The Debate on Senator Kuehl’s Universal Health Care Plan Which Passed California Senate Today

“There’s no question that we have problems with the high cost of health care, but to say we have the lowest standard of health care, or that we’re at the bottom of industrialized nations is not a true statement,’’ Aanestad said.

Contrary to what Aanestad said, though, the U.S. spends more on health care, but gets less, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The latest numbers show that the U.S. spends $7,800 per capita on health care, nearly twice as much as Canada’s $4,050; the UK spends $3,250. Meanwhile, the US ranks 21st in life expectancy (Canada ranks 7th and the UK ranks 18th), and 23rd in infant mortality behind Canada and the UK .

Aanestad went on to say that the “the only universal health care ... (seen) in the US is the outmoded and substandard Veterans Administration Health Care system. Do you really want your American health care to end up in the Veterans’ Administration model?”

Lastly, Aanestad proclaimed that “if I needed bypass surgery, I could not get it (in Canada) because I’m over 60 years old and I would be put on a waiting list because I’m too old to qualify for bypass surgery.’’ On the other hand, in the U.S. “If I needed bypass surgery, I’d have it tonight,’’ he said.

Sen. Kuehl contradicted this statement.

“This notion that waiting lists exists somewhere else, but not in America ? Maybe for the privileged few of us who can get right in. But there are a lot of people in my district – the richest district in the state and the one with probably the highest number of people insured – who are still on waiting lists, whether with Kaiser, or with Blue Cross,’’ said Kuehl, who represents Santa Monica.

“You can’t just run right in and get your bypass surgery,’’ Kuehl said.

Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, quoted Walter Cronkite’s description of the “health care system,’’ saying “I don’t know why we call it a health care system. It isn’t healthy. It isn’t caring, and it sure as hell isn’t a system.’’

Simitian stated that he wasn't sure that a single-payer solution was the only or best solution, versus other ideas. But, he said, the author's efforts on SB840 helped bring about this year's focus on health reform, and “whether or not I believe it is the best way or only way, I do believe it’s an important way to get to some meaningful solutions for the 4.5 to 6 million Californians who are without health insurance on any given day.’’

Kuehl closed debate on her bill by referring to “a truly American’’ single-payer system: Medicare.

“If it weren’t for Medicare, a truly American comprehensive system, we would be frightened in my age cohort (she’s 66) and above.’’

That’s because insurance companies have become “very creative in denying care’’ dropping patients when they are sick, or rejecting consumers who apply for policies simply because they’ve had a history of taking certain prescription drugs in a time long ago.

The passage of Kuehl’s bill marks the first of a series of health-reform related bills that must be passed out of the Senate and Assembly this week.

OTHER HEALTH BILLS AND EVENTS.

AB8 (Nunez) and SB48 (Perata), which both aim to expand health coverage by relying on the existing system of employer-based insurance, is expected to be heard Thursday. Several other health-related bills must also pass a floor vote by Friday in order to be further considered this year.

The passage of Kuehl’s bill and consideration of the leadership proposals also serve as a prelude to Michael Moore’s new movie SiCKO, about the failures in the American health care system, which is expected to premiere in Sacramento on Tuesday, with the documentary film maker testifying before Kuehl’s committee next week.

We will provide updates on both legislation, Moore’s testimony and movie in the upcoming days.

Health Access California is a statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition of over 200 groups.