I know, with ladkiddo it’s all Health-care, all the time, but this is our most important topic and we have a most vigilant freshman congressman who is running with this ball and keeping the pressure on, so the least we can do is back him up on this.

From the PNHP:

Obama’s response to a question about single-payer health insurance at a town hall meeting in New Mexico on May 14 illustrates the quandary the Democrats are creating for themselves. The question was, “Why have they taken single-payer off the plate?” The woman posing the question was referring to a statement by Sen. Baucus, who chairs the committee with the most influence over health reform issues in the Senate, that “single payer is off the table.” Obama’s response, essentially, was that single-payer is off the table because the insurance industry is too powerful to beat, and there are other ways to cut health care costs that don’t require implementing a single-payer system. He is wrong on both counts.

[snip]

Here are excerpts from Obama’s response:

If we emphasize prevention and wellness programs … so that we’re reimbursing doctors, not just for treating people after they get sick but for helping people stay well, if we use medical technology to reduce error rates and ensure electronic medical billing …, these are simple things we can do that will save us money…

But the research does not support Obama’s claims. Even assuming the way to deliver more preventive services is to focus on doctors rather than insurance companies, more preventive services will not reduce costs. Proven preventive services definitely improve patient health, but the vast majority of preventive services cost so much, and have to be given to so many people who would not otherwise have gotten sick, that the cost of the services outweighs the savings from reduced illness.

The article goes on to explain how preventive medicine, such as flu shots are not cost effective, nor is another form of prevention, called “disease management”.

Electronic record keeping is being touted as a money saving measure (#s are strategically left out of that discussion).  But, as one of my favorite commenters says, “That dog won’t hunt” (thanks Nick):

The CBO’s analysis and other research has shown that electronic medical records have mixed effects on quality of care and are likely to raise total costs.

I would love to quote the whole article right here, in this post, but it’s way too lengthy, so please jump over there and take a look.  Then, get out your pens and paper and write those Letters to the Editor in support of Single-Payer, HR676:

Address: Letters to the Editor, Democrat and Chronicle, 55 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, NY 14614.
Letters: For questions about letters, call letters editor Max Anderson, (585) 258-2641

Phone calls you can make today in support of single-payer:

Folks in congress you should call:

Please CALL Senator Max Baucus at (202) 224-2651

Please CALL Senator Charles Schumer at 202-224-6542

Please CALL Senator Edward Kennedy at (202) 224-4543

Please CALL Senator John Rockefeller at (202) 224-6472

Also, can you please CALL these THREE chairmen in the House of Representatives:
Ways and Means Committee Chair Charlie Rangel (202) 225-3625)

Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (202) 225-2927)

Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller (202) 225-3725)

Related posts:

1. Get on the Bus for Health Care Reform
2. Americans are dying for health care reform
3. Obama moves forward with Health-care reform, Massa supports, Wamp doesn’t
4. Extending Health Care Coverage. Thanks, Governor Paterson!
5. Health Care Monolith vs Barack Obama