Why can't each state have its own health system like Saskatchewan. Canada?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

If each state had it's own - does the Fed gov need to be involved at all - it can allocate funding? Does each state need health insurance companies - no.

http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/health-benefits

[dflprincess]

1. Pelosi removed the Kucinich amendment that would have allowed this from the House bill

supposedly at Obama's request.

We're not allowed to threaten the corporate insurance status quo at all.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. perhaps Nancy could put it back in today?

[timeforpeace]

37. No, but Obama could. Today, yesterday, tomorrow.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

41. they shouldn't stop now

[alsame]

3. I think Sanders mentioned this too - I think he wanted to introduce

Single Payer on a state by state basis.

Honestly, I think this is the only way we'll ever get there.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. perhaps Bernie could use some leverage

[Doctor_J]

4. Because then Big Insurance would have to find their billions elsewhere

they have a lot more to say about the government than you or I do

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. they could be given the option of merging with hospital systems

they could operate then as health trusts within the state health system. They would be capped (as well as drug companies and medical supply companies) so they couldn't charge the state health system too much.

[Nite Owl]

5. I wrote to the WH a while ago

about this very thing. NY has community rating, no one can be refused and prices are the same for all.If we had the money we could/would do more. Or we could have a regional approach. Let the Northeast work out their plan that we would want and let the rest of the country have their own.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. It could be regional and/or state controlled

a key thing is each region/state has different needs.

[Cleita]

6. I think this is the way we will have to go.

This health reform will not pass. I know I thought it would but even if they present something so right wing that the insurance companies will love it, the Republicans want this bill to fail so that Obama will fail. However, this will open health reform back to the states to implement. When we get rid of Arnold I believe California will be the first state to pass single payer universal health care. This will probably have a domino effect with other states following.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. Yes I think it would be acceptable to people

states can tailor their own health systems to their needs

[jwirr]

10. That may be the only approach that we progressives have left and

ironically it is a good one. We should start by yelling about states rights! Seriously, I like the regional idea if that would work. Our states with Democratic governors and legislatures should get together and ask for a waiver from the present health care programs in order to set up their own - when we parents of special needs sons and daughters wanted a waiver program in Medicaid we went to court to obtain permission. Here in MN we have a very good waiver program which of course pawlenty hates.

By the way I need a little help - when MN cut the number of diapers a client can have did they cut this in nursing homes as well? My daughter is in a foster home and if they didn't cut nursing homes then they are being unfair. Anyone from MN know anything about this?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. how soon could this be done?

[jwirr]

30. First we need to see what happens with the HCR vote. We could sue

the existing system now but I don't think that would override the new so we would have to wait until it is passed.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

34. once somethig is passed then there will be all sorts of opportunities

this is just the start.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

13. Tax the rich to fund it.

MA has a plan, HI has a plan, CT legislature created a commission to look into one - but we have no money. Once * gave his pals their tax cuts, the State's coffers started going dry.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. yes

if Saskatchewan can do it then all American states can do it. Also put forward incentives so that the 'I'm all right Jack with my health plan' can be enticed to support a state health system. If we have money for banks and wars we can afford this. I'm tired of hearing from the GOP that there is no money for health.

[TheKentuckian]

15. Corporate America don't like it AND our statehouses with a few exceptions

are as messed up as Washington or worse.

I'm "federocentric" though to be sure and unlike many or most trust government increasingly less as it comes closer. I hate my metro council at least as much as the national Republiklan party seeing they are even more aloof and care less about the people's wishes than even the jacked up US Senate, though in general it functions a little better than our super corrupt (regardless of part, though the Confederates are worse than Democrats) state capital.

My feeling on average is that state capitals will do an even worse job than Congress.

Still, don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against the idea its just I have little faith that we'd end up better off because the problems are nationwide and at every level.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. so how can Canadians do it and we can't?

are their local representatives better?

[TheKentuckian]

31. Yep

[treestar]

32. A Canadian province is going to be a different thing

from a U.S. state entirely. The relationship between provinces and the Canadian federal government might account for it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. that doesn't mean that we can't

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. interesting to see that 2 people unrecommended it, how interesting

[DrToast]

17. Each state DOES have its own system

That's why insurance companies aren't subject to anti-trust laws.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. not like Canada's though

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

25. City of San Francisco also has a mandated health care

plan for residents

http://www.healthysanfrancisco.org/

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. good

[Oregone]

19. In Canada, the federal government's support is a necessity

The provincial programs are subsidized by federal dollars

The US isn't even sane enough to consider a system like this though

[Rosa Luxemburg]

21. I think the Fed could act like this

I don't see why not. Other services are subsidized in the US by the Fed. Gov?

[WinkyDink]

22. We are called the "United States".

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. Canada is a country united too

[suffragette]

24. That's how Tommy Douglas did it in Canada

He introduced it in Saskatchewan and then it went nationwide.
And he had to fight protracted battles with many of the same entities fighting genuine reform in the U.S. now.

From this http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/douglas-tommy.html he won some and lost some, but in the end he created positive change in Canada and is recognized for that.

I've posted before that I think that's possible here and am glad to find someone else who sees it that way.

As others have noted, Kucinich and Sanders both tried to have this included in HRC but didn't succeed - this time. I think they'll keep trying and am glad for that.

But in some states, California and Vermont in particular, there are people willingly to keep pushing this forward and, at this point, that may be the best path to take.

Don't care much for Christian Science Monitor, but they have a good article on this here:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2009/0910/p09s03-coop.html

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. Kucinich and Sanders need to keep pushing

thanks for the links

[totodeinhere]

28. Because people in red states like Utah and Idaho would be screwed.

The only solution that will help all Americans has to be on the federal level.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

29. not necessarily

if you can get it in Canada you can get it in Idaho. With the help of the Fed gov lawmakers

[Thothmes]

35. Could work in theory. Each state runs its own school system

take a look at how widely different some of these state systems are from other states. Does the Alabama public school system provide the same quality of education that say the Washington State or Vermont School systems do? Would the state health care systems all provide quality health care at a reasonable cost? Mississippi has fewer resources than say California. How would the disparity be corrected.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

36. there is already disparity between states with the present health system

in fact everywhere

[Thothmes]

42. So they why turn it over to the States.

[Blue_Tires]

38. a good idea on paper, but

i cringe at the thought of the healthcare plan some of the wingnutty state legislatures could dream up...

In Virginia, the plan per citizen would be something like a Boy Scout's first-aid kit, a bible, 25 lottery tickets, a taxi voucher for a ride to the ER, and a cheap handgun with a single round for those who want to cut the red tape...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

39. The GOP should be taught to grow up

they should have the people in mind not stuffing themselves with caviar

[AngryAmish]

40. If it is good enugh for Gilmore Tuttle, then it's good enough for me

[Sgent]

43. ERISA

which provides for standardization of employee benefits across state lines.

It severely limits (practically eliminates) state regulations on health insurance and other employee benefits when the employer is self insured (which is most employers with 100+ insured lives).