phrase; it’s not “ought to be able” but instead, “are able.” Later in the article the author substitutes “ought to be able to afford” with “can afford.”

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer; Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation. Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.”

A vast majority of, um, “Americans,” state--in every study I've seen--that the reason they don’t have insurance is because they can’t afford it. Who is the California Healthcare Foundation? Never heard of them. There are so many ways to spin this concept, but we don’t know that Gratzer/CHF are referring to actual, specific reasons given by people, or imputed figures, per above “ought to be able.” Being in very good+ health doesn’t mean they choose not to buy health insurance. That statistic sounds like it imputes a decision not to buy health insurance regardless of costs. Not trustworthy.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation…puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Ability get health insurance through whatever means doesn’t make an uninsured person insured. The problem of inability to pay for their care if it’s higher than they can afford out-of-pocket is the exact same problem (s) of an uninsured person due to inability to afford or get coverage who aren’t able to pay. Cost-shifting, delayed care and attendant higher costs later, etc. are ramifications of most uninsured for catastrophic care, high other care, etc. The crisis isn’t merely being uninsured, it is the ramifications for the health system and the rest of us—costs, worse medical and health outcomes, etc.

----- Original Message -----

From: Blanche Hall

To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com

Sent: January 11, 2008 10:34 AM

Subject: Re: [uhcan-mn] Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

Anyone care to comment on this article?

 

Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'

Michael Moore, politicians and the media use inflated numbers of those without health insurance to promote universal coverage.

By Julia A. Seymour

Business & Media Institute

7/18/2007 4:01:33 PM

Michael Moore was wrong about health insurance.

So were President Bush, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), presidential candidates former Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Mike Huckabee and The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People magazine and Time magazine, as well as CNN, CBS and ABC.

Each of these people and media outlets incorrectly claimed the number of uninsured to be 40 to 50 million Americans. The actual total is open to debate. But there are millions of people who should be excluded from that tally, including: those who aren't American citizens, people who can afford their own insurance, and people who already qualify for government coverage but haven't signed up.

Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions.

Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million

– a very different reality than the media and national health care advocates claim.

Breaking It Down: Who's Uninsured?

The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance.

"It's really indefensible that we now have more than 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million of whom are children, and the vast majority of whom are from working families," said Sen. Hillary Clinton in a May 31 speech.

It was typical spin and easy to find. ABC medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson cited the incorrect data as he praised a "bold" and "politically brilliant" universal coverage plan on the April 26 "Good Morning America."

"It's bold because it does propose to cover all Americans, including the 47 million now who are uninsured, within five years," said Johnson.

In his propagand-umentary "SiCKO" that favored the socialist health care systems of Canada, Britain, France and Cuba, Michael Moore made the fantastic claim that almost 50 million Americans are uninsured.

"SiCKO: There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance," quoted Moore's Web site.

However, the Census Bureau report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," puts the initial number of uninsured people living in the country at 46.577 million.

A closer look at that report reveals the Census data include 9.487 million people who are "not a citizen." Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.

Moore should have paid attention to that fact, since he agrees that being "an American" matters to get health insurance. "That's the only preexisting condition that should exist. I am an American. That's it," said Moore in footage aired by ABC's "Nightline" on June 13.

That isn't the only problem with the numbers currently being used.

Moore's Trouble with the Facts

In his film and television appearances, Moore left out quite a bit of information about the uninsured.

On his Web site, Moore claimed the Census Bureau had "underreported" the number of people without health insurance.

But Cheryl Hill Lee, a co-author of the Census Bureau study Moore was citing, told the Business & Media Institute that the data showed the exact opposite of what Moore said.

The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance

– meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

"They Can't Afford Insurance …"

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. "And when you've got 47 million people in this country with no health insurance, they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it," Moore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" July 10.

Katie Couric echoed those sentiment on the CBS "Evening News" May 23.

"The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach," said Couric as she introduced a two-part "investigation of the health insurance industry."

But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.

On the July 13 "Larry King Live," Gupta did make that point, providing more context than Moore and most journalists about the affordability of health insurance.

Subtracting non-citizens and those who can afford their own insurance but choose not to purchase it, about 20 million people are left

– less than 7 percent of the population.

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer in his book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care." Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation.

"Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.

A Lie that Promotes Big Government

Moore, Clinton and Obama have used the lie about 40-some million uninsured Americans to promote universal health insurance plans. Moore asserted in his film that providing health insurance to everyone is a moral and even religious obligation.

The mainstream media have played along, championing "ambitious" universal coverage plans and referring to the U.S. system as "deeply flawed." "California's ambitious plan to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state is getting a lot of attention all over the country, and here's why. According to the latest figures, the number of uninsured Americans has grown to more than 46 million," said Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News" January 9.

Journalists' failure to question that high figure has furthered the cause of nationalized care.

"Proponents of universal health care often use the 46-million figure -- without context or qualification. It creates the false impression that a huge percentage of the population has fallen through the cracks," Gratzer told BMI. "Again, that's not to suggest that there is no problem, but it's very different than the universal-care crowd describes."

Dr. Grace-Marie Turner, a BMI adviser and president of the Galen Institute, agreed that "the number [on uninsured] is inflated and affects the debate."

Turner also pointed out that "45 percent of the uninsured are going to have insurance within four months [according to the Congressional Budget Office]," because many are transitioning between jobs and most people get health insurance through their employers.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation, a liberal non-profit frequently quoted by the media, puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Kaiser's 8.2 million figure for the chronically uninsured only includes those uninsured for two years or more. It is also worth noting, that, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months according to the Congressional Budget Office.

On 1/9/08, Stefanie Levi <stefalala@yahoo.com> wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

__________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joan Malerich < joanmdm@iphouse.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:36 -0600
Subject: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm
United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.
According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study's authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.
A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.
Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.

----- Original Message -----

From: Blanche Hall

To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:34 AM

Subject: Re: [uhcan-mn] Fwd: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

Anyone care to comment on this article?

 

Health Care Lie: '47 Million Uninsured Americans'

Michael Moore, politicians and the media use inflated numbers of those without health insurance to promote universal coverage.

By Julia A. Seymour

Business & Media Institute

7/18/2007 4:01:33 PM

Michael Moore was wrong about health insurance.

So were President Bush, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), presidential candidates former Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Mike Huckabee and The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, People magazine and Time magazine, as well as CNN, CBS and ABC.

Each of these people and media outlets incorrectly claimed the number of uninsured to be 40 to 50 million Americans. The actual total is open to debate. But there are millions of people who should be excluded from that tally, including: those who aren't American citizens, people who can afford their own insurance, and people who already qualify for government coverage but haven't signed up.

Government statistics also show 45 percent of those without insurance will have insurance again within four months after job transitions.

Accounting for all those factors, one prominent study places the total for the long-term uninsured as low as 8.2 million

– a very different reality than the media and national health care advocates claim.

Breaking It Down: Who's Uninsured?

The number of the uninsured who aren't citizens is nearly 10 million on its own, invalidating all the claims of 40+ million "Americans" without health insurance.

"It's really indefensible that we now have more than 45 million uninsured Americans, 9 million of whom are children, and the vast majority of whom are from working families," said Sen. Hillary Clinton in a May 31 speech.

It was typical spin and easy to find. ABC medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson cited the incorrect data as he praised a "bold" and "politically brilliant" universal coverage plan on the April 26 "Good Morning America."

"It's bold because it does propose to cover all Americans, including the 47 million now who are uninsured, within five years," said Johnson.

In his propagand-umentary "SiCKO" that favored the socialist health care systems of Canada, Britain, France and Cuba, Michael Moore made the fantastic claim that almost 50 million Americans are uninsured.

"SiCKO: There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance," quoted Moore's Web site.

However, the Census Bureau report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," puts the initial number of uninsured people living in the country at 46.577 million.

A closer look at that report reveals the Census data include 9.487 million people who are "not a citizen." Subtracting the 10 million non-Americans, the number of uninsured Americans falls to roughly 37 million.

Moore should have paid attention to that fact, since he agrees that being "an American" matters to get health insurance. "That's the only preexisting condition that should exist. I am an American. That's it," said Moore in footage aired by ABC's "Nightline" on June 13.

That isn't the only problem with the numbers currently being used.

Moore's Trouble with the Facts

In his film and television appearances, Moore left out quite a bit of information about the uninsured.

On his Web site, Moore claimed the Census Bureau had "underreported" the number of people without health insurance.

But Cheryl Hill Lee, a co-author of the Census Bureau study Moore was citing, told the Business & Media Institute that the data showed the exact opposite of what Moore said.

The Census "underreported" the number of people covered by health insurance

– meaning that more people have insurance than the report suggests. The Census also underreported the number of people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

"They Can't Afford Insurance …"

Many of the same people pushing the incorrect numbers of uninsured Americans also claim that these people cannot "afford" insurance. "And when you've got 47 million people in this country with no health insurance, they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it," Moore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" July 10.

Katie Couric echoed those sentiment on the CBS "Evening News" May 23.

"The number of Americans with no health insurance is continuing to grow as more and more employers say they can't afford to offer group insurance … People who try to buy insurance on their own often find the price beyond their reach," said Couric as she introduced a two-part "investigation of the health insurance industry."

But according to the same Census report, there are 8.3 million uninsured people who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and 8.74 million who make more than $75,000 a year. That's roughly 17 million people who ought to be able to "afford" health insurance because they make substantially more than the median household income of $46,326.

On the July 13 "Larry King Live," Gupta did make that point, providing more context than Moore and most journalists about the affordability of health insurance.

Subtracting non-citizens and those who can afford their own insurance but choose not to purchase it, about 20 million people are left

– less than 7 percent of the population.

"Many Americans are uninsured by choice," wrote Dr. David Gratzer in his book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care." Gratzer cited a study of the "nonpoor uninsured" from the California Healthcare Foundation.

"Why the lack of insurance [among people who own homes and computers]? One clue is that 60 percent reported being in excellent health or very good health," explained Gratzer.

A Lie that Promotes Big Government

Moore, Clinton and Obama have used the lie about 40-some million uninsured Americans to promote universal health insurance plans. Moore asserted in his film that providing health insurance to everyone is a moral and even religious obligation.

The mainstream media have played along, championing "ambitious" universal coverage plans and referring to the U.S. system as "deeply flawed." "California's ambitious plan to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state is getting a lot of attention all over the country, and here's why. According to the latest figures, the number of uninsured Americans has grown to more than 46 million," said Katie Couric on the "CBS Evening News" January 9.

Journalists' failure to question that high figure has furthered the cause of nationalized care.

"Proponents of universal health care often use the 46-million figure -- without context or qualification. It creates the false impression that a huge percentage of the population has fallen through the cracks," Gratzer told BMI. "Again, that's not to suggest that there is no problem, but it's very different than the universal-care crowd describes."

Dr. Grace-Marie Turner, a BMI adviser and president of the Galen Institute, agreed that "the number [on uninsured] is inflated and affects the debate."

Turner also pointed out that "45 percent of the uninsured are going to have insurance within four months [according to the Congressional Budget Office]," because many are transitioning between jobs and most people get health insurance through their employers.

So what is the true extent of the uninsured "crisis?" The Kaiser Family Foundation, a liberal non-profit frequently quoted by the media, puts the number of uninsured Americans who do not qualify for current government programs and make less than $50,000 a year between 13.9 million and 8.2 million. That is a much smaller figure than the media report.

Kaiser's 8.2 million figure for the chronically uninsured only includes those uninsured for two years or more. It is also worth noting, that, 45 percent of uninsured people will be uninsured for less than four months according to the Congressional Budget Office.

On 1/9/08, Stefanie Levi <stefalala@yahoo.com> wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

__________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joan Malerich < joanmdm@iphouse.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:54:36 -0600
Subject: Health: US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease

Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm
United States Ranks Last in Avoiding Deaths by Preventable Disease
London, January 9 (RHC)-- A new medical study shows that the U.S. ranks
last among industrialized nations in avoiding deaths by preventable
disease. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine found a preventable-disease death rate of 110 for every
100,000 Americans.
According to the new study, the deaths include deaths from infections,
treatable cancers, diabetes, and heart and vascular disease. The
study's authors say it is difficult to ignore the likely connection to
the rising number of medically uninsured Americans.
A recently-released U.S. government report shows that nearly 20 percent
of Americans, or more than 40 million adults, can't afford or (to) access
needed health care. The 2007 report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one-fifth of the population in
the U.S. couldn't afford one or more of these services: medical care,
prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses.
Among other barriers are areas without enough doctors, lack of
transportation to doctors and clinics, and shortages of such organs as
kidneys for transplants.

Hello, UHCAN Family!

Thank goodness Sister Joan Malerich--(a. k. a. "Cuba
Joan")--still sends me all this incredible stuff!
I'm passing it on to anyone who cares enough to read
for knowledge and inspiration.  You can jump around or
skim and just read the bits most interesting to you...

Government-funded, universal single payer health care
for anyone living in the u. s. and deep ecology-based
Socialism or Nothing!

En Solidaridad En La Lucha!

Stefanie Levi

Note: forwarded message attached.




      
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 *Low-cost,Community Mobile Health Screenings

cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, pulse

Universal Health Care Action Network - MN

 Services provided: Many people who are uninsured, underinsured, and even  insured with high out-of-pocket costs, do not receive basic preventive health screenings, which are important for early detection, health promotion and disease prevention. We do testing along with basic counseling (individual and group) on what the numbers mean and goals, with written information and suggested referral to a medical clinic, if necessary. We serve organizations,congregations, health fairs, employers, and individuals.

 Cost:

1.Total cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse tests  are $12 per person (does NOT require fasting), involves a simple finger stick, results using the Cholestech instrument in 5 minutes. Licensed health practitioners volunteer their work, thus, very low cost (a total cholesterol alone at most clinics would cost at least $40). The Cholestech measuring instrument we use is accurate and used by many medical clinics and hospitals.

 2.Total cholesterol +  HDL-cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse tests are $16. (also NON-fasting and completed in 5 minutes).

 3. Entire lipid panel (Total chol + LDL-chol + HDL-chol + triglycerides + glucose) + blood pressure & pulse is $25. The lipid panel must be carried out after fasting for 12 hours.

 4.Liver function tests measuring AST and ALT liver enymes is $15, at baseline and to monitor therapy of potentially liver-toxic medications.

 Offered by: Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (UHCAN-MN)

FFI: call 612-384-0973, joel@..., our volunteers: Joel Albers, Pharm.D., Mike Cavlan R.N., Ann Ness R.N, Dori Ulman, Jennifer Umolac, Diane O’Donnell

 Please call to set up a time and we will come out to you.

Hey, UHCAN Family!

It's heartening to hear/see dialogue again on our
listserve.  "Silence" can be seductive and scary, when
it comes to dire economic realities and overabundances
of emails for the politically-minded/active.

Welcome back to our e-life, in particular, to John
Schwartz, who I thought had fallen away from the
listserve months ago!  Great response/analysis to that
"care to comment?" piece.  I've printed it out already
and used pieces of what you wrote to counter
stupidity.  I don't know how you are able to do that
kind of analysis, make it more-or-less understandable
to the less policy/economics-read among
us--(especially, moi!)--and still maintain your
sanity.

Thank you everyone who're doing everything else that
needs to be done to get the word out and build
community around this issue.

I'm putting the word out that I would like to be
attending more meetings and actions than not
attending, but time money and maily transprtation
issues are in my way.  So, if anyone wants to call me
if they're going to UHCAN-related meetings/actions,
and other health care-related stuff, and offer
transportation, I'd be much-obliged.  Depending on my
schedule, I'll try to attend.  And, if I can't make
it, I'll be there in spirit.

Peace and Health Care for All, NOW!!

Your Rabble-Rousing Sister, World Citizen and
Geographic Existence U. S.-ian,

Stefanie Levi    612-822-2974


      
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Hello

Click on the link below and please enter your birthday for me.  It will take
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Thank You,
carlos Vinicio

please forward widely!
(en espanol: abajo)


The Republican National Convention (RNC) is coming to our backyard in
Sept. Feeling angry?  Want to do something?

Come to

Resisting the RNC: Minnesota Town Hall Organizing Meeting

Saturday, January 26th, 2pm
Walker Community United Methodist Church
3104 16th Ave S
Minneapolis

Please join us for a gathering of those who have already started
organizing to resist the RNC in 2008 and those looking for a place to
start. This will be a space for people to come together, share ideas,
energy and
participate in the process.

- A discussion about the why the Republicans are coming, what it means for
our community, and why resistance is necessary.
- Followed by a listening session where those organizing for the RNC will
hear what you have to say about the upcoming protests.  Come and share
your concerns and views and have your voice be heard.
- Updates and presentations of the plans groups have for the convention.

After the program, please stay and mingle with each other, get to know
each other, and start to work together!
Childcare and snacks provided.

FYI: contact Kim: kimdefranco@... or Andy: 612-719-4292 to reserve
an information table, present your "already underway" plans, and/or
volunteer to help with the event.


Co-hosted by:
Protest RNC 2008 - protestrnc2008.org
The RNC Welcoming Committee - nornc.org

----------------------------------------------------------

La Convención Republicana Nacional (RNC) viene a nuestra casa en
septiembre.
¿Se siente enojado?   ¿Quisiera hacer algo?

Venga a Minnesota Resiste a la RNC: Una Reunión Comunitaria

Sábado, el 26 de Enero, a las 2pm
Iglesia Walker Community United Methodist
3104 16th Ave S
Minneapolis

Le invitamos a una reunión para los que ya están organizando en contra del
RNC de 2008 y los que busquen donde empezar.  La reunión será una
oportunidad para juntarnos, compartir ideas y energía, y participar en el
proceso:

- Una discusión sobre el ¿porque? de la venida Republicana, como nos va a
afectar en nuestra comunidad, y porque sea necesario la resistencia. -
Seguida por una "sesión de escucha" cuando organizadores
anti-convencionistas escucharán lo que Ud. tiene que decir sobre las
manifestaciones próximas.  Venga y comparte sus opiniones y preocupaciones
su voz será escuchada.
- Noticias y presentaciones sobre los planes que varios grupos tienen para
la convención.

¡Y después del programa, le invitamos a quedar a conocer a nuevas
personas, mezclarse con los demás, y empezar a cooperar y trabajar juntos!

Habrá traducción, comida y cuidado de niños.

Para más información: contacte a Kim: kimdefranco@... o a Andy:
612-719-4292 para reservar una mesa para información y literatura,
presentar
los planes que ya tiene, y/o ofrecer ayudar con el evento.


Presentado por:
el "RNC Welcoming Committee" - nornc.org
"Protest RNC 2008" - protestrnc2008.org

Sorry but I have absolutely no interest in attending this.

I'd much rather work on getting the corporate corrupted HMO's and their friends
like the VP of General Mills out of our healthcare system by working for Single
Payer Heathcare.

Which is, of course part of the Green Party platform.

Michael Cavlan RN

-----Original Message-----
>From: Elizabeth Dickinson <eadickinson@...>
>Sent: Jan 15, 2008 10:24 PM
>To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [uhcan-mn] Lunch with General Mills V.P. of Health Thursday 1/17
>
>
>>  Want to enjoy a healthier New Year?
>>
>> Interested in holding down health care costs in a new and creative
>> way?
>>
>> Come hear General Mills V.P. Dr. Timothy Crimmins speak about the
>> unique ways General Mills promotes their employees' health and
>> lowers their health care costs!
>>
>> When: 11:30 am-1 pm Thursday, January 17, 2008
>>
>> Where: Mermaid Event Center, 2200 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112
>>
>> "It's no longer optional; employers must have a role in improving
>> the wellness of their employees.  The health of America is too
>> important to leave to us doctors!" Dr. Crimmins, V.P. General Mills
>>
>> Choice of lunch: Ham and cheddar on wheat or vegetarian option.
>>
>> Please rsvp by calling the Twin Cities North Chamber at 763-571-9781.
>>
>> Proudly presented by Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership, Smoke-
>> Free Ramsey, Twin Cities North Chamber, North Metro Chamber, and
>> Anoka Area Chamber.
>> Anoka County Smoke-Free Partnership | 277 Coon Rapids Blvd. | Suite
>> 115 | Coon Rapids | MN |
>>
>

Congratulations Joel, you are doing excellent work. Haydee
________________________________
> To: uhcan-mn@yahoogroups.com
> From: joel@...
> Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:45:30 -0600
> Subject: [uhcan-mn] Arise/UHCAN-MN Sicko Film Showing
>
>
> Dear Health Care Activists,
>
> As  mentioned at  last week's  UHCAN-MN meeting, Arise Bookstore contacted us
recently about how our organizations can network. Jude Ortiz, from Arise, and
myself came up with
> showing the Sicko film at Arise Bookstore on Sunday Feb. 10th, preceded by
health screenings and followed by discussion for actions. (If Feb 10th doesnt
work for you, dont worry, there will be other showings, screenings). If you
would like to receive a preventive health screening, see below). We also need
volunteers again to carry out the health screenings; pls contact me if you can
volunteer (those who volunteered previously did an excellent job, and are listed
on the flyer below).  So here's the basic outline. Please get the word out.
>
> Feb 10th Sicko Documentary, Health Screenings, F/U Discussion at Arise
Bookstore
> Co-sponsored by Arise Bookstore, 2441 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls, 612-871-7110. and
Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (612-384-0973).
>
> 4PM Health Screenings (see description below*,pls pre-register, call
612-384-0973)
>
> 5PM Sicko Film
>
> 7PM Discussion, Networking, Actions
>
>
>
>  *Low-cost,Community Mobile Health Screenings
>
> cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, pulse
>
> Universal Health Care Action Network - MN
>
>  Services provided: Many people who are uninsured, underinsured, and even 
insured with high out-of-pocket costs, do not receive basic preventive health
screenings, which are important for early detection, health promotion and
disease prevention. We do testing along with basic counseling (individual and
group) on what the numbers mean and goals, with written information and
suggested referral to a medical clinic, if necessary. We serve
organizations,congregations, health fairs, employers, and individuals.
>
>  Cost:
>
> 1.Total cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse tests  are $12 per
person (does NOT require fasting), involves a simple finger stick, results using
the Cholestech instrument in 5 minutes. Licensed health practitioners volunteer
their work, thus, very low cost (a total cholesterol alone at most clinics would
cost at least $40). The Cholestech measuring instrument we use is accurate and
used by many medical clinics and hospitals.
>
>  2.Total cholesterol +  HDL-cholesterol + glucose + blood pressure & pulse
tests are $16. (also NON-fasting and completed in 5 minutes).
>
>  3. Entire lipid panel (Total chol + LDL-chol + HDL-chol + triglycerides +
glucose) + blood pressure & pulse is $25. The lipid panel must be carried out
after fasting for 12 hours.
>
>  4.Liver function tests measuring AST and ALT liver enymes is $15, at baseline
and to monitor therapy of potentially liver-toxic medications.
>
>  Offered by: Universal Health Care Action Network - MN (UHCAN-MN)
>
> FFI: call 612-384-0973, joel@...
_________________________________________________________________
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http://www.microsoft.com/windows/digitallife/keepintouch.mspx?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_CPC\
_VideoChat_distantfamily_012008

Hello from Guy:AKA, the Troll:

Joe-- freemarket does not exist becasue of government
mandates that prrevent insurance comanies from
competing.
John S-- i stand corrected there are 60 some mandates
in minnesota, but we still have 4 times as many as
other states.
Joe-- what is wrong with "children learn to be
disclipine and grow up to have personal
responsibility"?
John S--when i pay for the dentist with my health
savings account it is not out of pocket, it is pretax
so it cost approximately 30% less. technically it is
out of an IRA as if i manage to not spend it, it
becomes an IRA when i retire.
John S-- Medicare maybe, as the people who contributed
eventually benifit and distribution is relatively
equal. MnCare and MCHA, no way. funds are colledted
unequally, and unequally distributed. can you have a
serious discussion about any of these programs without
talking about rationing? Have these social programs
made the social problem better or worse? let me guess,
each year the need is worse and we need more money to
fix the problem.



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ