By Carmen Gonzalez, Occupy Healthcare

California Senate Bill 810 (Improved Medicare for All) would create a single-payer health care system in the state of California.[1] On January 19th, the California Senate Appropriations Committee approved this bill, meaning it now goes to the full Senate for a vote. Based on independent studies and analysis, including the Lewin report, the bill would save Californians money through:

:: Bulk purchases by the government for medical services and devices: $5.2 billion in savings

::Elimination of insurer overhead and profits: estimated $20 billion in savings

::Eradicating fraud: projected $800 million in savings

::Emphasizing primary and prevention care : estimated $3.4 billion in savings

How does it do it? SB 810 takes monies currently allotted to healthcare and simplyprovides a more efficient system to ensure universal coverage for all 37 million Californians. Instead of paying a middleman—insurance carriers—to pay for care, this bill cuts out those wasted monies for insurance profits and overhead. All of that gets spent on expanding care for all. Private competition among health providers is maintained, while the power of the purse through government negotiated rates are secured. Essentially, it takes the best of both the private and public sectors to deliver a better program.

The need for this bill couldn’t be greater than now. As you have read on OccupyHealthcare, the greatest source of bankruptcies originates with a medical health crisis.[2] There are over 56 million uninsured people in the U.S. —a group most vulnerable for such an economic catastrophe— nearly 7 million of whom reside in California.[3] Each month, 1,000 Californians die due to lack of healthcare access.[4]

For this measure to move onto the Assembly, it must be voted on in the Senate by Jan. 31^st. To lend your support of this measure, you may do any of the following:

• If you live in California, contact your State Senator and urge him/her to vote for SB810. Find your California State senator here.
• If you live in the district of these Senators, urge them to support SB 810:
  • Senator Ed Hernandez (24^th district) 916.651.4024
  • Senator Juan Vargas (40^th district): 916.651.4040
  • Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (32^nd district): 916.651.2783
  • Senator Ron calderon (30^th district): 916.651.4030
  • Senator Michael Rubio (16^th district): 916.651.4016
  • Senator Lou Correa (34^th district): 916.651.4034
• Extend thank-yous to the following Senators for their support and leadership on SB810:
  • Senator Mark Leno (SB 810 author): Senator.Leno@sen.ca.gov
  • Senator Darrell Steinberg (Senate ProTem): Senator.Steinberg@senate.ca.gov
  • Senator Christine Kehoe (Appropriations Committee Chair): Senate.Kehoe@sen.ca.gov

• Join a group to become active as a volunteer, letter writer, legislative visitor, speaker, etc:
  • Join Health care for All — California at http://www.healthcareforall.org
  • California One Care at http://californiaonecare.org

• Physicians for a National Health Program: http://www.pnhpcalifornia.org
• Join Single Payer Now!: http://www.singlepayernow.net