The Disappearing Doctor: How Mega-Mergers Are Changing the Business of Medical Care
Big corporations — giant retailers and health insurance companies — are teaming up to become your doctor. By Reed Abelson and Julie Creswell for The New York Times Is the doctor in? In this new medical age of urgent care centers and retail clinics, that’s not a simple question. Nor does it have a simple […]
Inside the medical device racket
Millions of Americans have under-regulated and overhyped devices in their bodies. By Martha Rosenberg for Intrepid Report Imagine a TV ad for a hip replacement device. Over scenes of the puppies and sunsets, a voiceover warns, “Hip replacements may cause tissue death, the destruction of muscles, bones and ligaments, nerve damage, mental changes, thyroid disorder, […]
Whistleblowers Sue City’s Top Health Insurance Providers
By Brigid Bergin for WNYC Three whistleblowers representing New York City employees and retirees are suing the city’s top health insurance providers for defrauding taxpayers of more than a billion dollars. The lawsuit unsealed in New York Supreme Court last month alleges that GHI, along with parent company EmblemHealth and their partner, Empire Blue Cross […]
Getting From Profits for a Few to Health Care for All
By Scott Tucker for Truthdig Democracy is a more radical idea than socialism. That has been noted by a fair number of democratic socialists, including one of the steady campaigners on the left wing of the British Labor Party, Tony Benn, who died in 2014. By stressing democracy first and foremost, he plainly did not […]
The Democratic Establishment is Moving Closer and Closer to Single Payer, but Activists Want the Real Thing
Note: “I do not view the Center for American Progress’ plan as moving to single payer. Instead, it would actually cement the private Medicare Advantage Plans into our healthcare system. Although it is referred to as a public option in the article below, it differs in that it would allow people to purchase Medicare plans, […]
Anatomy of a Victory
Note: While not a victory for the goal of PEIA healthcare reform, teachers showed that collective work yields results. But ultimately, health care can’t be fixed at the state level. That’s why we fight for National Improved Medicare for All and hope West Virginia teachers will join us in this national fight! By Cathy Kunkel for […]
18,000 Kaiser RNs Vote to Authorize Possible Strike at Kaiser Medical Facilities throughout California
By California Nurse’s Association for YubaNet March 5, 2018 – The California Nurses Association, representing 18,000 registered nurses at 21 Kaiser Permanente medical centers and dozens of medical clinics and office buildings in California, announced today that RNs voted by an overwhelming majority to authorize their nurse negotiators to call a strike, if needed, to […]
“It Was About the Insurance Fix”
By Meagan Day for Jacobin Magazine West Virginia teachers are engaged in an inspiring illegal strike. They’re also showing why we desperately need Medicare for All. On Friday, hundreds of striking teachers flooded the foyer of the West Virginia capitol building in Charleston. Holding signs that read “Whose side are you on?” they voted to occupy the […]
From Pushing ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ to Dissing Medicare for All, DCCC Called Out for Sabotaging Bold Demands
By Julia Conley for Common Dreams While House Democrats were urged to ignore Medicare for All as a viable solution to the nation’s healthcare woes, a separate memo to lawmakers after Las Vegas shooting appeared to be “straight out of the NRA’s talking points” Progressives found new reason for dismay on Tuesday after internal documents revealed […]
Medical students march through New Orleans for universal healthcare
By Katherine Mozzone for Fox8 NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Medical students from across the country gathered in New Orleans, Saturday, walking the streets chanting, advocating for a single-payer system. It’s the seventh annual march for the group– Students for a National Health Program. A sea of white flowed towards City Hall, demanding healthcare for everyone. “We’re […]