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OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 2/24/10

The civil rights battle of our time--expanded medicare for all.

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Message Jeanine Molloff
These abusive practices have become so widespread that even recalcitrant members of the aristocratic US Senate, like Senator Feinstein are now pushing for meaningful reform. In sworn testimony before the Senate"committee, Feinstein argued that the following specific reforms are critical:

1.) repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act (otherwise known as the anti-trust exemption);

2.) mandate DOJ (Department of Justice), the task of monitoring and pursuing criminal charges where appropriate against health insurers when they engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocation;

3.) mandate the creation of a robust, non-profit public option which will accept anyone at affordable costs;

Feinstein further summarized that the most egregious abuses of the health insurance for-profit industry were directly traceable to the anti-trust exemption (McCarran-Ferguson Act), and --as a result, practices such as price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation, prohibited by Federal law in every other industry, were left up to the states and their enforcement mechanisms." (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=111-s20091102-12) History of the Medical Insurance Industry. The United States Senate.

The president and congressional leaders claim they must have 60 votes in the Senate, in order to pass these reforms. Nothing could be further from the truth. The 60 vote criterion is mentioned in order to override a filibuster. These reforms could easily be passed with a simple majority, if the US Senate would actually conduct its business along constitutional precepts. Since we are stuck with the procedural filibuster that can table any substantive discussion; an alternative solution to the engineered deadlock is necessitated. The solution lies with the congressional procedure of "reconciliation.' The CHIPPS or children's health insurance program was pushed through using this device. Senator Harry Reid does not need 60 votes to pass Feinstein's proposed reforms. Senator Harry Reid does not need the Republicans in some false gesture of "bipartisanship.' He just needs some spine, a moral compass and 51 senate votes.

Building a system on gambling which is the essence of insurance is flawed both intellectually and morally. Melanie, and far too many others, paid the ultimate price. In Melanie's case, the delay engineered by her insurer cost her valuable time. We know, that illnesses like cancer have a short shelf life. When treatment is delayed for even a brief window of time--it frequently costs the patient their life. Insurers like Wellpoint know this, and their delaying tactics could be considered the "intent' to commit felony murder. If our government truly represented the people; Wellpoint , Angela Braly, Wellpoint CEO, and corporate counsel, would be facing FELONY MURDER CHARGES, THE SAME AS IF THEY HAD TAKEN A GUN TO MELANIE'S HEAD.

While it is admirable that these Senators are finally "seeing the light,' regarding reforms such as a robust public option, and ending the anti-trust exemption; such reforms will not suffice unless criminal penalties are enforced against executives and their attorneys when they knowingly conspire to delay and deny treatment for life threatening illness.

Until these CEO's and the attorneys who labor to create the legal contrivances used to deny life saving medical care are held criminally liable for their actions; loopholes will be easily found.

The honorary awards in Melanie Shouse's name are definitely touching, but irrelevant. Melanie would have said so herself. If Melanie were here now; she would vehemently object to any memorial--rather she would be challenging everyone to action. If you want to honor this courageous woman, then make her words a battle cry to action. Make this year the last year anyone dies from medical neglect, caused by the cold blooded denial of care for life threatening illnesses. MAKE THIS ISSUE SO RADIOACTIVE THAT NO POLITICIAN OR BUSINESSPERSON DARES TO DENY MEDICAL CARE TO ANYONE EVER AGAIN.

Mohandas Gandhi once said that" "a small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history."

Melanie Shouse was such a small body of determined spirit. In her honor, we must win this war, for our people, for our collective humanity. Melanie would accept nothing less.

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Working as an urban educator for over 25 years--I 'moonlight' as a writer. I write part-time for The Huffington Post and enjoy the task of curmudgeon,(at least where career politicians are concerned). I consider myself a political independent (more...)
 

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