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April 21, 2008 at 13:11:04
Survey: Support for national health insurance grows among physicians by Kathlyn Stone Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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We can stop taking everyone else’s word for how U.S. physicians feel about national health insurance. When surveyed, 59 percent say they now support national health insurance, a 10 percent increase in support from five years ago. According to a survey undertaken last year by Indiana University School of Medicine and published in the April 1 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, support for national health insurance is strongest among psychiatrists (83 percent), pediatric sub-specialists (71 percent), emergency medicine physicians (69 percent), general pediatricians (65 percent), general internists (64 percent) and family physicians (60 percent). Support from general surgeons has doubled since 2002, with 55 percent now backing national health insurance. “Across the board, more physicians feel that our fragmented and for-profit insurance system is obstructing good patient care, and a majority now support national insurance as the remedy,” said study co-author Ronald T. Ackermann, associate director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research at Indiana University’s School of Medicine. 
There were some exceptions. Less than 50 percent of surgical specialists, radiologists, and anesthesiologists support establishment of a national health insurance program.
There are an estimated 47 million uninsured in the United States, according to the latest Census, and another 50 million who are underinsured.
A Medicare-for-all type system was proposed by Physicians for a National Health program, a national organization with 15,000 members, in 2003, and published in JAMA. It was the impetus for the proposed National Health Insurance Act (HR 676) introduced in 2006 by U.S. Representatives John Conyers (D-Michigan) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).
Even with physician support and a clear majority of support from citizens, a national health care program is more likely to come from incremental enactment through individual states rather than through federal legislation. HR 676 is stagnant with 88 co-sponsors. No new action has been taken on the bill since February 2007 when it was referred to two subcommittees on health.
Single-payor proponent
About the survey:
- 5000 questionnaires were mailed to physicians in the American Medical Association’s database
- Response rate of 51 percent (2,193 completed surveys)
- Results: 59 supported legislation to create a national health insurance program, 9 percent were neutral and 32 percent opposed
- Among those that opposed, 14 percent supported incremental reforms
Source: Carroll AE, Ackerman RT. Support for National Health Insurance Among U.S. Physicians: 5 Years Later Ann Intern Med.2008; 148: 566-567
www.fleshandstone.net
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| 16 comments |
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Doctoring the numbers.
SICK! That is our body politic, that is our mental health condition, and our blood and flesh Earthly space suits, our physical bodies. To kill the beast of for profit health care we will need a Saint George to slay the dragon. It is still strong enough, now, to eviscerate the sinews and gristle of our weak mortal remains. We shall fight them on the clinics, we shall fight them in the H M O's. We will be victorious, though many will be lost before the dawn of fairness and equitibility is established. But make no doubt of it, we will succeed because it is a matter of life and death! Wolfie will play fife and you may play the drums, as we march to victory. by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 4:01:13 PM  (0+)
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Reply: Thanks, Wolfie
Health care reform is taking place from the ground up since Congress can't do a thing without permission from its Wall Street masters. I'm optimistic that Minnesota will have universal health care in a couple years. The House and Senate have passed a major overhaul of the health care system that brings it quite close to the end goal and the governor (hand-picked by Cheney) will most likely veto it. Fortunately, there are enough votes to overide it just like they overrode his veto of the transportation funding bill. by Kathlyn Stone (46 articles, 227 quicklinks, 27 diaries, 690 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 4:44:56 PM (0+)
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Reply: Minnesota Go-for-its, rah rah rah
Your Gov" Polenty of trouble" is a doozer, alright. If you have ten thousand lakes, can't we find one to dunk that silly goose into! How can so many smart people act collectively dumb. There must be a scientific principle that we can decipher from this "mishagos", as the Minnetonkans used to say at the shtetle. Let's Stone em when there young and able, let's Stone em when the Impeachment's off the table. But if they will not understand, let's put the cuffs on their hands. I ain't no Dylan, more like Dilly-Dally on acid! by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 10:41:49 PM (0+)
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Reply: The land of 10,000 lakes has become land of 10,000 fees
and 10,000 pot holes (per square mile), under the current Guv, according to some observers. by Kathlyn Stone (46 articles, 227 quicklinks, 27 diaries, 690 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 2:47:50 PM (0+)
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88 Praise worthy Congress People
The rest, it's time we start finding out who is NOT supporting HR 676 and start rallying. My Congress person is NOT supporting HR 676 - he's a tried and true Republican and he only won by a slim margin - he's up for reelection this year and there is steam behind turning this county Blue. Time to start finding out how much money goes to the rest of these corrupt, pocket full of money, do nothing Congress People. When are there going to be as many people at Congress people's offices every day as there are mom's and dad's on the baseball, football and soccer fields of America. A lot of people say, "we don't have time" and yet there seems to be plenty of time for other things. We need to get organized and start protesting in every city across this country until we cannot be avoided... by August Adams (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 585 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 6:41:16 PM (0+)
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Universal Wealth Care.
The very idea that any Congress is going to push a health care system other than the one that now exists is pipe dreaming. The powerful insurance lobby are not about to throw away all the profits nor will the drug companies. Why should Doctors support it when they charge $ 140 for an uninsured for a 10 minute maximum interview and then refers the patient to a specialist. As people lose their jobs so they lose health coverage, then they get another job only to discover they're not covered for a pre-condition. In other words you're only insured for an illness you're unlikely to get. It's called universal WEALTH care, but the universe only consists of a few. by douglas kay (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 83 comments) on Monday, Apr 21, 2008 at 8:50:06 PM (0+)
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Reply: In other, other words
We're getting screwed without being kissed. by Sandy Sand (198 articles, 0 quicklinks, 227 diaries, 1548 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:24:06 AM (0+)
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Reply: The Nuts and Bolts of Being Screwed
Que' sera' sera', what ever ill, ill be, que' sera' sera'. Boutique doctors for one and for all! How are the Illuminati going to rid the world of 90% of us riff raff without a plague or two? Euthanasia is not a country trying to become part of the European Common Market, it is a gift of the elite to the masses. There must be more than peaceful groups of different segmented causes. We are, in actuality, fighting a class war. I rember Camp Monterey had a fight song. It went: She wore a white ribbon, she wore it out to practice and she wore it out to play. And when they asked why on earth she wore it? she said because the white team had such a winning way! Winning way white team, winning way white team, she said because the white team had such a winning way. Well we have to get the winning way, and that is by forgetting the petty differences and create a massive coalition of the "illing". We are sick of the class differences due to wealth accumulation of the very few, at the expense of the many. We all have god within us. We all are equally smart and deserving. If one group wishes to horde from the remaining souls, then it will be war! Wolfie is sharpening his claws and changing his mien, to become mean! by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 2:18:41 PM (0+)
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Reply: As Emily LaTella said
What's all this I'm hearing about youth in Asia. Oooooh. Neee-ver m-ii-nd! by Sandy Sand (198 articles, 0 quicklinks, 227 diaries, 1548 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 7:10:44 PM (0+)
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It can't be national health care INSURANCE!
We must stop using the term national health care insurance. Unless we have a single payer health care plan, we are still talking about the insurance companies being in charge. They must be toppled off their powerful position. Why do we resist the idea that this will work? Medicare works and very well. The only thing we must do is extend the plan to cover everyone. Even the doctors are now coming around to the idea after the insurance companies are now putting the screws to them. I personally know two doctors who only accept Medicare patients. They say it's because they want to help the elderly but I think it's because they get paid in a timely fashion from Medicare and the insurance companies are giving them the shaft, too. So, lets tell our legislators that they have to push for this and they have to do it NOW! by Caronome (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 327 comments [15 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:10:16 AM (0+)
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Reply: Single Payer, Not for Profit Health Care!
Not Charity, Not Welfare, a fair equitable pay as you go system we all contribute to according to our means, and we all receive according to our needs. Employees, employers, contribute in a fair and equitable way. Absolutely! Time to end the profit and greed in health insurance and start putting the caring back and humanity back in! I'll march for that! by August Adams (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 585 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:16:12 PM (0+)
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Time to Separate the Wheat from the Chaff
Anyone who puts money over the health of another person will be cast into hell. Ie greedy insurance companies, drug companies, etc. by Bob Gormley (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 1094 comments [65 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:11:28 AM (0+)
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Where's Kucinich when we need him?
Relegated to the also-rans. Generally Kucinich is far too liberal for me, but he was right on about Universal Health Care. McCain has no plan, Hill's and Barack's suck and are far from the answer since both prop up and support the insurance companies and poison pill pushing drug companies. by Sandy Sand (198 articles, 0 quicklinks, 227 diaries, 1548 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 8:31:15 AM (0+)
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Reply: He is where the Democrats wanted him to be... Blackballed.
Dennis Kucinich got screwed by the Party. Was totally black-balled by the mainstream media, where for over 120 days, the only time his name was mentioned in MSM, "UFO's" had to be in the same sentance (I'm not kidding, lol). He was kept out of the most important debates... Because he was TOO popular and scaring a lot of people in the elite. And he was let-down by phoney Progressives who claim they are for every issue he couragously stands for, yet refused to support him.... Who supported corporate candidates instead, and were actually GLAD to see DK suppressed and silenced so "their" guy or gal could have a cleaner shot..... The Party, many liberals, the media,.. All screwed him out of an honest chance to compete. The party even allowed and supported a republican shill run against him in the Ohio 10th District Primary. DK won, but no thanks to the local Democrats or to the Party leaders who were trying to get rid of him. That's right: They TRIED TO GET RID OF HIM. Why? Because he dared to speak Truth. And that is dangerous for those who do not. So all you so-called "progressives" who turned on one of the only guys who actually was on your side, will get what you deserve: A nice big slice of NOTHING. Enjoy. Meanwhile the rest of us wonder why despite it being so popular, so obviously better, and proven in so many other nations..... Universal not-for-profit healthcare remains an impossible dream that will likely not happen in our lifetimes. ...Because some tall, good-looking, smarmy corporate shill pol has your votes instead. You WANT to believe they are really for you, despite all the evidence to the contrary. To me, that sounds more like "religion" than "politics". by Steve Windisch (jibbguy) (17 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 360 comments [54 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 5:37:32 PM (0+)
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Dugg and Reddit! Go Shrinks; 83% Support National Heathcare
"Support from general surgeons has doubled since 2002, with 55 percent now backing national health insurance." Is this a tidal wave that's been silently growing despite MSM blackout on the many other better alternatives to the crap system we have now that has us paying way more than all other industrialized nations, for healthcare that's generally not even close to the top of the list, compared? U.S. Last Among Industrialized Nations in Preventable Deaths Here's another issue that the MSM may try and pan, please Digg: DIGG.com: Fourteen Points of Agreement: World Trade Center Destruction Fourteen Points of Agreement with Official Government Reports on the World Trade Center Destruction by Better World Order (4 articles, 568 quicklinks, 39 diaries, 1111 comments [56 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 9:58:25 AM (0+)
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whoops, my bad link
U.S. Last Among Industrialized Nations in Preventable Deaths www.livescience.com/health/080108-health-care.html by Better World Order (4 articles, 568 quicklinks, 39 diaries, 1111 comments [56 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 10:00:02 AM (0+)
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