reform
GRITtv: Health Care: What's In The Bill, Anyway?
The most asked question after the historic passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the health care bill, is "How does this affect me?" While we can't answer all your individual questions in a 30-minute show (or a week of 30-minute shows), we thought we'd pull in some experts to lay out what's in the new law. Jacob Hacker, Yale professor, is known as "The Father of the Public Option," and Maggie Mahar is the author of Money-Driven Medicine and editor of HealthBeatBlog.org, and they join us to break down the pluses and minuses of the biggest social reform legislation since the Johnson era.
Email this pageGRITtv: Gary Younge: Power and Democracy
The flawed health care bill that finally made it through Congress might show the limitations of democracy in the U.S., but Gary Younge, correspondent for the Guardian and the Nation, assures us that it's worse in Europe. Gary joins Laura to talk about Greece, England, the rise of fascist parties across Europe--and how it all relates to our own tea party movement.
GRITtv: Homestretch for Healthcare Reform
After nearly a year's worth of fighting over health care reform, Congress is finally perceived to be in the final stretch. Of course, that means more fighting, more grandstanding from legislators on all sides, and last-ditch efforts to include a public option or keep alive the hope of single payer. Joining us to discuss what happens if the bill passes--and the consequences should it fail--are Dr. Anne Davis of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, Enzo Pastore, health care policy specialist with the Progressive States Network, and Chris Meyer, Executive Vice President, External Affairs with Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports.
GRITtv: F Word: Healthcare Reform Without Single Payer Is No Reform At All
Here's a simple question for the White House: "Why are you still refusing to even consider single payer?!" And here's a simple message for the public: "Any health care 'reform' bill that does not provide a Single Payer option is NO real reform at all." You'll find both in a new fax petition you can add your name to if you're so inclined. The organizers need 100,000 signatures to submit their petition to the White House. You can get more information at our website. There were some who "hoped" that when the White House came out with their own health care proposal there would be a real robust public option. Instead, what emerged -- as far as we can see -- is little more than the SAME Senate bill that everyone hated so much... As best as we can determine, all the gruesome stuff is still in there, in particular the forced mandate to buy corporate health insurance from some new "exchange," with no meaningful option. The White House site has this response to that question of whether you will be forced to buy a "government" plan: "You will be able to shop among private insurance plans that will be sold in the insurance exchange -- a marketplace where you can choose what is right for you." And if that isn't nauseous enough, there's a slick new corporate marketing slogan, "Putting Americans in Control of their Health Care." Well, as anyone knows who's been watching, we the people are most definitely not in control of health care costs, and super-duper not in control of those premiums that keep soaring up. The bad news is the Obama plan doesn't look as if it will solve that. The good news is, a whole lot of people are mobilized now. Let's hope they don't shut up until they get some control back. The F Word is a regular commentary by Laura Flanders, the host of GRITtv which broadcasts weekdays on satellite TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415 Free Speech TV) on cable, and online at GRITtv.org and TheNation.com. Follow GRITtv or GRITlaura on Twitter.com.
GRITtv: Progressives on the Offensive
Health care reform isn't dead yet, and a coalition of progressive groups, including Bold Progressives and Democracy for America, are increasing the pressure in Washington for Democrats to pass reform -- by any means necessary.
GRITtv: Health Care for the Heartland
Health Care Reform for the Heartland sent video crews to state fairs around the country, asking rural Americans how the health care system has failed them. The stories they found are heartbreaking and illustrate once more how desperately Americans need health care reform -- and the strong public support for progressive measures. Thanks to the Center for Community Change for this video.
GRITtv: Hannah Pingree: Maine Sued for Health Care Profits
Maine Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree comes from the same state as Olympia Snowe, but she is in favor of a strong public option. Her state is currently being sued by insurance giant Wellpoint for a guaranteed 3 percent profit margin in the midst of a recession that has hit Maine especially hard. Pingree notes that small states like Maine need strong federal regulations to back them up because huge companies like Wellpoint think they can push the state around and raise premiums without raising benefits.
GRITtv: Faces of American Healthcare
Austin Considine, a video journalist with True Slant, put together the following piece about Greg Jones as part of his "Faces of American Healthcare."
GRITtv: Howard Dean: "$1 Trillion is NOT new money"
Threats to private healthcare insurers? Single payer leading to socialism? As the House and Senate move further in on their dissection of healthcare reform, GRITtv had our own house call from Dr. Howard Dean. Along with medical service and 12 years as the Governor of Vermont, Dr. Dean is continuing to expand his resume to not only author and DNC chair, but also as chair of the Progressive Book Club, which you can join here. Out with a new book, Howard Dean?s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer, Dean discusses why we shouldn't be worried about private insurers, how "Americans are conservative with a small 'c' " and how there are Americans living abroad who actually like a single payer plan. Who knew?
GRITtv: Bernie Sanders on Effective Healthcare Reform
Al Franken officially earned his seat in the U.S. Senate last week, winning by slightly over 300 votes out of 2.9 million cast in Minnesota. Franken?s campaign hinged on a dedication to healthcare reform, and with 60 Senate seats now belonging to Democrats, the time seems ripe to make that happen. Joining us today to discuss how the Dems should go about improving healthcare policy is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist and one of only two Independent Senators currently in Congress. He has compiled a booklet titled ?The Health Care Crisis: Letters from Vermont and America? and speaks passionately on the behalf of real, meaningful, cost-effective healthcare reform in the U.S.
