Next Steps

"There must be a complete, honest, side-by-side comparison of all proposals, including HR-676, by the Congressional Budget Office"

Not just what Senator Baucus pre-determines to allow.

What are they afraid of?

Let there be a honest and open debate, comparing all the true total costs all proposals!

As we know, the many prior analysis, recently by Lewin Group for many state single payer proposals, and older for national bills by both the GAO and CBO, all suggest that only single payer can control total costs and costs to individuals while providing coverage that is both truly universal and comprehensive.

The most recent comparison by Lewin for Commonwealth was very revealing in comparing who pays what: Neither "Building Blocks" standing in for Baucus/Obama nor Wyden-Bennett could control total costs, which skyrocket under both. Wyden disengenuously shoves costs from the Federal side, to States, employers and individuals. Of the plans compared, only Stark's non-single payer verion of "Improved and Expanded Medicare for Most" (which Commonwealth/Lewin says they used to represent all such proposals including ours) actually controlled total national costs and total direct costs to individuals, while also providing universal and comprehensive coverage.

Here is how it looks:

Total Change in National Health Expenditures, in 2010 (in Billions) Under Different Health Reform Proposals:

and

Change in Health Spending by Stakeholder Group, Billions of Dollars, 2010

Single payer wins, when given a honest hearing.

What are they afraid of?
The truth.

Other proposals including Baucus and Wyden cannot stand the full light of day and a thorough honest comparison.

So they have to try to take single Payer off the table without full and honest numbers.

Keep telling them: Let there be a complete and honest debate with real numbers and real side-by-side comparisons.

Suggestions to call:

The White House (202) 456-1414 or (202) 456-1111.

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee:

• Max Baucus, Chair, (202) 224-2651
• John D Rockefeller IV (202) 224-6472
• Kent Conrad (202) 224-2043
• Jeff Bingaman (202) 224-5521
• John Kerry (202) 224- 2742
• Blanche Lincoln (202) 224-4843
• Ron Wyden (202) 224-5244
• Charles Schumer (202) 224-6542
• Debbie Stabenow (202) 224-4822
• Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441
• Bill Nelson (202) 224-5274
• Robert Menendez (202) 224-4744
• Thomas Carper (202) 224-2441
• Edward Kennedy (202) 224-4543
• Harry Reid (202) 224-3542

[Thanks to DrSteveB of PNHP for this and all of his fine work on this important issue.]