In Two Days of Events, Experts, Lawmakers, Advocates to Call for Single-Payer Health Care System
May 19, 2014
All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care–HR 676 • Gray Panthers • Healthcare-NOW! • Labor Campaign for Single Payer • National Nurses United • National Organization for Women • Physicians for a National Health Program • Progressive Democrats of America • Public Citizen
In Two Days of Events, Experts, Lawmakers, Advocates to Call for Single-Payer Health Care System
Single-Payer System Would Provide Health Care for All – More Efficiently Than Current System
WHAT: Two days of events calling for Medicare to be expanded into a national, single-payer health care system that could cover more Americans, more efficiently and with better outcomes, at a lower cost than the current system. Despite the Affordable Care Act, 30 million Americans will still be uninsured in 2022 and tens of millions will remain underinsured, facing substantial deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance.
On May 21, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will be joined by a panel of experts and advocates to highlight the need for a single-payer system in the United States. The summit will include a discussion on how to transition to a health care system offering universal access, including next steps for single-payer advocacy. The event will be live streamed at sanders.senate.gov.
On May 22, there will be a congressional briefing on the need for single-payer legislation, with speakers including U.S. Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), as well as experts from the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Nurses United and Public Citizen.
Following the briefing, advocates will visit the offices of members of Congress and urge them to take action on implementing a national, single-payer health system.
Wednesday, May 21:
WHEN: 10 a.m.-11 a.m. – panel of experts and advocates
WHERE: Room 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building (Constitution Ave. NE and First St. NE)
WHO: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Robert Weissman, president, Public Citizen
Gerald Friedman, professor, Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Dr. Margaret Flowers, organizer, PopularResistance.org
Dr. Andrew Coates, president, Physicians for a National Health Program
Michael Lighty, director of public policy, National Nurses United
Thursday, May 22:
WHEN: 10 a.m.-11 a.m. – briefing for advocates and the press
WHERE: Room 2226 Rayburn House Office Building (Independence Ave. SW and S. Capitol St. SE)
WHO: U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.)
U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.)
Andy Coates, president, PNHP
Greg Junemann, international president, IFPTE
Michael Lighty, director of public policy, National Nurses United
Robert Weissman, president, Public Citizen
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